To get started on PancakeSwap, the first thing you'll need is to set up a wallet that supports BNB Smart Chain (BSC). Wallets are available both on desktop computers and on smartphone devices. You'll need to choose the wallet that fits your needs best.
When you're setting up a wallet, be sure to:
✅ Download and install only the latest version from an official source.
✅ Follow the setup guide carefully.
✅ Safely back up your recovery phrases.
❌ NEVER share your recovery phrases with anyone, under any circumstances.
❌ NEVER input your recovery phrase to a website or app, other than your wallet app.
Smartphone/Mobile or Desktop wallet?
Mobile device wallets and desktop-based wallets have different strengths and weaknesses. Consider which fits your needs better to help decide which type of wallet to use.
Mobile
Desktop
Use anywhere
✅
➖
Easy to use
✅
➖
More secure
➖
✅
Accessibility friendly
➖
✅
Damage/loss/theft resistant
➖
✅
Power/connection outage resistant
✅
➖
Smartphone/Mobile wallets
Smartphone/Mobile wallets allow you to access your crypto almost anywhere. Wallets are available on both Android and iOS devices.
Which mobile wallet should I choose?
This comparison table gives an overview of the most popular mobile wallets used with PancakeSwap.
Token Pocket
MetaMask
Coinbase Wallet
Trust Wallet
SafePal
BNB Smart Chain support
✅
⚠️
✅
✅
✅
Built-in DApp browser
✅
➖
✅
✅ Android
⚠️ iOS
✅
Hardware wallet compatible
➖
✅
✅
➖
🔶
Open source (auditability)
✅
✅
✅
✅
➖
Interact with BscScan
(for advanced users!)
➖
✅
➖
➖
➖
⚠️ Requires some setup
🔶 Only supports SafePal hardware wallet
You can find more in-depth information about each wallet below, as well as download links and installation guides.
Trust Wallet is a popular wallet for smart devices. It supports DApps, NFT collectibles (with Opensea.io support), and in-wallet staking.
Pros:
Open source for auditability
Backed by the Binance cryptocurrency exchange
Easily switch between several crypto networks
Includes networks by default
Includes in-wallet staking options
Has additional features such as NFT collection, BNB staking, and DApp access within the wallet
MetaMask is a very popular browser-based wallet plugin that supports ERC20 (Ethereum network) and BEP2 & BEP20 (Binance Chain and BNB Smart Chain networks).
Pros:
Open source for auditability
WEB3 capable on BscScan
A strong history of security and reliability
A large amount of how-to guides and resources online
Many tools and custom settings
Offers ETH purchases with Transak
Supports a very large number of languages
Is also available a browser plugin for desktop devices
Cons:
Longer setup time than other options
Additional steps needed to use with BNB Smart Chain and PancakeSwap
Extra information and settings may confuse beginners
Millions of users choose Coinbase Wallet to earn yield with DeFi, swap more than 5,500 assets, and hold their NFT collections. Coinbase wallet supports BEP2 & BEP20 (Binance Chain and BNB Smart Chain networks).
Highlights:
Most downloaded mobile dapp wallet in the United States with 12M+ active Wallet users.
No additional steps needed to use with BNB Smart Chain and PancakeSwap.
Premier audience: Up to 89M+ Coinbase retail app users to onboard to Coinbase Wallet as they start to explore web3.
Easy to transfer assets from Coinbase retail app.
Fiat On-ramp: Users can now directly purchase crypto with fiat in all 86 countries where Coinbase operates, without leaving Wallet.
Industry leading security with secure cloud backup.
Coinbase Wallet is a self-custody wallet providing software services subject to Coinbase WalletTerms of ServiceandPrivacy Policy. Coinbase Wallet isdistinctfrom Coinbase.com, and private keys for Coinbase Wallet are stored directly by the user and not by Coinbase. Fees may apply. You do not need a Coinbase.com account to use Coinbase Wallet.
Token Pocket is a cryptocurrency management app that natively supports many cryptocurrency networks. It also has a desktop application available.
