Learn the operational side of crypto: wallets, seed phrases, private keys, addresses, gas fees, chain selection, approvals, and scam prevention.
Module outline
Before you start
You can use a wallet with a safety checklist, understand gas and chain selection, and avoid common seed phrase, approval, bridge, and impersonation mistakes.
Lesson 1
Understand what gives control over crypto assets and why seed phrases must never be shared.
A private key lets an address sign transactions. A seed phrase is the human-readable backup that can recreate many private keys in a wallet. Anyone with the seed phrase can usually restore the wallet and move the assets.
Crypto self-custody is powerful because you can control assets directly. It is dangerous because mistakes are usually final. There is no bank hotline that can reverse a signed malicious transaction.
The baseline rule is non-negotiable: never type a seed phrase into a website, chat, support form, cloud note, screenshot folder, or browser pop-up. Real support does not need your seed phrase.
Example
A fake support account asks for a recovery phrase to 'verify ownership'. The correct action is to block, report, and never type the phrase.
Key points
Practice checkpoint
Write a personal wallet safety policy: where the seed phrase is stored, who knows it, what never gets photographed, and what to do if it is exposed.
Before continuing
Lesson 2
Avoid sending assets to the wrong chain or misunderstanding transaction costs.
A wallet address can exist across multiple compatible networks, but that does not mean every asset transfer is safe across every network. Chain selection matters.
Gas is the transaction fee paid to the network. On Ethereum, ETH is needed for gas even when moving another token. Other chains have their own native gas tokens.
Wrong-chain mistakes happen when users copy an address correctly but choose the wrong network, token contract, bridge route, or deposit chain. Always verify network, asset, address, and minimum deposit rules before sending.
Example
A user sends a token to the right exchange address but on an unsupported network. The address was correct, but the chain was not.
Key points
Practice checkpoint
Create a transfer checklist: asset, chain, address, memo/tag if needed, gas token, test amount, confirmation link.
Before continuing
Lesson 3
Understand how wallet approvals and fake links create avoidable losses.
Many onchain apps ask for token approval before they can move a token. A normal approval can be useful; a malicious or unlimited approval can become dangerous if the contract is hostile or later exploited.
Scams often imitate urgent opportunities: airdrops, presales, support tickets, bonus claims, wallet migrations, Discord DMs, or fake security warnings. The goal is to make the user sign first and think later.
Wallet hygiene means separating wallets by purpose: a cold storage wallet, a daily interaction wallet, and a burner wallet for experimental apps. Never test random links with your main wallet.
Example
A fake airdrop site asks the user to connect and approve token access. The safer move is to verify from official channels and use a burner wallet if testing is necessary.
Key points
Practice checkpoint
List five scam patterns you might see in Discord, Telegram, X, or fake websites. Write your response rule for each.
Before continuing
Fieldwork
Build a wallet operations checklist for transfers, app connections, token approvals, and suspicious messages. Keep it short enough to use every time.
Glossary
Checkpoint quiz
Quiz results can add XP when you are signed in.
Progress action
Marking complete saves the module, updates streak activity, and awards XP only once per module.
Previous module
Start from zero: what blockchains do, why Bitcoin and Ethereum matter, how tokens differ, and why crypto is more than a chart on an exchange.
Next module
Understand how crypto ecosystems work: stablecoins, smart contracts, DEXs, lending, bridges, token supply, incentives, unlocks, and protocol risk.
Risk note: Metavulus learning content is for education and market preparation only. It is not financial advice, investment advice, or a trading recommendation.