What’s a Wallet, Really?

A crypto wallet is your digital safe. Coins live on the blockchain; your wallet holds the keys. If you don’t control the wallet, you don’t control the bag.

Hot vs. Cold

Hot Wallets (Quick Hustle)

• Apps: MetaMask, Coinbase Wallet, Trust Wallet
• Online — fast for daily moves (DeFi, NFTs)
• Risk: Internet-connected = more attack surface

Cold Wallets (Long Game)

• Hardware: Ledger, Trezor
• Offline — best for savings and legacy
• Risk: Lose device and backup = funds gone

Keys & Seed Phrases

Your Keys = Your Cheese. You’ll get a 12/24-word seed phrase. That’s the master key.

• Write it on paper. Store securely.
• No screenshots. No email. No Notes app.
• Consider two copies in separate safe places.

Setup in 5 Steps

1. Pick a wallet: MetaMask/Trust (hot) or Ledger (cold).
2. Install safely: official site/app store only.
3. Back up seed: write it down; double-check spelling.
4. Fund it: buy on Coinbase/Kraken; send a test $5 first.
5. Use it: connect to trusted dapps; verify URLs.

Street-Level Use Cases

• Send money home without Western Union fees.
• Susu pots with smart contracts tracking payouts.
• NFT ownership and collections in your wallet.
• DeFi lending to earn yield while you sleep.
• ForeverDocs: store wills, deeds, policies as NFTs.

Safety Checklist

• Never share your seed phrase with anyone.
• Use multiple wallets: daily vs. savings.
• Hardware wallet for long-term holdings.
• Beware of scams: airdrops, fake support, DM links.