Is my ADA safe in a Cardano wallet?

Your ADA is recorded on the Cardano blockchain, not stored in the app, and a non-custodial wallet (one where only you hold the keys) gives you sole control of it. The main risks are losing your recovery phrase or handing it to a scammer. The Cardano website's guide to common scams covers fake giveaways, phishing sites and fake support agents.

Can I have more than one Cardano wallet?

Yes. You can create separate wallets for different purposes, such as one for NFTs and one for staking. Some apps also hold several accounts under one recovery phrase: Lace Mobile allows up to 50 accounts per wallet, according to the Lace FAQ. Others, like VESPR, skip sub-accounts and let you add extra wallets instead, as its wallet creation guide explains.

What happens if I forget my wallet password?

Your password only unlocks the wallet app on one device; it isn't the key to your funds. If you forget it, remove the wallet from the app, restore it with your recovery phrase, and set a new password. Your ADA stays on the blockchain the whole time. Lace documents this in its spending password FAQ.

Do I need a Cardano wallet to buy ADA?

No. You can buy and hold ADA on a centralized exchange, but the exchange keeps custody of it until you withdraw it to a wallet you control. Creating a wallet is free and needs no ADA, as the Cardano website's wallet guide notes. You need your own wallet to stake from self-custody, delegate your vote, or use Cardano DApps (decentralized apps). See how to buy ADA.

Can I use the same wallet on several devices or apps?

Yes. Your recovery phrase (the list of words you wrote down at setup) restores the same wallet on any device, and a compatible app shows the same balance. Phrase lengths vary by wallet: Lace and Daedalus use 24 words and some wallets use 15 or 12, so check that the new app accepts yours. The Cardano website's seed phrase entry lists the formats.

How to Set up a Cardano Wallet - Adastack Ecosystem Explorer

New to Cardano? Whether you want to hold ADA, stake it, or explore NFTs, you'll need a wallet first.

A Cardano wallet holds the keys that control your ADA. The coins themselves live on the blockchain, and the wallet is how you send them and connect to decentralized apps.¹ Here's how to get started.

Understanding Different Wallet Types

Before choosing a wallet, it helps to know the main types.¹

Hot vs cold wallets:

Hot wallets are connected to the internet, like browser extensions and mobile apps. They're convenient for everyday use.
Cold wallets stay offline, like hardware wallets. They suit larger amounts you rarely move, but take more steps to use.

Custodial vs non-custodial:

Non-custodial. You hold the keys yourself. That gives you full control, and it also means there's no help desk to reset access if you lose them.
Custodial. A company holds the keys for you, as an exchange does when you leave ADA in your account there.

Light vs full-node:

Light wallets read the blockchain through an outside service. They set up in minutes on a phone or in a browser.
Full-node wallets keep a complete copy of the blockchain on your computer and verify it themselves. That takes extra disk space and a longer first sync.

Tip: you don't need to pick the perfect wallet on day one. Your recovery phrase can restore the same wallet in another compatible wallet app later.²

Popular Cardano Wallets to Choose From

The wallets below are free and non-custodial.

Browser extensions:

Lace: An open-source wallet built by Input Output, one of the three organizations that launched Cardano.³ The extension holds Cardano, Bitcoin, and Midnight assets, and a mobile app covers Cardano and Bitcoin.⁴⁵⁶
Eternl: A light wallet with features aimed at experienced users, including multiple accounts, hardware wallet support, and governance tools.³ It runs as a browser extension, a web app, and a mobile app for Android and iOS.³⁷
Typhon: A browser extension and web wallet that supports multiple accounts from one recovery phrase and delegating to several stake pools.⁸

Mobile wallets:

VESPR: A mobile wallet for iOS and Android, also available as a browser extension for Chrome, Brave, and Edge. It has a built-in DApp browser and in-app swaps.⁹
Begin: An open-source wallet for Cardano, Bitcoin, and Solana on iOS, Android, and Chrome. It supports staking and delegating your vote to a DRep.¹⁰

Desktop wallet:

Daedalus: An open-source full-node wallet for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It keeps its own copy of the Cardano blockchain and verifies it locally, so the first sync takes a while.¹¹¹

Want more options? Browse the full list of Cardano wallets.

Important: only download wallets from their official websites, such as the ones linked above. Fake wallet sites and apps copy the look of real wallets to steal recovery phrases, so check the URL before you download anything.¹²

Hardware Wallets for Larger Holdings

To protect larger or long-term ADA holdings, consider a hardware wallet such as Ledger, Trezor, or Keystone. These small devices store your keys and sign transactions without exposing the keys to your computer or phone.¹

Each device pairs with software. Ledger and Trezor have their own apps for managing ADA.¹³¹⁴ The Cardano wallets above can also connect to these devices: Lace, Eternl, Typhon, and Begin list hardware wallet support,³ and VESPR connects to Ledger and Keystone.⁹

Now that you've chosen a wallet, here's the setup process step by step.

Step-by-Step: How to Set Up a Cardano Wallet

1. Choose a Wallet

Pick a wallet and check which formats it comes in:

Browser extensions. Most install in Chromium-based browsers such as Chrome, Brave, or Edge, and Lace also offers a Firefox add-on.⁴ Check the wallet's site for the browsers it supports.
Mobile apps. Download from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android).
Desktop apps. Standalone software for Windows, macOS, or Linux.

2. Install Your Chosen Wallet

Go to the wallet's official website and follow its link to the browser store, app store, or download page. Installation varies by format. Once it's installed, you'll see the wallet in your browser toolbar or on your phone or computer.

3. Create a New Wallet

Open the wallet and choose "Create" (or "New Wallet", depending on the app).

You'll be asked to:

Write down your recovery phrase (usually 12, 15, or 24 words)¹
Name your wallet
Set a password

The order varies. Lace shows the 24-word recovery phrase first, then asks for a wallet name and a spending password.¹⁵ VESPR creates the wallet first and lets you back up the phrase afterwards.¹⁶

Write your recovery phrase on paper and store it offline. Don't photograph it or save it in a cloud document. It's the master key to your wallet: anyone who has it can take your funds, and if you lose it, nobody can restore your access.¹

4. Access Your Wallet

Once setup is complete, you can:

View your ADA balance
Send and receive ADA
Connect to DApps, such as decentralized exchanges (DEXs) and lending platforms
Delegate to a stake pool to earn rewards
Delegate your vote to a DRep (a representative who votes on governance proposals for you). You need this vote delegation before you can withdraw staking rewards.¹⁷

Official Guides

These guides walk through setup in each wallet:

Lace: How do I create a new wallet?
Eternl: How to get started
VESPR: Getting started
Begin: Create your first wallet
Cardano website: What is a wallet?, a plain-language explainer on keys, wallet types, and security

Getting ADA Into Your Wallet

To use your wallet, you'll need some ADA in it. You can buy ADA on a centralized exchange, then withdraw it to your wallet address. The exchange holds your ADA until you send it to a wallet you control.¹⁸ Some wallets also let you buy ADA inside the app with a card or bank transfer, depending on where you live.¹⁸

Your receiving address is under "Receive" in the wallet.

Stay Safe

Never share your recovery phrase. No real support agent or moderator will ask for it, and legitimate helpers won't message you first.¹²
Double-check addresses before sending ADA. Transactions can't be reversed.¹²
Prefer open-source wallets. Anyone can review their code.¹
Ignore giveaways that promise to double your ADA. They're scams. A real giveaway never asks you to send money first.¹²
Send a small test transaction first when moving a large amount to a new address.
Read more in ADAStack's security guides.

You're Ready

With your wallet set up, you can: