How to set up your first crypto wallet
Whether you're getting paid in stablecoins or sending your first crypto payment, it starts with a wallet. Here's how to set one up with MetaMask or Trust Wallet in about ten minutes, then connect it to Request Network.
What a crypto wallet is
A crypto wallet works a lot like a bank account. It’s where you receive money, hold it, and pay from. Businesses use wallets to collect and send payments in stablecoin from customers around the world. Individuals use them to send and receive money, from splitting a bill to paying an invoice globally.
There’s one big difference from a bank account. Nobody sits in the middle. You open a wallet in minutes, without paperwork or approval, and you’re the only person who controls the money in it.
In practice, a wallet is an app. It can live on your phone, in your computer’s browser, or both at once. You’ll be sending and receiving money from it the same day you create it.
Before you start
There are many wallet providers, the same way there are many banks holding your accounts. For this guide, we deliberately picked MetaMask and Trust Wallet because we consider them the most widely used and the most reliable. They are equally secure and take the same few minutes to set up. The only real difference is that Trust Wallet supports Tron and MetaMask does not. Tron is widely used for USDT payments, so if you expect to be paid that way, pick Trust Wallet.
Both wallets come as a browser extension for your computer and as a mobile app, and choosing between them is not a commitment. You create your wallet once. After that, you connect each device you want to use to the wallet you created, the extension at your desk, the app in your pocket, or both.
Which wallet to pick
There are many wallet providers, the same way there are many banks. You pick one, open an account, and you’re set. This guide uses MetaMask and Trust Wallet because they’re two of the most established and widely used wallets, they’re free, and both work with Request Network out of the box. You can browse the full list of supported wallets on the Request Network dashboard.
One warning before you start. Fake wallet apps circulate through search ads and unofficial links, and they’re built to steal funds. Use the links below, type the addresses yourself, or use the verified download links inside the Connect Wallet window on the Request Network dashboard. Never install a wallet from an ad.
Set up MetaMask
MetaMask covers the six main EVM networks: Ethereum, Base, Polygon, Arbitrum, BNB, and Optimism. Pick the desktop or mobile flow below.
On desktop
1. Install the extension. Go to metamask.io and add the extension for Chrome, Brave, Firefox, Opera or Edge.
2. Create a new wallet. Click the MetaMask icon in your browser toolbar (top right of your browser) and select create a new wallet.
3. Choose how to secure it. MetaMask offers two options: a Secret Recovery Phrase, or a social login through Google, Apple, or Telegram. The recovery phrase is the standard method, and the one this guide recommends: a sequence of 12 words that acts as the master key to your wallet. Social login exists for people who prefer signing in with an account they already have. Either works with Request Network.
4. Set your password. Create a password for opening the extension on this computer. Done. You have a wallet.
5. Write down your recovery phrase. MetaMask shows you the 12 words. Write them on paper, in order, and store the paper somewhere safe. Then confirm the words in sequence when prompted.
On mobile
1. Install the app. Go to metamask.app.link, which routes you to the official App Store or Google Play listing.
2. Create a new wallet. Open the app and select Create a new wallet.
3. Choose how to secure it. MetaMask offers a Secret Recovery Phrase or a social login through Google, Apple, or Telegram. The recovery phrase is the standard method and the one this guide recommends: 12 words that act as the master key to your wallet. Either works with Request Network.
4. Set your password. Create a password for opening the app on your mobile. Done. You have a wallet.
5. Write down your recovery phrase. If you picked the “Use Secret Recovery Phrase” option in step 3, write it on paper when the app shows it, then confirm the words in the order requested. This confirmation step proves you recorded the phrase correctly.
6. Turn on Face ID or fingerprint login. Recommended. Follow the prompt during setup, or turn it on later in Settings › Security and Privacy › Device Authentication. From then on, your face or fingerprint opens the app instead of your password.
Chose social login? If you want your recovery phrase on paper anyway (recommended), open MetaMask and go to Settings › Security and Privacy, then select Reveal Secret Recovery Phrase. Do this in private, and write the words on paper only.
Set up Trust Wallet
Trust Wallet covers the six main EVMs and Tron, which makes it the pick if you expect USDT payments over Tron. Pick the desktop or mobile flow below.
On desktop
1. Install the extension. Go to trustwallet.com and add the extension for Chrome, Brave, or Firefox.
2. Create a new wallet. Open the extension, accept the policies, and click Create a new wallet.
3. Secure it. Choose fingerprint recognition or a password. You’re all set — click open your wallet to open the extension showing your balance.
