Create Shardeum Wallet and Connect to Mainnet in Minutes

Getting started with Shardeum is simple — it only takes two main steps to set up your wallet and connect to the network:

• Step 1: Choose & Install an EVM-Compatible Wallet
• Step 2: Add Shardeum Network to MetaMask

Step 1: Choose & Install an EVM-Compatible Wallet

For this tutorial, we’ll use MetaMask — a popular, user-friendly Web3 wallet available as a browser extension (we’ll be using Chrome) and as a mobile app. The process is more or less the same if you want to use another wallet provider. Just make sure they are EVM-compatible, which we will talk about in a bit.

Go to https://metamask.io on your browser and click on “Get MetaMask”

Add it to your Chrome browser by clicking “Add to Chrome” and approving permissions.

Once installed, you can now access MetaMask by clicking the puzzle-shaped Extensions icon in your browser toolbar and selecting the MetaMask icon.

Open MetaMask from your browser’s extension menu and click on “Create a new wallet”.

Agree to the terms, then create a strong password (minimum 8 characters). This password is used only to login to MetaMask wallet locally on your device. Note, you cannot recover the MetaMask login password itself — but you can reset it using your Secret Recovery Phrase (SRP), which we will cover right below. Aftering creating your MetaMask password, click on “Create a new wallet” again.

On the next screen, you’ll be prompted to secure your wallet using a Secret Recovery Phrase (SRP) — a unique 12-word phrase. Choose “Secure my wallet (recommended)” to proceed and follow the instructions. This phrase is the only way to recover your wallet due to accidental app deletion, crashes or local password recovery, so make sure to store it safely and offline.

After clicking Next, you’ll be asked to confirm your SRP by selecting the words in the exact order they were shown. Once confirmed, MetaMask will display a message indicating that your wallet is ready to use. It will also remind you where to find your recovery phrase later, in case you need to back it up again in the future.

You can click “Done”. The next screen will confirm that MetaMask has been successfully installed and guide you on how to pin the MetaMask extension to your browser toolbar for easy access.

You’ll now land on the MetaMask home screen — the same screen you’d see if you opened MetaMask from your browser’s extension toolbar or your mobile app. Your first wallet account will be typically labeled “Account 1,” with a default balance of 0 ETH. Below that, you may see 0 USD, which simply reflects the current value of your ETH (or other EVM based tokens) in USD. You can customize this display or switch currencies anytime in the settings later.

Understanding Your Wallet Interface

• “Account 1” Account Name → A label for your wallet address (e.g., “Account 1”) — you can rename it anytime for easy identification.
• 0x Wallet Address → A string of characters starting with 0x3bD..52.This is your public-facing address. You can copy it by clicking on it — use this to receive SHM tokens and connect to available applications.
• Network Dropdown → This shows the network you’re currently connected to. Initially, it shows “Ethereum Mainnet.”
• Menu (Three Dots > Account Details) → This lets you to:
  • View your wallet address as a QR code
  • Export your private key (⚠️ Only do this if necessary, and never share it)
  • Customize MetaMask settings

Element	What It Does	Visibility
Public Key	Generates your wallet address; used to verify transactions	Hidden
Wallet Address	Derived from your public key; share this to send and receive tokens	Visible
Private Key	Used to sign transactions; proves you are the owner	Hidden, exportable
Recovery Phrase (Seed Phrase)	A master key that can regenerate all accounts in your wallet	Shown once during setup

Step 2: Add Shardeum Network to MetaMask

MetaMask is an Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatible wallet, which means it’s connected to the Ethereum Mainnet by default. However, it’s important to note that Ethereum and Shardeum are two entirely separate Layer 1 blockchains.

As highlighted in Shardeum’s whitepaper, our strategy is to innovate at the core — scalability and decentralization — while deliberately retaining familiar elements like wallet compatibility, the EVM, and blockchain explorers. This ensures a seamless experience and faster adoption for both users and developers.

Now let’s add the Shardeum network. Click the network dropdown at the top of MetaMask and select “Add a custom network”.

Next, input the Shardeum RPC endpoint, which serves as a technical bridge (or API) allowing your wallet to interact with the Shardeum network. Connect to Shardeum Mainnet using the details as shown in the screenshots below and hit Save

• Network Name: The label used by Shardeum to identify the network (main network or test network)
• RPC URL: The gateway your wallet uses to communicate with Shardeum — like an API endpoint.
• Chain ID: A unique identifier that distinguishes Shardeum from other EVM networks.
• Currency Symbol: The shorthand (e.g., SHM) displayed for the network’s native token.
• Blockchain Explorer URL: A link to a public tool where you can view transactions, addresses, and fees on the network.

Once you’ve added the network, clicking the network dropdown will now display Ethereum Mainnet, and Shardeum Mainnet. Select “Shardeum Mainnet”, and your wallet interface will switch — allowing you to see the difference immediately.

What Changes — and What Doesn’t — After Shardeum is Added to MetaMask

When you switch from Ethereum to Shardeum in your MetaMask wallet, you’ll notice something interesting:

🔄 What Changes:

• Token name: You’ll now see SHM — Shardeum’s native token — instead of ETH or USD. This reflects the transition to the Shardeum network, where SHM will hold real-world value after the mainnet launch.
• Network: The top bar shows “Shardeum Mainnet” instead of “Ethereum Mainnet”.
• Blockchain activity: Any balances, transaction history, or applications now relate to Shardeum.

✅ What Stays the Same:

• Account name (e.g., “Account 1”): This is just a label stored locally in your wallet. You can rename it if you want.
• Wallet address: Your wallet address remains the same across all EVM-compatible networks — including Ethereum, Shardeum, and their respective mainnets and testnets. It’s generated from your private key and is independent of the network you’re connected to.

Shardeum Wallet Address: 

1. This is the address you’ll use to send and receive SHM, sign transactions, check your balance, and connect to other applications on the network.

2. Whether you're using Shardeum Testnet or Mainnet, your wallet address stays the same. Just switch networks to view the corresponding balance and transactions.

3. If your EVM wallet like MetaMask was removed accidentally, stopped working due to app crashes, you’re setting it up on a new device, or you’ve lost access to your local password, you can recover full access to your wallet and SHM tokens by following the process outlined here.

Shardeum Supports EVM-Compatible Wallets

Shardeum has partnered with leading wallet providers to make it easier for users to connect and transact. The wallets include MetaMask, OKX and Trust Wallet. But you’re not limited—any EVM-compatible wallet is expected to work seamlessly with the Shardeum mainnet.

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