Yo! So I’m 17, and when I first got into crypto, I had no idea how wallets worked. I thought it would be super complicated, but it was actually way easier than I expected.
In this post, I’ll show you exactly how I set up my crypto wallet (I used Trust Wallet) as a total beginner – no tech skills needed. If you’re new to crypto and wanna get started, this is for you.
Why I Needed a Wallet
Since I’m under 18 and don’t have PayPal or a bank account, I needed a way to receive and store crypto that I earn online (like from Publish0x).
A wallet lets you:
– Receive crypto (like ETH, OP, etc.)
– Store it safely
– Send it later or use it when you’re 18
How I Set Up Trust Wallet
Step 1: Download the App
I went to the App Store (iPhone) / Google Play (Android) and searched "Trust Wallet". Make sure it’s the official one – it should have millions of downloads and a blue logo with a white shield.
Then I just downloaded and opened the app.
Step 2: Create a New Wallet
When I opened the app, I tapped "Create a new wallet".
They showed me a 12-word secret phrase (called a recovery phrase). I wrote it down on paper (NOT saved on my phone).
Important: If you lose this phrase, you lose access to your crypto. Don’t screenshot it. Don’t share it.
Step 3: Confirm the Phrase
They asked me to tap the 12 words in the correct order to prove I had written them down. Once I did that, my wallet was ready!
Step 4: Find My Wallet Address
To get paid from Publish0x, I needed my Ethereum address.
So I:
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Opened Trust Wallet
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Tapped “Ethereum”
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Pressed “Receive”
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Copied the address (it starts with 0x...)
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Pasted it into my Publish0x settings under Withdraw Address
Note: Publish0x uses zkSync Era, so later I added zkSync support too (it’s easy in Trust Wallet – just search "zkSync").
Now What?
Now that I have a wallet:
– I can receive tips from Publish0x
– Store crypto safely
– And when I turn 18, I can send it to an exchange like Binance to turn it into regular money if I want
Until then, I’m just stacking small bits of crypto from blogs and surveys.
Final Thoughts
Setting up a crypto wallet seemed super technical at first, but it was honestly done in like 5 minutes. If you're a teenager like me and want to earn online without PayPal or banks, Trust Wallet is a great way to get started.
Let me know if you want a tutorial on how to connect Trust Wallet to zkSync, or how to send crypto later when you’re ready.
