What is Phantom Wallet?

Phantom is a non-custodial wallet first built for the Solana network, offering a fast, user-friendly way to handle SOL, SPL tokens, NFTs, and DeFi apps. Launched in 2021, it quickly gained traction among Solana users for its clean interface and minimal setup friction.

In 2023, Phantom introduced multi-chain support, adding Ethereum and Polygon so users could manage ETH and ERC-20 tokens alongside their Solana assets. Later that year, it integrated Bitcoin, enabling storage, Ordinals, and interaction with BRC-20 tokens.

Support for Base and Sui followed, broadening access to both Layer-2 and new Layer-1 ecosystems. Most recently, Phantom connected to the Monad testnet, an EVM-compatible chain built for parallel execution and high performance, hoping to support up to 10,000 transactions per second.

How to Use Phantom Wallet

Phantom Wallet organizes core crypto actions like sending, swapping, exploring dApps, and managing NFTs in a clean, easy-to-navigate interface. Whether on the browser extension or mobile app, every feature is clearly labeled to reduce friction when using multiple blockchains.

Getting started with Phantom:

• Install the wallet on your device: Download the browser extension (for Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Brave, Edge) from Phantom’s website or get the mobile app from the App Store or Google Play.
• Create or import a wallet: Set up a new wallet with a 12-word recovery phrase, or restore an existing one using your seed phrase.
• Manage multiple blockchains in one view: Solana, Ethereum, Polygon, Bitcoin, and other networks appear together without manual RPC switching.
• Send, receive, and swap crypto easily: Use clearly labeled buttons to deposit, transfer, or trade assets with just a few taps or clicks.
• Explore Web3 apps inside Phantom: Access dApps like Raydium and Magic Eden through the built-in Explore tab on mobile.
• Create additional accounts when needed: Generate separate wallet addresses under the same recovery phrase for testing or asset isolation.
• Use nicknames and readable domains: Save frequent addresses with custom names and view .sol domains from the Solana Name Service.
• Sync your wallet across all devices: Enter your recovery phrase to access the same accounts on both mobile and desktop.

Phantom Wallet Fees

Phantom charges a flat 0.85% fee on swaps, along with standard network gas fees depending on the blockchain you're using. For gasless swaps, the fee rises to 1.5%, which is deducted from the input token so users don’t need native gas tokens like SOL or ETH.

Phantom also automatically applies priority fees on Solana transactions to help users avoid failed or delayed confirmations during network congestion. These fees are calculated based on compute units and are added to both wallet and supported dApp transactions when eligible.

Best Solana Apps to Explore with Phantom

Phantom’s Solana-native design makes it easy to connect to top dApps without needing extra setup. Below are the most useful Solana apps that work perfectly with Phantom, along with step-by-step guides on how to use them.

1. Pump.fun

Pump.fun is a fair-launch memecoin platform on Solana where anyone can create or trade tokens instantly with bonding-curve pricing.

How to buy or launch tokens on Pump.fun using Phantom:

1. Open Pump.fun: Visit the Pump website in your desktop browser or through Phantom’s Explore tab on mobile.
2. Connect Phantom: Click “Connect” in the top right, select Phantom, and approve the wallet connection.
3. Browse tokens: Scroll through trending or newly launched tokens, or use the search bar to find one by name.
4. Buy a token: Enter the amount of SOL you want to spend, click “Buy,” and confirm the transaction in Phantom.
5. Launch your own token: Click “Create,” choose a token name and symbol, and approve the creation transaction. Your token will go live instantly on a bonding curve.
6. Manage your tokens: After purchasing or launching, you can view your holdings directly in Phantom under “Tokens.”

Tip: Use a separate Phantom wallet for Pump.fun activity to isolate risks, as most tokens are experimental, tied to short-lived hype, or are simply rug pulls.

2. Jupiter

Jupiter is Solana’s top DEX aggregator and perpetual exchange, helping you find the best price when swapping tokens across multiple liquidity sources like Raydium, Orca, and more.

