How to Set Up Trust Wallet

Trust Wallet is a free, open-source mobile wallet supporting millions of assets across 70+ blockchains. It's owned by Binance and is one of the most popular mobile wallets.

Why Trust Wallet?

• Multi-chain - Bitcoin, Ethereum, BNB Chain, Solana, and 70+ chains
• Built-in DApp browser - Access DeFi directly
• Staking - Earn rewards on supported coins
• NFT support - View and manage NFTs
• Free - No subscription or hidden fees

Step 1: Download the App

• iOS: App Store → search "Trust Wallet"
• Android: Google Play → search "Trust Wallet"
• Verify publisher is "Six Days LLC" (official)
• Check reviews and download count

Step 2: Create New Wallet

• Open Trust Wallet
• Tap "Create a new wallet"
• Accept terms of service
• Enable biometric unlock (recommended)

Step 3: Backup Recovery Phrase

• Tap "Back up now" (don't skip!)
• Write down all 12 words in order
• Store somewhere safe offline
• Verify by selecting words in correct order

Step 4: Secure Your Wallet

• Enable Face ID / Touch ID / Fingerprint
• Set up passcode as backup
• Enable transaction signing
• Consider app lock timeout

Step 5: Add Cryptocurrencies

• Tap the toggle icon (top right)
• Search for coins you want to track
• Enable the coins
• They'll appear on your main screen

Receiving Crypto

• Tap on the coin you want to receive
• Tap "Receive"
• Copy address or show QR code
• Send this address to the sender

Sending Crypto

• Tap on the coin
• Tap "Send"
• Enter recipient address (paste or scan QR)
• Enter amount
• Review and confirm

Using DApps

Trust Wallet has a built-in browser for DeFi:

• Tap "Browser" at bottom
• Find DApps like Uniswap, PancakeSwap
• Connect wallet when prompted
• Approve transactions on your device

Staking in Trust Wallet

Earn passive income on supported coins:

• Tap "Earn" section
• Select stakeable asset
• Choose validator and amount
• Confirm staking transaction

Trust Wallet vs MetaMask

Feature	Trust Wallet	MetaMask
Platform	Mobile-first	Browser-first
Bitcoin	Yes	No (EVM only)
Chains	70+	EVM chains
NFT Display	Excellent	Good
Staking	Built-in	Via DApps

Common Trust Wallet Mistakes

Mistake 1: Not Backing Up Recovery Phrase Immediately

Trust Wallet prompts you to back up your phrase during setup, but allows skipping it. In February 2024, a user skipped the backup, used Trust Wallet for 3 months ($14,000 accumulated), then dropped their phone in water. The phone died, no backup existed, funds lost forever. The backup prompt exists for this reason - don't skip it.

Mistake 2: Connecting to Malicious dApps

Trust Wallet's browser can access any website. In June 2024, the "Monkey Drainer" scam created fake yield farming sites. Users connected Trust Wallet and approved transactions that drained accounts. Over $8.3 million stolen from 2,400 victims. Only connect to verified, established dApps, which aligns with guidance from the Ethereum Foundation.

Mistake 3: Wrong Network Selection

A common loss scenario: User has USDT on Ethereum network. They try to send it but select BNB Chain network in Trust Wallet. Transaction succeeds (Trust Wallet allows it), but funds arrive on wrong network and appear lost. In October 2024, this mistake cost users $12 million collectively. Always verify network matches where your tokens actually exist.

Mistake 4: Unlimited Token Approvals

When connecting to DEXs like PancakeSwap, Trust Wallet requests token approval. Default is often "unlimited." In August 2023, a PancakeSwap contract exploit allowed draining of all users who had unlimited approvals. Users who manually set approval limits to specific amounts were protected. Use revoke.cash to check and remove old approvals.

Mistake 5: Downloading Fake Trust Wallet Apps

In 2023, Google Play Store hosted 14 fake "Trust Wallet" apps before removal. Combined downloads exceeded 17,000. All fake apps stole seed phrases immediately upon "creation." Verify the publisher is "DApps Platform Inc" or "Six Days LLC" with millions of downloads before installing, a perspective shared by Investopedia.

Advanced Trust Wallet Features

Multi-Coin Wallet Architecture

Trust Wallet generates separate addresses for each blockchain from your single 12-word phrase:

• Bitcoin: bc1 address (SegWit)
• Ethereum: 0x address (works for all EVM chains)
• Solana: Unique SOL address
• Cosmos: cosmos1 address

Your 12 words recover ALL of these addresses across all chains. This uses BIP44 derivation paths. Same recovery phrase, different addresses per chain.

Built-In Staking Options

Coin	Staking APY	Lock Period	Minimum
BNB	5-8%	7-90 days	0.1 BNB
Cosmos (ATOM)	14-20%	21 days unbonding	Any amount
Tezos (XTZ)	5-7%	None	Any amount
Solana (SOL)	6-8%	2-3 days unbonding	0.01 SOL
Ethereum (ETH)	3-5%	Via liquid staking	0.01 ETH

To stake: Tap the coin → Tap "Stake" → Choose validator → Enter amount → Confirm. Rewards typically arrive daily or weekly depending on the network.

