Creating a Wallet
A brief overview of cryptocurrency wallets and step-by-step guides to setting up the Metamask and Temple wallets for the Ethereum and Tezos blockchains respectively.
Wallets and Browser Extensions
Wallets are the primary tool with which users interact with the blockchain, they come in the form of small software, usually in the form of browser extensions, that let us connect to different pages and apps that make use of blockchain technology and interact with them. fxhash requires its users to connect with such a wallet to start using its features.
**What is a Crypto Wallet?**
In the world of cryptocurrencies, a wallet is a secure place where you can store, send, and receive digital currencies and tokens. It's an app or a software program that helps you interact with the blockchain, which is the technology behind cryptocurrencies. Just like you need a bank account to use regular money online, you need a cryptocurrency wallet to use digital currencies. This wallet has a special address that others can use to send you cryptocurrencies, and it keeps your digital money safe.
**What is a Browser Extension?**
A browser extension is a small software module that adds functionality to a web browser. It typically extends the capabilities of the browser and allows users to customize their browsing experience by adding new features or modifying existing ones. In most browsers these extensions appear in a drop down list at the top right corner.
In this page we’ll walk you through installing Metamask for Ethereum, and Temple for Tezos.
Creating an Ethereum wallet
Download and Install MetaMask:
Go to the MetaMask website or your browser's web store: https://metamask.io/
Download and install the MetaMask extension for your browser.
Create a New Wallet:
After installation, click on the MetaMask extension icon in your browser.
Select "Create a Wallet" to start setting up a new wallet.
Set a Password:
Create a strong password for your MetaMask account.
This password is used to access your MetaMask extension on your browser. We recommend storing this password in a password vault.
Secure Your Secret Recovery Phrase:
MetaMask will generate a secret recovery phrase (also known as a seed phrase).
Write down this phrase and keep it in a secure place. It's crucial for recovering your wallet if you forget your password or change devices. This secure place can either be on a physical piece of paper, and stored somewhere secure like a safe, or in a password vault.
NEVER share this with anyone. There is no good reason that anyone will ask you for this phrase.
Confirm Your Secret Recovery Phrase:
To ensure you've correctly noted your recovery phrase, MetaMask will ask you to confirm it.
Select the words in the correct order as given in your secret phrase.
Wallet Created:
Once you’ve confirmed your secret recovery phrase, your wallet is created.
You can now use your MetaMask wallet to store Ethereum and other ERC-20 tokens.
Remember, it’s essential to keep your secret recovery phrase secure and never share it with anyone. Losing this phrase or sharing it with others can result in the loss of your funds.
Metamask should now appear in your extension list:
If you need more help setting up metamask you can consult this resource:
Temple Wallet for Tezos
Download and Install Temple:
Navigate to the temple wallet’s official page here: https://templewallet.com/.
Download and Install Temple on your the browser/device you intend to use for creating/collecting generative art.
In this demonstration we'll install Temple on Brave
https://gateway.fxhash2.xyz/ipfs/QmbF8vRfAC3wNMUeqo6VWeQfiDtNsMgNvRS8uP9RkrrBqL
Since Brave is also chromium based (it uses the same tech as chrome under the hood), it'll also take you to the chrome web store where you'll simply click on Add to Brave:
Click the ‘Add to Brave’ button to add the extension to your browser.
Click the ‘Add to Brave’ button to add the extension to your browser.
You'll also have to allow the extension from the pop-up.
You'll also have to allow the extension from the pop-up.
Create a New Wallet:
After installation, a new tab should open up and you'll be greeted by the following screen.
Select "Create a Wallet" to start setting up a new wallet.
Hit Create a new Wallet now. If you already have a Tezos wallet on some other devices you alternatively import it now. The steps for importing an existing wallet are different than setting up a new one.