How to swap tokens using Jupiter:

1. Open the Jupiter site: Go to jup.ag using a desktop browser with the Phantom extension, or use Phantom’s mobile Explore tab to access it directly.
2. Connect your wallet: Click the “Connect Wallet” button at the top right and select Phantom from the wallet list. Approve the connection in your Phantom popup window.
3. Select tokens to swap: Use the dropdown menus to choose the token you want to swap and the token you want to receive. Jupiter will automatically route the trade across DEXs to get the best rate.
4. Enter amount and review quote: Type the amount you want to swap. Review slippage, estimated fees, and minimum received.
5. Execute the swap: Click “Swap” and then confirm the transaction in your Phantom wallet when prompted. Wait a few seconds for confirmation.
6. Verify your balance: After the swap, your new tokens will appear in your Phantom wallet under the “Tokens” tab.

Tip: Jupiter is also baked into Phantom’s in-app swap tool. If you’re swapping common tokens, you can skip the website and do it directly in-wallet with the same aggregator logic behind the scenes.

3. Raydium

Raydium is a high-speed DEX on Solana that supports swaps, liquidity pools, and yield farming.

How to trade or add liquidity on Raydium:

1. Go to Raydium: Visit raydium.io in your browser or through Phantom’s Explore tab on mobile.
2. Connect Phantom: Click “Connect” in the top right corner, select Phantom, and approve the connection.
3. Use the swap feature: Choose the tokens you want to trade, enter the amount, and click “Swap.” Confirm the transaction in Phantom.
4. Provide liquidity: Click on the “Pools” tab, choose a pair, and deposit an equal value of both tokens. Approve the LP transaction in Phantom.
5. Claim rewards: If you stake LP tokens in farms, check the “Farms” tab and claim rewards when available.

Tip: If you provide liquidity, consider monitoring impermanent loss and tracking LP token performance regularly.

4. Kamino Finance

Kamino automates complex liquidity positions on Solana, allowing users to deposit into optimized vaults.

How to deposit into Kamino vaults:

1. Open Kamino: Head to app.kamino.finance via browser or Phantom’s in-app browser.
2. Connect your wallet: Click “Connect” and select Phantom. Confirm the prompt in your wallet.
3. Browse available vaults: View different LP strategies and their estimated yields.
4. Deposit tokens: Choose a vault, input your deposit amount, and approve the transaction through Phantom.
5. Track performance: You can monitor deposits, earnings, and vault rebalancing through the dashboard.

Tip: Kamino vaults use concentrated liquidity, so yields and risks may vary more than in standard pools.

5. Marinade

Marinade is the leading liquid staking platform on Solana, allowing you to stake SOL and receive mSOL for up to 7.93% APY on the "Max Yield" delegation strategy.

How to stake SOL with Marinade:

1. Visit Marinade: Go to marinade.finance using your desktop browser or Phantom mobile.
2. Connect Phantom: Click “Connect Wallet,” choose Phantom, and approve the connection.
3. Choose stake amount: Enter the amount of SOL you want to stake and review the estimated APY.
4. Confirm and receive mSOL: Click “Stake” and approve the transaction. You’ll receive mSOL, which accrues staking rewards.
5. Use mSOL in DeFi: You can use mSOL on other Solana platforms while continuing to earn rewards.

Tip: Marinade also offers an option for delayed unstaking if you want to convert mSOL back to SOL later.

6. Magic Eden

Magic Eden is the largest NFT marketplace on Solana, offering minting, trading, and collection tools.

How to buy and sell NFTs on Magic Eden:

1. Go to Magic Eden: Visit magiceden.io using your browser or Phantom’s Explore tab.
2. Connect your wallet: Click “Connect Wallet” at the top right and select Phantom.
3. Browse or search for NFTs: Filter by collection, price, or popularity.
4. Buy an NFT: Click “Buy Now,” review the price, and approve the purchase in Phantom.
5. Sell or list your own NFTs: Go to “My Items,” choose a token, set a price, and confirm the listing.

Tip: Phantom has a built-in NFT gallery, so anything you buy or list on Magic Eden shows up directly inside your wallet.

