Kusama: Quick wallet setup

When first entering the Kusama / Polkadot ecosystem, things can look daunting. We've put together this quick guide to help you safely get started in just a few clicks.

A video version of this process is also available on Youtube:

Creating a wallet

The Polkadot JS Browser extension is a method of storing your wallet's private keys in your browser, but encrypted with a password of your choosing. Because the plugin does one thing and one thing well (securely store your keys), it is very safe to use.

Install the Browser Plugin

Install the extension from https://polkadot.js.org/extension

Create Account

Open the Polkadot{.js} browser extension by clicking the logo on the top bar of your browser. You will see a browser popup not unlike the one below.

Click the big plus button or select "Create new account" from the small plus icon in the top right. The Polkadot{.js} plugin will then use system randomness to make a new seed for you and display it to you in the form of twelve words.

You should back up these words in an offline location. It is imperative to store the seed somewhere safe, secret, and secure. If you cannot access your account via Polkadot{.js} for some reason, you can re-enter your seed through the "Add account menu" by selecting "Import account from pre-existing seed".

Name Account

The account name is arbitrary and for your use only. It is not stored on the blockchain and will not be visible to other users who look at your address via a block explorer. If you're juggling multiple accounts, it helps to make this as descriptive and detailed as needed.

Enter Password

The password will be used to encrypt this account's information. You will need to re-enter it when using the account for any kind of outgoing transaction or when using it to cryptographically sign a message.

Note that this password does NOT protect your seed phrase. If someone knows the twelve words in your mnemonic seed, they still have control over your account even if they do not know the password.

Set Address for your desired chain

Now we will ensure that the addresses are displayed as Kusama mainnet addresses.

Click on "Options" at the top of the plugin window, and under "Display address format for" select "Kusama Relay Chain".

Your address' format is only visual - the data used to derive this representation of your address are the same, so you can use the same address on multiple chains. However, for privacy reasons, we recommend creating a new address for each chain you're using.

Our Accounts page also has a tool you can use to convert your address between the different chain formats.

You can copy your address by clicking on the account's icon while the desired chain format is active. E.g. selecting "Substrate" as the format will change your address to start with the number 5, and clicking the colorful icon of your account will copy it in that format. While in Polkadot mode (starts with 1), that format will be copied, and so on.

Connecting to Kanaria

Go to Kanaria, and click the Connect Wallet button. Accept the Terms and Conditions, select your newly created account from the list, and you're done!

Getting some KSM

You can get KSM via any of the available markets, or you can use our integration with Ramp Network. Click the green "Get KSM" button, or follow instructions in this video.

Passing KYC

As explaind in the announcement post, in order to avoid the World Police™, we needed to add KYC to the claim process. You can complete it once per address and then claim as many eggs as you wish. If you try claiming an egg without having completed KYC, you will be asked to do it, but also only once - when you account is verified, you're free to claim without limits.

This Youtube video will also take you through the process.