"Not your keys, not your coins" - this is THE rule
Moving to self-custody takes 8 minutes and protects you forever
📱 Choose Your First Wallet (1 minute)
You need a mobile wallet that's beginner-friendly but real self-custody.
These are the best options:
Blue Wallet
iOS • Android
Easiest to use
Lightning ready
Free, open source
Best for beginners
Muun
iOS • Android
Very simple interface
Built-in Lightning
No setup complexity
Great backup system
Phoenix
iOS • Android
Lightning-first wallet
Extremely fast
Auto-backup option
Low on-chain fees
Our Recommendation
Blue Wallet if you want the simplest, most tested option
Muun if you want zero complexity
Phoenix if you plan to use Lightning frequently
All three are excellent. Just pick one and move forward.
⚙️ Setup Your Wallet (3 minutes)
Step 1: Download & Install
Go to your phone's app store. Search for "Blue Wallet" (or Muun/Phoenix).
Download and open the app.
Step 2: Create New Wallet
Tap "Add Wallet" or "Create Wallet". Choose "Bitcoin" (not Lightning yet).
Give it a name like "My Bitcoin".
Step 3: Write Down Your Seed Phrase (CRITICAL)
The app will show you 12 or 24 words. This is your seed phrase or recovery phrase.
⚠️ CRITICAL: Seed Phrase Rules
Write it on PAPER (not phone, not computer, not cloud)
Write it EXACTLY as shown (order matters, spelling matters)
Store it somewhere SAFE (we'll improve storage in Module 3)
NEVER type it into any website or app except your wallet
NEVER share it with anyone - not even "support"
Step 4: Verify Your Backup
The wallet will ask you to confirm your seed phrase. This ensures you wrote it correctly.
Don't skip this step!
📬 Get Your First Bitcoin Address (1 minute)
A Bitcoin address is like an email address for receiving bitcoin.
Open your new wallet
Tap "Receive" or the receive icon
You'll see a QR code and a long string starting with "bc1" or "3"
This is your address! You can receive bitcoin to this address.
🧪 Try It: Check Bitcoin Address Formats
See what different Bitcoin address types look like:
Click a button to generate a sample address
What to look for: Your wallet will likely show a bc1 address (best) or 3 address (also good). Avoid wallets that only generate "1" addresses - they're outdated.
What's This Address?
It's like a bank account number, but better
You can share it publicly - it's safe
Each wallet can generate unlimited addresses
All addresses connect to the same wallet
Withdraw From Exchange to Your Wallet (3 minutes)
Now move your bitcoin from Cash App (or Coinbase) to YOUR wallet.
From Cash App:
Open Cash App → Bitcoin section
Tap your balance → "Withdraw Bitcoin"
Paste your wallet address (or scan QR code)
Enter the amount (start with your test $20)
Confirm and wait 10-30 minutes for blockchain confirmation
From Coinbase:
Open Coinbase → Bitcoin balance
Tap "Send" → "Send Bitcoin"
Paste your wallet address
Enter amount → Review → Confirm
Wait for confirmation (10-30 minutes)
⚠️ Double-Check Address!
Bitcoin transactions are IRREVERSIBLE
Always verify the first and last 4 characters of the address
Use copy/paste or QR code - NEVER type manually
Start with small amounts until you're confident
✅ Complete Self-Custody Setup
🛠️ Want More Wallet Practice?
Try our interactive Wallet Security Workshop to explore wallet features and security settings in a safe environment.