Phantom Wallet^ Official Start
Phantom Wallet is a non-custodial, multi-chain crypto wallet that lets you store, send, receive, and swap digital assets across networks like Solana, Ethereum, Polygon, Base, and even Bitcoin, while keeping full control of your private keys. It began as a Solana-only wallet and grew into a multi-chain access point for DeFi, NFTs, and dApps in one streamlined interface.
What Phantom Wallet Is
Phantom is a software wallet available as a browser extension and mobile app for iOS and Android, designed to make Web3 usage feel similar to using a modern fintech app. Because it is non-custodial, your keys and seed phrase are generated and stored locally on your device, not on Phantom’s servers, which means you—not the company—ultimately control access to your crypto and NFTs.
At its core, Phantom supports holding and managing cryptocurrencies and NFTs, and connecting to decentralized applications for trading, lending, staking, gaming, and more. The same wallet can handle assets on multiple chains (for example SOL, ETH, MATIC, BTC) so you don’t need separate wallets for each ecosystem. This unified approach is one of the reasons it has become a default choice for many users in the Solana and multi-chain NFT space.
Official “Start”: Getting Phantom
To start with Phantom, the critical step is to install the official application from Phantom’s own download hub rather than searching blindly in an extension or app store. The recommended flow is to first visit phantom.com/download, then select your browser (Chrome, Brave, Firefox, Edge) or mobile platform (iOS or Android), which redirects you to the correct listing. This minimizes the risk of installing a fake or malicious wallet that impersonates Phantom, a common attack vector in crypto.
On desktop, after choosing your browser, you follow that browser’s extension store process to add the Phantom wallet extension. Once installed, Phantom typically opens in a new tab and also appears in your browser’s extension toolbar, where you can “pin” it for quick access. On mobile, you download the app from the official App Store or Google Play link provided via Phantom’s site, then open it to see the onboarding screen.
Creating a New Phantom Wallet
When Phantom launches for the first time, you choose between creating a new wallet or importing an existing one. If you select “Create New Wallet,” Phantom generates a new wallet and walks you through:
- Setting a local password used to unlock the wallet on that device and browser profile.
- Revealing your Secret Recovery Phrase (seed phrase), typically 12 words in a specific order.
The Secret Recovery Phrase is the master key to your wallet and funds, allowing you to recreate the wallet on any compatible device if you lose access to your current one. Phantom strongly emphasizes that you must store this phrase in a safe, offline location—such as written on paper and kept secure—because anyone who gets it can take full control of your assets, and Phantom cannot recover it for you if you lose it. Many guides recommend making multiple copies, avoiding digital screenshots, and never sharing it with anyone or typing it into untrusted sites.
On mobile, you can also enable biometric security (fingerprint or face unlock) to make unlocking faster while still protecting the wallet behind a device-level factor. Biometric unlock sits on top of your wallet; it does not replace your seed phrase, which remains the ultimate backup.
Importing and Recovering Wallets
If you already have a Phantom or compatible wallet, you can use the “I already have a wallet” or “Import” option instead of creating a new one. In that case, you enter your existing Secret Recovery Phrase or private key, then set a new local password for that device. This process reconstructs your wallet, addresses, and balances on the new installation without Phantom ever storing your keys on its servers.
Phantom also lets you view your recovery phrase and private keys later from within the wallet’s settings, after re-entering your password, to ensure that you can back them up if you didn’t do so during initial onboarding. Each account created directly from a private key has its own credentials that are separate from your main wallet’s recovery phrase, reinforcing the importance of tracking each backup method carefully.
Using Phantom After Setup
Once set up, your next step is to fund the wallet so you can actually transact. For Solana, you typically buy SOL on a centralized exchange, then withdraw it to your Phantom public address; the SOL you hold is required to pay network fees for swaps and transfers on the Solana chain. Phantom’s interface allows you to copy your public address, receive assets, send tokens, view NFTs, and interact with dApps such as DeFi protocols and NFT marketplaces.
Because Phantom supports multiple networks, you can also hold and manage Ethereum, Polygon, Base, and Bitcoin assets, switching networks in the app depending on what you want to do. Just as on Solana, you must hold the chain’s native token (for example ETH on Ethereum) to pay for transactions when interacting with dApps on that chain. Phantom includes built-in token swapping, NFT galleries, and connection flows to Web3 sites, providing an all-in-one portal for on-chain activity.
Security Best Practices from the Start
From the moment you officially start using Phantom, security practices determine how safe your funds are. Key recommendations include:
- Only installing Phantom via phantom.com/download or known official links, to avoid fake extensions or apps.
- Creating a strong, unique local password and enabling biometrics where available.
- Backing up your seed phrase offline in multiple secure locations, never sharing it, and never entering it into random sites or forms.
- Connecting only to trusted dApps and double-checking URLs to avoid phishing.
If you follow these principles, Phantom functions as a powerful, user-friendly gateway to Solana and other supported chains while preserving the core Web3 principle that you always control your own keys and assets.