Staking Solana on Phantom

Phantom supports native SOL staking directly within the wallet, allowing users to earn staking rewards without using a third-party platform. You can choose a validator from a curated list showing commission rates, estimated APY, and total stake, then confirm the amount to delegate in a few clicks.

Unstaking works through the same interface, though Solana requires a brief deactivation period before funds become available. For validator research, Phantom links to Solana’s validator explorer so users can check performance and avoid suspicious operators.

Currently, Phantom does not offer one-click staking for other tokens like ETH or MATIC. However, you can use Phantom to connect to protocols like Lido or Polygon’s staking portal through the built-in dApp browser or extension, enabling staking for those assets externally.

Is Phantom Wallet Safe?

Phantom is considered safe because it protects users through self-custodial key storage, hardware wallet integration, and active phishing defenses. It offers multiple built-in security systems that help secure your crypto assets and prevent common threats like scams and theft.

Below are the key security features built directly into Phantom:

• Self-custodial key management: Phantom never stores your private keys or recovery phrase, giving you full control over wallet access.
• Transaction preview before signing: The wallet shows a clear, human-readable summary before you approve any on-chain action.
• Ledger hardware wallet support: You can connect a Ledger device to sign transactions with physical confirmation while keeping your keys offline.
• Built-in phishing protection: Phantom maintains an open-source blocklist that automatically flags or blocks known scam and phishing domains.
• NFT spam filtering and burning: The wallet lets you delete unwanted NFTs with a single click to avoid accidental interaction with malicious tokens.
• Auto-lock and biometric security: You can set a timeout for auto-lock and enable Face ID or fingerprint authentication on mobile devices.
• Optional cloud backup setup: For users who prefer convenience, Phantom offers optional wallet creation using email and encrypted backup through a third-party service.

Phantom vs Other Crypto Wallets

Phantom competes directly with other major crypto wallets by offering multi-chain support, a smooth user interface, and deep Solana integration. Below is a direct comparison between Phantom and other top Solana wallets like Solflare, MetaMask, and Ledger, highlighting differences in DeFi, memecoin, security, and staking.

Phantom vs Solflare

Both Phantom and Solflare are Solana-native wallets with similar core features like SOL staking, NFT support, and Ledger integration. Phantom offers a simpler, more beginner-friendly interface, while Solflare caters more to power users with tools like batch NFT burning, detailed staking options, and a web portal.

• Where Phantom wins: Cleaner UI, faster setup, and no network switching; better suited for new or casual users.
• Where Solflare wins: More advanced features for Solana power users, including granular staking controls and multi-validator support.

Phantom vs MetaMask

MetaMask dominates the Ethereum and EVM ecosystem, offering support for dozens of chains through manual network additions. Phantom now supports Ethereum and Polygon natively, but doesn’t yet offer the same extensibility, though MetaMask has only recently introduced native Solana support.

• Where Phantom wins: Easier onboarding, automatic network handling, and smoother experience when using Solana and EVM chains together.
• Where MetaMask wins: Superior support for Ethereum-based dApps, plus the ability to add any custom EVM network via RPC.

Phantom vs Ledger

Ledger is a hardware wallet focused on maximum security by storing keys offline and requiring physical transaction approvals. Phantom is a software wallet designed for convenience, but it can integrate with Ledger to combine security with usability when interacting with Solana or EVM dApps.

• Where Phantom wins: Faster everyday use, intuitive design, and built-in DeFi access for Solana and Ethereum users.
• Where Ledger wins: Provides offline key storage and physical transaction approval, making it ideal for securing large balances or minimizing exposure to malware.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been aping into memecoins on Pump.fun at 3 a.m. or scrambling to mint before the bots do, you already know that wallet UX matters. Phantom keeps it fast, clean, and just slick enough that you don’t rage quit mid-transaction.

Whether you’re deep into the Solana trenches or just dabbling on some new L1/L2 chain, its one-wallet-to-rule-them-all setup just works. Load it up, split your wallets, and stay degen but not defenseless.