Chapter · Master Base
Using Base safely
To use Base you need a wallet that supports it. Popular options include Coinbase Wallet and MetaMask, both of which can connect to Base easily. Coinbase also offers a Smart Wallet, which lets people create a wallet with a passkey instead of writing down a long secret phrase. That lowers the scary first step for newcomers. Once your wallet is connected to Base and holds a little ETH for gas, you are ready to send funds and try apps.
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What this lesson covers
Getting money in
You do not always need to bridge manually. An onramp lets you turn regular money, like dollars from a card or bank, directly into crypto on Base. Coinbase makes this smooth because you can move funds from a Coinbase account onto Base with low friction. For many newcomers this is the easiest first step: buy or hold crypto with Coinbase, send it to Base, and start using apps without touching a complex bridge screen.
What you get asked
What is a benefit of the Coinbase Smart Wallet?
Smart Wallet uses passkeys, so beginners can get started without managing a long recovery phrase. It aims to make onboarding simpler.
An ___ lets you turn regular money like dollars directly into crypto you can use on Base.
An onramp converts traditional money into crypto. Coinbase onramps make it simple to fund a wallet and start using Base.
Put the beginner setup steps in a sensible order.
Set up a wallet, fund it with a bit of ETH for gas, connect to a trusted app, then start small to make sure everything works.
What is a smart safety habit when first using Base?
Testing with a small amount first catches mistakes cheaply. Never share your recovery phrase, and only connect to sites you trust.
The rest of this chapter
Learn how Base works as Coinbase's Ethereum Layer 2, from rollups and the OP Stack to gas in ETH, bridging, the sequencer, and staying safe.