How to Create a Tezos Wallet and Receive XTZ

To create a Tezos wallet, choose a self-custody wallet that supports Tezos, create a new wallet, write down its recovery phrase offline, and confirm the Tezos address before receiving XTZ. Wallet creation itself does not put funds on-chain, so you do not need XTZ just to set up an address.

Temple Wallet is one self-custody option for Tezos, as well as Etherlink and EVM chains. Before choosing any wallet, check that its current version supports the network and device you intend to use. A wallet is self-custodial when you control the recovery phrase or private keys; losing them can mean losing access, and a support agent cannot safely recover them for you.

A wallet is not the same as an exchange account. An exchange may hold crypto on your behalf and set its own withdrawal rules, while a self-custody wallet gives you control of the keys. If your main goal is simply to hold XTZ, decide which arrangement you want before funding an account.

1. Choose a wallet that supports Tezos. Review the provider's current network support and install the app or extension from a channel you have independently verified. Avoid sponsored search ads, unsolicited messages and lookalike names.
2. Select the option to create a new wallet. Do not choose an import or restore option unless you already have a recovery phrase for that wallet.
3. Set a device password or passcode if prompted. This can help protect access on that device, but it is not a replacement for the recovery phrase.
4. Read the backup instructions in the wallet. The wallet should show a recovery phrase or another method for restoring access. Follow its confirmation steps without sharing the phrase with anyone.
5. Open the Tezos account or network view. Record the receiving address and check that the wallet identifies it as a Tezos address before you give it to a sender.

Wallet menus and labels can change between versions, so follow the current in-app instructions rather than a screenshot from an old guide. If you already have a wallet, importing its recovery phrase into another compatible wallet may expose it to a new device; only do that when you trust the software and understand the risk.

Your recovery phrase is the most important part of a self-custody wallet. It can restore access if you lose your phone, remove an extension or replace a computer. Anyone who sees it may be able to take the assets, so treat it like the key to a safe rather than a password you can reset.

Use this checklist while setting it up:

• Write the phrase on paper, in the order shown, and check every word against the wallet's confirmation prompt.
• Store the written backup somewhere private and protected from fire, water and casual access.
• Do not photograph it, paste it into a note, email it to yourself or store it in cloud storage.
• Never type it into a website or share it with someone claiming to be wallet support.
• Consider whether you need a second secure backup, but do not keep both copies together.

A device password protects that device; it does not give you a way around a missing recovery phrase. If a person or site asks for your phrase to “verify,” “unlock” or “synchronize” your wallet, stop. Legitimate wallet support should not need your secret phrase to troubleshoot a problem.

After creating the wallet, open its receive screen and copy the Tezos address shown there. Tezos account addresses commonly begin with “tz1,” “tz2,” “tz3” or “tz4.” Compare the first and last characters after pasting the address into the sender's form; malware can sometimes replace copied addresses, so checking them is a useful defense.

Before sharing it, confirm the wallet is displaying its Tezos account—not an Etherlink or EVM account. Temple Wallet supports Tezos, Etherlink and EVM chains, but those are distinct networks. An address or asset displayed under one network should not be treated as automatically interchangeable with an address or asset on another.

To test a new setup, you can ask the sender to make a small initial transfer, if that is practical. Check that the transaction reached the intended Tezos account before arranging any larger transfer. Receiving crypto does not require you to reveal your recovery phrase, private key, device password or personal login credentials. A public address is meant to be shared so people can send funds to it, but do not post it alongside personal information if you want to limit the link between your identity and transactions.

You do not need to buy XTZ to create a wallet, but you will need XTZ to make a later transaction that requires a network fee. The fee is paid on-chain in XTZ; the amount can change with network conditions and the wallet's transaction settings. Check the current estimate in the wallet before you approve a transfer rather than relying on an old fee figure.

To fund the wallet, choose a source you trust, such as a crypto exchange that supports withdrawals to Tezos or a person sending you XTZ. If the source asks you to choose a network, select Tezos and verify that the destination address matches the one in your wallet. Do not choose Etherlink, an EVM network or another chain just because the wallet also supports it.

Check the source's withdrawal minimum, fee and processing time before submitting. Those are set by the service, not by your wallet, and can change. After sending, use the transaction status provided by the sender or wallet to confirm arrival. Do not send additional funds just because a stranger promises to “release” a pending deposit for a separate payment.

For a basic transfer, open the wallet's send function, enter the recipient's Tezos address, specify the amount and review the fee before signing. If the recipient provided an address through a message, verify it through a separate trusted channel when the amount matters. A typo or substituted address can send crypto to the wrong account, and blockchain transfers are generally difficult or impossible to reverse.

Before confirming, check:

• The wallet is on the Tezos network.
• The recipient address matches the one you intended to use.
• The amount and network fee are correct.
• You have enough XTZ left to cover the fee.
• You understand any additional prompts or permissions the wallet requests.

Do not sign a transaction you cannot explain. A wallet may show a transaction summary, but the exact information depends on the action. For an unfamiliar request—especially one asking to connect to a site, grant permissions or move tokens—pause and verify what it does before approving it. Sending a small test amount first can help check the address and route, although it does not remove the need to review the later transaction.

The most common losses come from giving away the recovery phrase, choosing the wrong network or rushing through an unfamiliar transaction. Avoid these mistakes:

• Never disclose the recovery phrase. No support agent, exchange representative or giveaway needs it.
• Do not follow unsolicited wallet links. Open the wallet through a verified app listing or saved, trusted access point.
• Do not confuse Tezos with Etherlink or EVM networks. Check the selected network at both ends of a transfer.
• Do not assume a wallet's password is a backup. Keep the recovery method separate and secure.
• Do not approve unclear transactions. Stop if a prompt does not match what you intended to do.
• Do not ignore fees or service limits. Wallet network fees and an exchange's withdrawal charges are different costs.

For a long-term holding, keep the device and wallet software updated through trusted channels, protect access to the device and periodically check that you can locate the backup. Do not test recovery by entering your phrase into a random site. If you suspect the phrase has been exposed, use a trusted device and wallet process to move assets to a newly created wallet, and do not reuse the compromised phrase.

Before funding your new wallet, run through this final checklist:

• The wallet is a self-custody wallet that currently supports Tezos.
• You created a new wallet rather than importing an unknown phrase.
• You recorded and checked the recovery phrase offline.
• You can identify the Tezos account and copy its address.
• You understand that receiving XTZ is different from sending it: outgoing transactions need XTZ for network fees.
• The sender or exchange will use the Tezos network, not a similarly named network.

Keep the recovery phrase private even if a device fails or an app becomes unavailable. Restore access only through a wallet you have verified and trust. If you are using Temple Wallet, check its current terms and network support before sending funds, particularly if you plan to use Etherlink or an EVM network as well as Tezos.

A wallet gives you a way to control and use crypto; it does not guarantee that an asset will keep its value or that every transaction can be undone. Start with an amount you can afford to lose, make sure you understand the action, and pause whenever a request for a secret or a payment feels unexpected.