Create Your First Web3 Identity

💡 Teaching yourself Web3 isn't easy. As someone who recently got started with Web3, I've put together the simplest and most straightforward beginner's tutorial. By integrating quality open-source community resources, I hope to guide everyone from beginner to expert in Web3. Updated 1-3 lessons per week.

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Table of Contents

• Introduction
• A Brief Overview of Web3
• MetaMask Wallet Overview
• Create Your First Web3 Identity with MetaMask
• FAQ
• Summary

Introduction

Remember the excitement and curiosity you felt the first time you used the internet? Today, we stand at the starting point of another technological revolution — Web3. This brand-new digital world is no longer controlled by tech giants but is collectively owned by every participant. As a Web3 newcomer myself, I understand the importance and challenge of taking that first step. I hope this article will help you easily obtain your first Web3 identity and open the door to the digital future!

A Brief Overview of Web3

Web3 is an open network where anyone can build applications without relying on any centralized services. Technically, Web3 is a decentralized network built on blockchain technology. A more practical description of the current state is: add the MetaMask browser extension to a Web2 website, and it becomes a Web3 website 😂.

Imagine the internet as a giant shopping mall:

• Web1 was the era when you could only window-shop
• Web2 was the era when you could actually shop inside the mall
• Web3 is the era when you become a co-owner of the mall

MetaMask Wallet Overview

MetaMask is a decentralized wallet browser extension that lets users easily access the Web3 world. The vast majority of Web3 projects support MetaMask.

Simply put, MetaMask is like your Web3 passport — it:

• Stores your digital assets (cryptocurrencies)
• Proves your identity
• Allows you to interact with Web3 applications

Create Your First Web3 Identity with MetaMask

Unlike Web2, where you constantly need to link a phone number, creating a Web3 identity is incredibly simple. We'll walk you through using MetaMask to create a Web3 identity — the entire process takes less than 5 minutes.

How many steps does it take to create a Web3 identity? Just three!

• Step 1: Install the MetaMask browser extension
• Step 2: Create a MetaMask account
• Step 3: Back up your MetaMask account

Step 1: Install the MetaMask Browser Extension

Open the MetaMask website in your Chrome browser, click Get Chrome Extension, then click Add to Chrome to install the MetaMask browser extension.

Step 2: Create a MetaMask Account

Click the MetaMask browser extension, click "Get Started", click "I Agree", click "Create a Wallet", and set a password to create your MetaMask account.

Step 3: Back Up Your MetaMask Account

When you first create an account, you'll be prompted to back up your seed phrase. We recommend finding a quiet place to write it down on paper, or store it in a password manager like 1Password. If you choose to copy the seed phrase to your computer, make sure to encrypt it.

MetaMask Interface

Congratulations, you now have a Web3 identity. Let's familiarize ourselves with the MetaMask interface.

• At the top, Ethereum Mainnet is the network selector, defaulting to Ethereum Mainnet
• 0x... is your MetaMask account address
• 0 ETH is your MetaMask account balance

📖 Detailed MetaMask Installation and Setup Guide

Earlier we quickly walked through the three-step creation process. Now let's go into detail on each step and its important considerations.

🔑 Download and Installation

1. Open Chrome browser and visit the official MetaMask website: https://metamask.io

⚠️ Important: Make sure the URL is metamask.io. Do not click on ad links from search engines! Many users have lost assets after installing fake MetaMask extensions.

1. Click the Download button and select Chrome browser
2. After being redirected to the Chrome Web Store, click Add to Chrome
3. In the confirmation popup, click Add extension
4. Once installed, the fox icon will appear in the top-right corner of your browser

Supported Browsers and Platforms:

🔑 Detailed Wallet Creation Steps

1. Click the MetaMask fox icon in the top-right corner of your browser
2. Select Create a new wallet
3. Read and agree to the terms of service
4. Set a password:

   • At least 8 characters
   • Recommended: combination of uppercase + lowercase letters + numbers + special characters
   • This password is only used to unlock MetaMask on the current device
   • Note: This password ≠ your seed phrase. If you forget the password, you can recover using the seed phrase
5. Watch the seed phrase security tutorial video (recommended for beginners)
6. Record your seed phrase: MetaMask will display 12 English words
7. Verify your seed phrase: Click the words in the correct order to complete verification
8. Done! Your first Web3 identity has been created

🔑 Adding Custom Networks

MetaMask connects to Ethereum Mainnet by default. You can manually add other EVM-compatible networks:

1. Click the network dropdown at the top of MetaMask
2. Click Add network
3. Fill in the network information. For example, to add Polygon:

Network Name: Polygon Mainnet
RPC URL: https://polygon-rpc.com
Chain ID: 137
Currency Symbol: MATIC
Block Explorer: https://polygonscan.com

Common EVM Network Information:

💡 Tip: You can also visit Chainlist.org to add various EVM networks to MetaMask with one click, saving you the hassle of manual entry.

📖 Address Format Explained

Understanding Ethereum address formats and rules can help you avoid transfer errors and asset loss.

