Choosing a Web3 wallet can be confusing. Within the Cosmos ecosystem Keplr is one of the easier choices. The other popular choices are Metamask, OKX, Starshell, Leap, and Fina. 

Right now you might be wondering, “What is the optimal wallet for transacting on Shade? What options are there?” 

This concise blog will talk you through a comparison of those options.

Please note: Wallets, their features, and integrations are constantly changing. This information is accurate as of July 8, 2024. If you have a recommended update, please DM our Twitter or reach out to the team. 

Wallet Options:

Metamask 

Metamask has one of the largest user bases in the world (around 3 million). If you are coming from the Ethereum ecosystem, interacting with Shade will feel similar to using an Eth L2.

At Shade, we take user rights very seriously. It’s worth noting that MetaMask has chosen to geo-block some countries. 

Important to know if you use it:

• You do not need to add Secret Network to MetaMask. 

• When you click connect wallet, you will not see your address in the MetaMask UI. Access your new secret address by clicking “portfolio”. Address is right at the top of the page.  

Leap 

People who use Leap seem to love it. They describe an enjoyable and user-friendly UI. Leap is usable throughout the Cosmos/IBC ecosystem. 

Important to know if you use it: 

• Although you can connect Leap with the Shade App, full support is not yet in place. It might best be described as in “beta”.

• You can use Shade via Leap mobile. However, the experience is not yet optimized. 

Keplr 

Keplr is the most established wallet in Cosmos. At this point, most guides and tutorials are for Keplr (and MetaMask). 

Starshell 

Starshell is native to Secret Network and takes user privacy very seriously. The UI is a first-of-its-kind. As you interact with an app it will show you what data is being solicited (and potentially exposed).  

Important to know if you use it: 

• When you first connect your wallet the app mentions that it will be using Keplr API and it needs to “reload”. This is normal. Just accept to begin using the app. 

OKX

With around 50 million users, OKX is one of the largest centralized exchanges in the world. OKX wallet is their avenue into Web3. 

Important to know if you use it: 

• When you first connect your wallet the app mentions that it will be using Keplr API and it needs to “reload”. This is normal. Just accept to begin using the app. 

Fina (mobile)

Fina is a Secret Native wallet and provides the best mobile experience with the Shade app. 

Next Steps 

Regardless of which wallet you use, as soon as you begin using Shade Protocol’s App, any asset you interact with will require a viewing key. 

You can learn more about viewing keys on the Shade app here. 

If you're new to our app, check out our #ShadeGuide playlist for additional tutorials to help you get familiar with the Shade app and become a pro user. We have videos that will walk you through all the features step-by-step.

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Information provided in this post is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute formal investment advice. Please read the full disclaimer at shadeprotocol.io/disclaimer before relying on any information herein.