Now when you check your extensions list you should also see Temple show up there, you can go ahead and pin it so that you can quickly access it in the future:
https://gateway.fxhash2.xyz/ipfs/QmQYKvQVX2AHXVNK59c7uioT2pDcJtugmNMpxcMhbhC4oj
Securing the wallet Seed Phrase:
To create a new wallet Temple will prompt us to secure and backup the seed phrase - the private key to the wallet.
Temple will ask you to confirm it by filling out some blanks.
Make sure to complete this step carefully and store your seed phrase in a secure location - ideally somewhere offline as well.
This seed phrase is basically the master key that gives you access to your wallet in the future. As indicated in the screenshot, this seed phrase should be stored somewhere safe, ideally somewhere offline, and not be shared with anyone else. If for any reason your device breaks, and you want to import your wallet on a new device, then you will require this seed phrase.
Seed phrases are usually made out of 12 random words - in the next screen you'll be asked to verify that you've made a backup by filling in some of the words:
https://gateway.fxhash2.xyz/ipfs/QmZGyrdH7Bn8bir8LoTJujbsNu3nKoKFmXNsbHywXEVhTu
Setting your password:
Enter a strong password that you can easily remember
Also make sure to not check the Skip Onboarding
Also make sure to not check the Skip Onboarding
Once you've backed up your seed phrase you’ll also have to set up a password. You're not actually going to use the seed phrase to log into your wallet each and every time you want to use it, but rather you'll be using a regular password just like for other accounts on the internet - this password essentially unlocks your wallet whenever you want to use it for a transaction:
Next it'll take you through a number of onboarding steps - read those carefully! And we're already good to go actually!
https://gateway.fxhash2.xyz/ipfs/QmWq7VhkkmryHT4fxVsAufFEtCHMidfYAKpd4xrgPWjqhT
You can now get started with creating and collecting on the Tezos blockchain.
Getting Funds in your Wallets
There's multiple ways to get some Tez in your wallet. The most convenient method is probably by directly purchasing some Tez through the Temple wallet. Simply click the buy button in the wallet and it'll offer a couple of methods to do so, either by exchanging a different currency or directly via debit/credit card.
Alternatively you can also purchase Tez via an cryptocurrency exchange platform and then sending it to your wallet address from there. This might be more or less difficult depending on your country of residence where there might restrictions on those exchanges, for instance, you might have to get verified by providing legal documents, to subsequently be able to send funds to your browser wallets.
Thirdly there's also the option of hustling for your funds by creating your own projects on fxhash or other platforms. You'll need someone to initially help you out to cover transaction costs and gas fees to create your projects, and you might be surprised how many artists and collectors would be willing to help kickstart your endeavors in this regard. Once someone collects your art you'll have more funds to create more artworks and support other artists as well.
A note on Safety
In the future your wallet will likely contain value in the form of various cryptocurrencies and digital tokens. If unauthorized individuals gain access to your wallet, they could potentially transfer tokens and withdraw funds, leading to financial losses. Once your digital assets are lost or stolen, they are often irrecoverable. Unlike traditional banking systems, there is typically no recourse for retrieving lost or stolen assets on the blockchain. Hence it is of crucial importance to keep your wallets safe.
Users on Web3 are often targeted by phishing scams, where malicious actors attempt to trick individuals into revealing their wallet credentials or private keys, or alternatively try to gain access to the device a wallet is being used on. By keeping your wallet secure and navigating the web responsibly, you reduce the risk of falling victim to such scams. If your wallet is used for interacting with decentralized applications (DApps) or executing smart contracts, a compromised wallet could lead to unintended and irreversible consequences in these applications.
Hence, keep these things in mind when you have a wallet installed on your device:
Never reveal your private keys to anyone.
Don’t store them in an obvious manner on your device.
Only interact with reputable platforms that you trust.
Don’t confirm or authenticate wallet transactions if you don’t know what they are for.
Don’t press on links that you don’t know the origin of.
Don’t download files or software that you can’t trust.
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