Downloading your first crypto wallet

To download your Blockchain wallet use the button below which will take you to the Apple Store or Playstore. Once the App has successfully downloaded to your phone you’ll need to create an account.

Creating An Account

Though your Blockchain wallet is non-custodial and decentralised, you will still have an account for added security and to enable you to access your funds via both a Mobile Wallet and Web wallet.

This will require an email address and password. Be sure to use a strong password; if you use Gmail accept the strong password suggestion.

Setting Up Your Two Factor Authentication

As a second layer of security for your account it is strongly recommended that you enable two factor authentication via either Authy or Google Authenticator.

Blockchain also requires that you use a four-digit Pin Code which can also be substituted for Biometrics (your fingerprint).

Managing Your Seed

You’ll now be asked to either Print or write down the one piece of information that will enable you to recover your funds if lost: Your Seed. 

This is a crucial step as your Blockchain wallet is non-custodial, putting you in control of your funds; that means security is your responsibility. If this doesn’t mean anything to you, read the first article in this section.

You may prefer a custodial wallet option – where the wallet provider is responsible for your funds – there are plenty to choose from. This guide is equally applicable, you just won’t need to back-up a Secret Phase, though understanding the process is useful knowledge.

1. Make a back-up of your seed
2. Verify your seed

Backing Up Your Seed

In the previous article we explained how control of your crypto boils down to control of something called a Private Key, a long alphanumeric string of characters. To make managing that crucial bit of data easier Mobile Wallets translate them into a Seed, essentially a collection of Secret Phrases.

Blockchain.com uses 12 Secret phrases. When you are setting up the wallet you’ll be asked to make your own offline record of these.. Keep the numbering as shown as the phrases must be used in the correct order and are case sensitive.

Once you’ve made your backup you’ll be prompted to Finish & Verify you’ve done it correctly by inputting a random selection of four phrases. 

This is the process you’ll need to go through if you cannot access your account e.g losing your phone or it stops working, and ensures you have made a record of them. 

Once you’ve successfully verified your secret phrase your Mobile Wallet is ready to use. You can give it a name and familiarise yourself with the main screen.

You’ll immediately see from this example that the main screen has three elements:

1. Balance
2. Fiat Equivalent Balance