Browser Security Settings

Trust Wallet's dApp browser has security options many users don't enable:

1. Go to Settings → Security
2. Enable "Transaction Signing" - requires Face ID/fingerprint for every transaction
3. Enable "Security Alerts" - warns about suspicious contracts
4. Consider "App Lock" - locks app after timeout

In September 2024, a user with transaction signing enabled avoided a $28,000 loss. Malware tried to auto-execute a drain transaction, but the biometric requirement blocked it, as noted in resources from Chainalysis.

Custom Token Addition

For tokens not in Trust Wallet's default list:

1. Get contract address from CoinGecko or CoinMarketCap
2. Tap toggle icon (top right)
3. Scroll to bottom → "Add Custom Token"
4. Select network (Ethereum, BSC, etc.)
5. Paste contract address
6. Name, symbol, decimals auto-fill
7. Verify info is correct
8. Tap "Save"

Scam warning: Fake tokens often use names like "Binance" or "Ethereum" with similar contract addresses. In March 2024, a scam token called "USDT-V2" tricked users into swapping real USDT for worthless fake tokens. Always verify contract addresses on multiple sources.

WalletConnect Integration

Trust Wallet supports WalletConnect for connecting to desktop dApps:

1. On desktop: Visit dApp and click "Connect Wallet"
2. Select "WalletConnect"
3. QR code appears
4. In Trust Wallet: Tap "Browser" → Scan icon → Scan QR
5. Approve connection

Now you can use desktop dApp interfaces while keeping keys secure on your phone. Transactions require approval in Trust Wallet. This works with Uniswap, OpenSea, Aave, and 5,000+ dApps.

Trust Wallet vs Competitors

Feature	Trust Wallet	MetaMask Mobile	Coinbase Wallet
Chains Supported	70+	EVM only	15+
Bitcoin Support	Yes	No	Yes
Built-in Staking	15+ coins	Via dApps only	4 coins
NFT Display	Excellent	Good	Good
dApp Browser	Built-in	Built-in	Built-in
Open Source	Yes	Yes	Partial
Owner	Binance (acquired 2018)	ConsenSys	Coinbase

Troubleshooting Trust Wallet Issues

Tokens Not Showing

If you sent tokens but they don't appear:

1. Verify transaction succeeded on blockchain explorer
2. Check you're viewing correct network in Trust Wallet
3. Manually add token using contract address
4. Pull down to refresh wallet
5. Force close and reopen app

Common cause: Tokens sent on different network than expected. Example: Sent USDT on Polygon, but looking at Ethereum network in wallet. Same token, different networks.

Transaction Failing or Pending

On congested networks, transactions can get stuck:

• Ethereum: Increase gas price in transaction settings before confirming
• BSC: Use 5 gwei gas price minimum (3 gwei often fails)
• Polygon: Ensure you have MATIC for gas (not just ETH)

In May 2024, when a major NFT drop happened on Ethereum, gas prices hit 400 gwei. Users with default 30 gwei settings waited 6+ hours. Setting to 200 gwei would have confirmed in minutes.

Can't Connect to dApp

If dApp browser won't connect:

1. Check dApp supports your selected network
2. Try disconnecting and reconnecting wallet
3. Clear browser cache (Settings → Browser → Clear Cache)
4. Update Trust Wallet to latest version
5. Try using WalletConnect instead

Recovery Phrase Not Working

If restore fails:

• Verify spelling of each word (use BIP39 word list to check)
• Confirm words are in correct order
• Check for extra spaces
• Try on different device
• Some phrases are 12 words, some 24 - use correct length

In December 2024, a user spent 3 hours troubleshooting. Problem: They wrote "abandon" but typed "abaddon" (not a BIP39 word). Spell-check caught it eventually.

Trust Wallet FAQ

Is Trust Wallet safe after Binance acquired it?

Trust Wallet remains non-custodial (you control keys) despite Binance ownership since 2018. Your seed phrase never goes to Binance servers. The wallet is open-source - anyone can verify no backdoors exist. However, using a wallet owned by a centralized exchange does create potential conflicts of interest. Consider diversifying across multiple wallet providers.

Can Trust Wallet be hacked?

Trust Wallet itself is secure. Losses come from user error: downloading fake apps, revealing seed phrases, approving malicious transactions. In 2026, of $8.3 billion stolen from hot wallets, zero was from Trust Wallet code vulnerabilities. All losses traced to phishing, fake apps, or user mistakes.

Does Trust Wallet charge fees?

Trust Wallet is free. No subscription, no wallet fees. You pay network gas fees (goes to validators, not Trust Wallet) and optional DEX swap fees (goes to liquidity providers). Trust Wallet makes money from affiliate partnerships with exchanges and services within the app.

Can I use Trust Wallet on multiple devices?

Yes. Install Trust Wallet on second device and import using your 12-word phrase. Same wallet appears on both devices. Changes sync via blockchain (not through Trust Wallet servers). However, having seed phrase on multiple devices increases attack surface. If any device is compromised, wallet is at risk.

What happens if Trust Wallet shuts down?

Your funds remain safe. Crypto lives on blockchains, not in Trust Wallet company. Your 12-word phrase works with any BIP39-compatible wallet (MetaMask, Exodus, hardware wallets, etc.). Even if Trust Wallet disappeared tomorrow, you'd import your seed elsewhere and access everything.