Pros:
Open source for auditability
Allows users to easily switch between many crypto networks
Supports many networks by default
A less cramped user experience than browser plugin wallets
Is also available as desktop software devices
Cons:
Only supports Chinese and English languages
Has some issues with the English translation
Has fewer online resources than more established wallets
Your device will be automatically detected. Tap the Google Play or App Store button and install the Token Pocket app.
Once Token Pocket is installed, open it. You’ll be met by a screen asking whether you have an existing wallet or would like to create a new one. Tap No accounts, Create Now.
If you do have an existing wallet to import, use the top option instead.
On the next page, find BNB Smart Chain in the list and tap it.
Next, on the “Create way” page, tap Create Wallet.
You’ll be asked to enter a password. For your security, make sure your password is judged as “Strong”. You can also add a hint, but make sure it’s something only you will understand. When you’re ready, tap Create Wallet.
Getting private key from mobile to import to desktop
Token Pocket lets you use both a desktop and mobile wallet. This section will cover how to get your private key from your mobile wallet to import into your desktop wallet.
Please be extremely careful with how you handle your private keys. Giving your private keys to someone will give them full access to your coins! Token Pocket is an open source project and will use your private key to import your wallet. Even so, only use your private key with applications you trust and can verify are legitimate!
Tap the Me tab on the bottom ribbon and tap Manage Wallets.
On the next page, tap the BNB Smart Chain entry. Be careful not to tap the address part, or you’ll only copy that to clipboard instead.
When the menu appears, find and tap the Export Private Key option. Type in your password to get your private key.
**NEVER, in any situation, should you ever give someone your private key or recovery phrase ("seed phrase"). This will give someone complete access to your crypto!
The genuine PancakeSwap site and staff will never ask you to input your seed phrase.**
Now you have your private key ready to import your wallet into the desktop version of Token Pocket.
SafePal is available as both a software and hardware wallet. The wallet is easy to install and create, and comes ready to support BEP2 (Binance Chain) and BEP20 (BNB Smart Chain) right away.
Pros:
Easily switch between several crypto networks
Offers 25% fee discount paying with BNB (requires login)
Has the option for Google Authenticator built in
Supports a large number of languages
Setup process is very simple
Is available as both a software and hardware wallet (work together)
Supports NFTs on both the BSC and ETH networks
Cons:
Isn't fully open source
Has some features that are not yet ready for use (such as DeFi)
Does not give user notifications
Does not enforce strong security during initial setup and wallet creation
Has fewer online resources than more established wallets
Desktop wallets are available on your home computer or laptop computer. Wallets on your computer can run as standalone applications, or as web browser plugins for popular browsers like Chrome and Firefox.
Which desktop wallet should I choose?
This comparison table gives an overview of the most popular desktop wallets used with PancakeSwap.
MetaMask
Binance Wallet
Coinbase Wallet
Token Pocket
BNB Smart Chain support
⚠️
✅
✅
⚠️
Built-in DApp browser
➖
➖
➖
✅
Hardware wallet compatible
✅
✅
✅
➖
Open source (auditability)
✅
✅
✅
✅
Interact with BscScan
(for advanced users!)
✅
➖
➖
➖
⚠️ Requires additional setup
You can find more in-depth information about each wallet below, as well as download links and installation guides.
MetaMask is a very popular browser-based wallet plugin that supports ERC20 (Ethereum network) by default, and BEP2 & BEP20 (Binance Chain and BNB Smart Chain networks) with a little work.
Pros:
Open source for auditability
WEB3 capable on BscScan
A strong history of security and reliability
A large amount of how-to guides and resources online
Many tools and custom settings
Supports a very large number of languages
Is also available on mobile devices
Cons:
Longer setup time than other options
Additional steps needed to use with BNB Smart Chain and PancakeSwap
Extra information and settings may confuse beginners
Binance Wallet is a browser-plugin wallet that natively supports the Binance Chain (BEP2) BNB Smart Chain (BEP20) networks. Binance Wallet was developed by the Binance cryptocurrency exchange.
