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MyEtherWallet Introduction
MyEtherWallet: An Introduction
MyEtherWallet: An Introduction

An introduction to MEW and how to interact with your wallet on the Ethereum blockchain.

Brittany avatar
Written by Brittany
Updated over a week ago

MyEtherWallet (MEW) is a non-custodial, open-source, client-side interface that allows users to interact directly with the Ethereum blockchain, staying in full control of their crypto assets. MEW is available as a web wallet, MEW wallet app for iOS and Android, and a browser wallet extension Enkrypt.

What can I do with MEW?

  • Create your own unique Ethereum wallet.

  • Send and receive ETH and tokens.

  • Access on MEW web with a variety of wallet types, including our MEW wallet mobile app, our browser extension Enkrypt, the MetaMask Chrome extension, and partnering hardware wallets.

  • Swap different cryptocurrencies including ERC20 tokens, ETH, ETC, BTC, and more!

  • Explore our DApp store where you can earn use DeFi, stake on Ethereum 2.0, register ENS domains, and more.

  • Send offline through the use of our Offline Helper.

  • Deploy and interact with smart contracts.

  • Access a wealth of educational material from our Knowledge Base.

What do 'non-custodial', ‘open-source’ and ‘client-side’ mean?

  • Non-custodial means that only you have control over your crypto. MEW can't access or freeze your account, and can't prevent you from moving your assets whenever you want.

  • Open-source means anyone can view, copy, or make suggestions to our code on GitHub.

  • Client-side means we do not have behind-the-scenes servers, and don't collect or store personal user information.

  • We don’t see your funds, we don’t know your IP. No information or funds are stored on our site.

  • The user is in complete control of their own security and privacy.

Where are my funds stored then?

  • All ETH and tokens are stored on the Ethereum blockchain.

  • When using any site, exchange, hardware wallet, or interface based on the blockchain, all crypto is stored on the blockchain itself. These platforms and hardware wallets just allow us to interact with the blockchain in a simplified way.

  • The Ethereum blockchain is not owned or controlled by a centralized entity, but is verified and maintained by thousands of remote validators that are run by individuals and organizations.

  • This is why our site, and block explorers like Etherscan and EthVM, are able to pull your wallet information. Not because of behind-the-scenes servers, but because they are pulling information from the blockchain itself.


MEW is NOT a bank or exchange.

What does that mean?

  • We cannot cancel, reverse, or refund transactions.

  • We cannot recover phished funds.

  • We cannot recover lost passwords, nor can we reset passwords.

  • We do not store names, emails, or any personal information about our users.

  • The only one who has access to your funds is you.


How do I remain secure?

  • The most secure way to access your funds is through a hardware wallet, like a Ledger Nano S or Trezor. If you have over $200 in crypto, there is little excuse not to get one.

  • Download our fully-fledged mobile app MEW wallet. It’s simple, fast, and secure.

  • Use our multi-chain browser extension wallet Enkrypt.

  • Follow our educational blogs MEWtopia and Enkrypt Blog for the latest on MEW and Ethereum.

  • When using a private key, keystore/JSON file, or mnemonic phrase, make sure to keep them solely on physical paper and offline computers. This information is extremely sensitive. And make backups! If you lose this information, it’s gone forever.

  • Always check the URL you are using to make sure it says www.myetherwallet.com. And bookmark us for future use!

  • Make sure the URL bar shows a secure padlock on the left. If you click it, you should see “Certificate (Valid) Issued to: MyEtherWallet Inc [US]”.

  • Install an extension like EAL or PhishFort to get alerts for malicious addresses and websites.

  • Do not trust any messages sent to you randomly from ‘our team’. We do not have your information, and they are likely trying to scam you. We never email or DM our users first.

  • Consider installing an ad blocker and do not click on any ads you see on your search engine.

  • Do your research! If something seems fishy to you, it’s likely been talked about by the community.

  • If you have additional questions or concerns, reach out to us! Our support team is always happy to help. They can be reached at support@myetherwallet.com


~ If you haven't already, feel free to check us out on Twitter and Reddit ~

Tags:

mewwalletios, mewwalletandroid, whatis, mew


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