🔑 Ethereum Address Structure

An Ethereum address is a 42-character hexadecimal string consisting of the 0x prefix + 40 hex characters:

0x71C7656EC7ab88b098defB751B7401B5f6d8976F
│  │                                        │
│  └────────── 40 hexadecimal characters ───┘
└── Prefix

Address generation process:

Private Key (256-bit random number)
    ↓ Elliptic curve operation (secp256k1)
Public Key (512 bits)
    ↓ Keccak-256 hash
Hash Value (256 bits)
    ↓ Take the last 20 bytes
Ethereum Address (160 bits = 40 hex characters)
    ↓ Add 0x prefix
Full Address: 0x71C7656EC7ab88b098defB751B7401B5f6d8976F

🔑 EIP-55 Checksum Addresses

Ethereum uses mixed-case formatting to implement address checksums (EIP-55 standard):

No checksum: 0x71c7656ec7ab88b098defb751b7401b5f6d8976f (all lowercase)
With checksum: 0x71C7656EC7ab88b098defB751B7401B5f6d8976F (mixed case)

The positions of uppercase and lowercase letters are determined by a hash calculation. If you accidentally change the case when manually entering an address, wallet software can detect the error and issue a warning.

💡 Tip: Always copy and paste addresses rather than typing them manually when making transfers. Before sending, carefully verify the first 4 and last 4 characters of the address.

🔑 ENS Domain Names

ENS (Ethereum Name Service) allows you to map complex Ethereum addresses to human-readable domain names:

Address: 0x71C7656EC7ab88b098defB751B7401B5f6d8976F
ENS Domain: vitalik.eth

Advantages of ENS domains:

• Easy to remember: Much easier than remembering a 42-character hex string
• Multi-purpose: Can point to Ethereum addresses, other chain addresses, IPFS content, etc.
• Decentralized: Domain registration is on Ethereum smart contracts, no centralized authority needed
• Identity: ENS domains are becoming the identity card of the Web3 world

Registering an ENS domain: Visit app.ens.domains to search for and register your favorite .eth domain. Pricing depends on name length (5+ characters is about $5/year).

📖 Wallet Backup Strategies

Your seed phrase is the lifeline of your Web3 identity. Once lost, no one can help you recover it.

🔑 Seed Phrase Security Principles

🔑 Recommended Backup Plans

Plan A: Basic Backup (for small amounts)

1. Handwrite the seed phrase on paper — two copies
2. Store them in two different secure locations at home
3. Ensure they're waterproof and fireproof (use sealed plastic bags)

Plan B: Intermediate Backup (for moderate amounts)

1. Purchase a metal seed phrase plate (e.g., Cryptosteel Capsule) and engrave the seed phrase
2. Keep one paper backup as redundancy
3. Store the metal plate in a home safe
4. Store the paper backup at a separate physical location (e.g., a family member's home)

Plan C: Advanced Backup (for large amounts)

1. Use Shamir's Secret Sharing to split the seed phrase into 3 parts — any 2 can recover it
2. Store the three parts in different cities in secure locations
3. Use in combination with a hardware wallet
4. Create an inheritance plan

⚠️ Important: Never have just one backup! Fires, floods, and moving can all lead to losing your only backup. At the same time, don't create too many copies — the more backups exist, the higher the risk of someone else discovering them. 2-3 copies is a good balance.

📖 Multi-Chain Identity Management

In the Web3 world, a single set of seed words can generate addresses on multiple blockchains. Understanding multi-chain identity management is an essential skill for becoming a Web3 veteran.

🔑 EVM-Compatible Chains: Same Address

All EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) compatible chains share the same address format and derivation method. This means:

The same seed phrase generates the exact same address on these chains:
- Ethereum: 0x71C7656EC7ab88b098defB751B7401B5f6d8976F
- Polygon:  0x71C7656EC7ab88b098defB751B7401B5f6d8976F
- BSC:      0x71C7656EC7ab88b098defB751B7401B5f6d8976F
- Arbitrum: 0x71C7656EC7ab88b098defB751B7401B5f6d8976F
- Optimism: 0x71C7656EC7ab88b098defB751B7401B5f6d8976F
- Base:     0x71C7656EC7ab88b098defB751B7401B5f6d8976F

This is because EVM chains all use the same cryptographic standard (secp256k1 curve + Keccak-256 hash).

🔑 Non-EVM Chains: Different Address Formats

Different blockchains use different address formats and derivation paths:

⚠️ Important: Although the seed phrase format is the same (BIP39), the same seed phrase generates completely different addresses on different chains (except among EVM chains). Do not send assets to the wrong chain address, or they may be permanently lost!

🔑 Multi-Chain Wallet Management Tips

1. EVM chains: Use MetaMask to manage all EVM-compatible chain assets
2. Bitcoin: Use a dedicated Bitcoin wallet (e.g., Sparrow, Blue Wallet)
3. Solana: Use Phantom or Backpack wallet
4. Cosmos ecosystem: Use Keplr wallet
5. Unified management: You can also use multi-chain wallets (e.g., OKX Wallet, Rabby Wallet)

📖 Common Mistakes and Solutions

❓ Mistake 1: Entered seed phrase on a phishing website

Severity: Critical

Symptoms: A website claims it needs your seed phrase to "verify your wallet" or "claim an airdrop"

Solution:

1. Immediately create a new wallet
2. Immediately transfer all assets to the new wallet
3. Consider the old wallet compromised — never use it again
4. Check for unauthorized token approvals

⚠️ Important: MetaMask and all legitimate wallets and DApps will never ask you to enter your seed phrase. Any website requesting your seed phrase is 100% a scam.