On mobile
1. Install the app. Go to trustwallet.com, which routes you to the official App Store or Google Play listing.
2. Create a new wallet. Open the app and select Create new wallet.
3. Secure it. Set a 6-digit passcode, and turn on Face ID to secure your wallet.
4. Back up your recovery phrase. Tap your wallet icon at the top left, select Back up manually, and accept the warning checkboxes to view your recovery phrase. Write the words on paper in order, then confirm their placement. This confirmation step proves you recorded the phrase correctly.
Protect your wallet
Your bank secures your account with a PIN, a password, and two-factor login. If you forget them, a reset link or a phone call fixes it. Your wallet works differently, and this is the one thing to understand before you receive your first payment.
When you created your wallet, it gave you a recovery phrase: 12 or 24 words in a fixed order. That phrase is the master key. Anyone who has it controls the money. Anyone who loses it, and loses access to their device, loses the wallet. There is no reset link, because there is no company in the middle to send one. That’s the trade for full control.
The good news: protecting it comes down to three habits.
- Write the phrase on paper, in order, and store it somewhere safe. A drawer at home works. A safe is better.
- Never store it digitally. No screenshots, no photos, no text files, no cloud folders, no password managers. Automated scripts scan the internet for exposed phrases and drain the wallets they find.
- Never share it. No legitimate company, including Request Network and your wallet provider, will ever ask for your recovery phrase. Anyone who asks is trying to rob you.
Do those three things and your funds stay safe.
One last piece of context. The wallet you created in this guide is a software wallet: an app that stays connected to the internet, which is exactly what makes it convenient for everyday payments. As your balance grows, you can add a hardware wallet, a small physical device that keeps your keys offline, for the funds you don’t touch often. Think current account and savings account. You don’t need one today.
Connect your wallet to Request Network
Your wallet is ready. The last step links it to Request Network so you can start accepting and sending crypto payments.
1. Open the dashboard. Go to dashboard.request.network, select EVM or Tron, and click Connect Wallet.
2. Choose your wallet. Select MetaMask or Trust Wallet from the list.
3. Confirm in your wallet. A window from your wallet opens automatically. Click Connect, then sign the request. Signing proves you own the wallet. It never moves any funds.
4. Access the dashboard. Once you’ve signed, your dashboard opens with your wallet connected. From here you choose your receiving route by selecting the network and asset you want to accept payments in, and you’re ready for your first payment.
Frequently asked questions
Does a crypto wallet cost anything?
No. Creating a wallet is free, and there’s no monthly fee, minimum balance, or paperwork. You only pay small transaction fees when funds move, similar to a bank’s transfer fee — and on the six main EVM networks, Request Network payments are gasless, so your payer covers nothing extra either.
Is it safe to share my wallet address?
Yes. Your address works like an IBAN: people need it to pay you, and knowing it doesn’t let anyone touch your funds. The only thing you must never share is your secret recovery phrase.
Can I use the same wallet on my phone and my computer?
Yes. Install the app on one device and the extension on the other, then import your wallet with your secret recovery phrase. Both stay in sync because they’re two doors to the same account.
What happens if I lose my phone?
Your money isn’t on the phone, it’s on the network. Install your wallet app on a new device, enter your secret recovery phrase, and everything reappears. This is why the paper backup matters: it’s your way back in.
What if I lose my recovery phrase?
As long as you still have access to a logged-in device, open your wallet settings and reveal the phrase again, then write it down. If you lose both the phrase and every logged-in device, the wallet can’t be recovered. No one can reset it for you, which is the trade for no one being able to freeze it.
Do I need a different wallet for each cryptocurrency?
No. One wallet holds many assets. MetaMask covers everything on the six main EVM networks, and Trust Wallet adds Tron on top. You’d only add a second wallet for a network your first one doesn’t support.
MetaMask or Trust Wallet: which one should I pick?
Both are free, established, and work with Request Network. The deciding question is Tron: if you expect USDT payments over Tron, pick Trust Wallet. If you’ll operate on the EVM networks only, either works.
Can Request Network access the funds in my wallet?
No. Your funds go directly from your payer’s wallet to yours. Request Network never holds them, and connecting your wallet to the dashboard only lets you manage payments — never move funds without your signature.