Pros:
Open source for auditability
Backed by the Binance cryptocurrency exchange
Can be directly linked to a Binance or Gmail account
A streamlined user experience
Supports BNB Smart Chain by default, making using PancakeSwap easy
Supports a large number of languages
Hardware wallet compatible
Cons:
Lacks some custom settings of other wallets
Lack of additional tools makes some actions available in other wallets impossible
Has fewer online resources than more established wallets
Millions of users choose Coinbase Wallet to earn yield with DeFi, swap more than 5,500 assets, and hold their NFT collections. Coinbase wallet supports ERC20 (Ethereum network) and BEP2 & BEP20 (Binance Chain and BNB Smart Chain networks).
Highlights:
12M+ active Wallet users.
No additional steps needed to use with BNB Smart Chain and PancakeSwap.
Premier audience: Up to 89M+ Coinbase retail app users to onboard to Coinbase Wallet as they start to explore web3.
Easy to transfer assets from Coinbase retail app.
Fiat On-ramp: Users can now directly purchase crypto with fiat in all 86 countries where Coinbase operates, without leaving Wallet.
Industry leading security with secure cloud backup
Coinbase Wallet is a self-custody wallet providing software services subject to Coinbase WalletTerms of ServiceandPrivacy Policy. Coinbase Wallet isdistinctfrom Coinbase.com, and private keys for Coinbase Wallet are stored directly by the user and not by Coinbase. Fees may apply. You do not need a Coinbase.com account to use Coinbase Wallet.
Token Pocket is a standalone application available for both Mac OS and Win64 devices. Token Pocket allows you to manage your cryptocurrency in software independent of your browser.
Pros:
Open source for auditability
Independent of your browser and any of its permissions
Allows users to easily switch between many crypto networks
Supports many networks by default
A less cramped user experience than browser plugin wallets
Is also available on mobile devices
Cons:
Asks users to enter their private key as part of desktop setup process
Only supports Chinese and English languages
Has some issues with the English translation
Has fewer online resources than more established wallets
The desktop version of Token Pocket will ask you to import a private key. Please make sure you’re familiar with and understand the importance of a private key before you proceed.
Token Pocket is an open source project, so the code is publicly visible and generally considered safe. Even so, your private keys are your responsibility, so only use them with applications you trust and can verify.
Visit the Token Pocket website on your PC and click the Desktop button.
On the next page, click the button for your operating system and wait for your download to finish. This guide uses Windows, but the process is largely the same on Mac OS.
Run the installation file. It will ask you to choose between making Token Pocket available to everyone using the computer, or just the current user. For your security, we recommend current user only.
Enter a destination folder to install to and click Install.
Once the installation is finished, click Finish and run Token Pocket.
When Token Pocket opens, you may find yourself looking at a Chinese interface. You can change to English by clicking EN in the bottom-left corner.
Token Pocket will be asking you to create a password. Make sure you use something that’s hard to guess; the longer the password is, the more secure. When you’re done, click Confirm.
On the next page, Token Pocket will be asking you to import a private key. This may be intimidating, but Token Pocket will work as an interface for your existing wallet. You’ll need to get your private from whatever existing wallet you want to use.
Here is a guide for getting your private key from MetaMask. To import your private key from the mobile version of Token Pocket, see the Mobile Token Pocket tab higher up this page. If you use another wallet and don’t know how to get your private key, you’ll need to find a guide.
Please be extremely careful with how you handle your private keys. Giving your private keys to someone will give them full access to your coins! Token Pocket is an open source project and will use your private key to import your wallet. Even so, only use your private key with applications you trust and can verify are legitimate!
Once you’ve entered your private key, click the Ethereum network for now.
NEVER, in any situation, should you ever give someone your private key or recovery phrase ("seed phrase"). This will give someone complete access to your crypto!
The genuine PancakeSwap site and staff will never ask you to input your seed phrase.