❓ Mistake 2: Sent tokens to the wrong network

Severity: Moderate

Symptoms: Sent tokens on the Polygon network, but the recipient only checked Ethereum Mainnet

Solution:

1. Notify the recipient to switch to the correct network
2. If the network isn't in MetaMask, simply add it manually
3. Since EVM chain addresses are the same, the assets won't be lost

❓ Mistake 3: Gas fee set too low, causing transaction failure

Severity: Low

Symptoms: Transaction stuck in Pending state for a long time or eventually failed

Solution:

1. Find the pending transaction in MetaMask's Activity tab
2. Click Speed Up to increase the gas fee
3. Or click Cancel to cancel the transaction
4. Next time, use the gas fee recommended by MetaMask

❓ Mistake 4: Approved a malicious contract with unlimited allowance

Severity: High

Symptoms: Tokens mysteriously disappear, transferred by an unknown contract

Solution:

1. Visit revoke.cash and connect your wallet
2. Review all token approval records
3. Revoke suspicious or unnecessary approvals
4. Make it a habit to regularly check approvals

❓ Mistake 5: Reinstalled the browser without backing up the seed phrase

Severity: Critical (unrecoverable without backup)

Symptoms: MetaMask is empty after reinstalling the browser or switching computers

Solution:

1. If you have a seed phrase backup: Reinstall MetaMask → Select Import wallet → Enter the seed phrase to recover
2. If you have no backup: Unfortunately, the assets are permanently lost
3. Prevention: Back up your seed phrase immediately after creating a wallet!

📖 Advanced Web3 Identity

Once you're familiar with basic wallet operations, you can explore more cutting-edge Web3 identity concepts.

🔑 ENS Domains — Your Web3 Business Card

ENS (Ethereum Name Service) is more than just a domain service — it's your identity in the Web3 world:

• Social identity: Display your .eth domain on Twitter, Discord, and other platforms
• Receiving address: Others can send ETH and tokens directly to yourname.eth
• Decentralized websites: Point your .eth domain to a website hosted on IPFS
• Subdomains: Create subdomains like blog.yourname.eth
• NFT properties: ENS domains are themselves NFTs that can be traded and transferred

🔑 Lens Protocol — Decentralized Social Graph

Lens Protocol is a decentralized social protocol built on Polygon:

• Profile NFT: Your social identity is an NFT
• Content ownership: All content you publish belongs to you
• Composability: Multiple frontend apps (e.g., Hey, Orb) share the same social graph
• Data portability: When you switch apps, your followers and content come with you

🔑 SBT (Soulbound Tokens) — Non-Transferable Identity Credentials

SBT (Soulbound Token) is a non-transferable NFT used to represent identity, qualifications, reputation, and more:

• Education certificates: On-chain proof of course completion
• Community contributions: Records of DAO governance participation
• Skill certifications: On-chain credentials for developer skills
• Credit scores: Decentralized credit records

💡 Tip: The core idea behind Web3 identity is "Self-Sovereign Identity" — you fully own and control your identity data without depending on any centralized institution. This stands in stark contrast to the Web2 model where platforms control user data.

FAQ

❓ My seed phrase is lost. What should I do?

This is a very serious issue. If your seed phrase is lost, it means you may permanently lose control of your wallet. Please immediately create a new wallet and transfer your assets to it. Going forward, make sure to keep your seed phrase safe. Consider:

• Writing it down on paper and keeping it in a safe
• Using a professional password manager for encrypted storage
• Splitting the seed phrase into parts and storing them in different secure locations

❓ Which blockchain networks does MetaMask support?

MetaMask supports Ethereum Mainnet by default, but you can add other EVM-compatible networks, such as:

• Binance Smart Chain (BSC)
• Polygon
• Avalanche
• Optimism
• Arbitrum and more

❓ Does using MetaMask cost money?

MetaMask itself is free, but making transactions on the blockchain requires paying network "gas fees." These fees don't go to MetaMask — they're paid to the network's validators.

Summary

You may have noticed that no verification was required during the Web3 identity creation process. This means that in the Web3 world, people essentially wear a mask — anyone can freely create their own identity. This creates unprecedented freedom but also amplifies both human goodness and malice. In the Web3 world, you can't trust anyone and need to be extra careful about protecting yourself. Always remember to Do Your Own Research.

Congratulations on making it this far 🎉 You've taken the first step into the Web3 world! This door opens not just a wallet, but a universe filled with infinite possibilities. Imagine — in this world, you can become the true owner of your data, participate in governing important projects, and even create your own digital kingdom.

The journey ahead will be even more exciting. Together, we'll explore how to make your first transaction, participate in DeFi, collect NFTs, and discover many more amazing Web3 applications. Are you ready? The Web3 adventure has just begun!