2025 Onboarding Guide: How to Start in Web3 and Crypto

The fast paced world of Web3 and cryptocurrency is seemingly going to become even crazier in 2025. If this is something that is completely new to you, welcome! I was in your shoes back almost three years ago when I first decided to start learning about how all of this new technology worked in February of 2022. It can become overwhelming at times, and the way that things have been going lately around the Web3 streets, it’s only going to become more complicated.

Luckily, my hope is that you’re reading this because you have a friend who is familiar with DepressiveHacks and has decided to send this to you in an effort to make life easier for you. My goal in creating DepressiveHacks has long been to bring education and information to the masses. I see a clear opportunity in the year ahead to help provide a better experience as a new crypto user and Web3 explorer than I had when I got started almost three years ago.

DepressiveHacks - your guide to the wild world of Web3

First, let’s review some basics. Web3 is the term that we use to explain the expanding internet. For reference, Web1 was the early days of being online. Web2 came to us via social media and the advertisement/data model that many of you likely are familiar with today. This is how you get targeted ads and why you have so many spam calls and emails. Web3 is the next step and while it’s in early stages, it is a good term to learn early on and be familiar with. If you see Web3 and can associate that with cryptocurrency, blockchain, AI, and a lot of the other advancements coming to the internet, you’ll be in a good spot.

Onboarding used to require a lot more technical knowledge, but new dApps (decentralized apps) have helped to create user experiences that make learning a lot of the technical information that I had to learn to get started not as necessary. While I feel that it’s good to know how something works if you are going to put your money into it, the truth of the matter is that you likely aren’t going to take the time to read all of “The Bitcoin Standard” before buying your first token.

As a completely new user today, the first thing that you need to do is find a way to buy crypto. We like to refer to this as an onramp, or somewhere that will allow you to exchange fiat currency (the local money in your country) for cryptocurrency, or digital tokens. The most common way to do this is to set up an account with a centralized exchange, or CEX. There are a lot of choices in the market for this service, including Coinbase, Gemini, Kraken, Binance, Crypto.com, and many others. I highly recommend reading reviews and asking the person who sent you this article what their experience is. Generally, you will have to KYC (provide your identity to the exchange) and link a bank account to your account to send fiat from. Additionally, there are now apps like Moonpay that allow you to use a card or services like PayPal to purchase crypto as well. Set up whatever works best for you in your region and PLEASE don’t use a credit card to purchase tokens. The interest you’ll pay is extremely high and we want you to have a good onboarding experience, not set yourself for failure from the start.

Logo for Coinbase, one of many centralized exchange options

Next, you’ll probably notice that regardless of what exchange you are using, there are digital assets that are not available on that CEX. Centralized exchanges generally are some of the last places to list assets because they carry some of the highest reputational risk and legal risk if they allow users to trade fraudulent assets. This is where you need your own wallet to explore Web3 beyond the assets listed on these exchanges. Luckily, this process has become a lot easier than it used to be.

There are a variety of wallet providers out there and many are moving to a model where they provide wallets on multiple blockchains. It’s important to note that not every token is a blockchain. There are a lot of use cases and categories of tokens. Not all are created equal. However, they all trade in the same places, so it’s important to research what you are buying and understand what you’re putting your money into. As far as wallets go, there are a lot of them out there, but some of the best multichain wallets include Phantom, Magic Eden, and Rally. If you want to get into the Bitcoin ecosystem, that’s a little more complex, so for the sake of an easy onboarding, we’re going to stick with these core wallets that cover some of the most popular blockchains like Ethereum and Solana. If you’re exploring a smaller blockchain, it’s very likely that there is a native wallet to that ecosystem that you can use if the blockchain is not available in these larger wallet providers. Just like setting up your centralized exchange account, you can download these from either the App Store or Google Play Store on mobile, but unlike the centralized exchanges, you’re going to be prompted to back up your wallet. These wallets generally have access to decentralized exchanges, or DEXs, that will list assets that don’t exist on centralized exchanges. Furthermore, you’ll need one of these to explore NFTs. You can connect these decentralized wallets to an NFT marketplace, like Magic Eden, which is often not an option for your account with a CEX. If you’re on desktop or a laptop, these apps generally have a browser extension you can use.

This next part is VERY important. Your wallet is going to come with what is called a seed phrase. Do NOT skip this step because you’re excited to go explore Web3. Diligent security is a must and your ability to not get scammed or lost in the wild west that is Web3 drastically depends on your own security practices.

Write your seed phrase down OFFLINE. Don’t put it in your notes app. Don’t put it in an email to yourself or in a Google Doc. Don’t put it anywhere digitally. If it is stored digitally, it can be accessed by someone who accesses your device, and they can empty your wallet. Write it down like it’s 1962 and store that somewhere safe. If you want to spend a little money for peace of mind, there are products on Amazon that allow you to put your seed phrase into a metal storage device that is more durable than paper.

The logo for Phantom, one of the decentralized wallet options on the market.

This type of wallet, whether it’s Phantom, Magic Eden, or whatever you’re using for the blockchain that you’re on, is called a soft wallet. This means that all of the approvals for the wallet exist digitally. Just like how physical storage for your seed phrase is more secure, there are also physical wallets called hardware wallets that offer an extra layer of protection over these software wallets. Wallet maintenance is important and a little more detail than I want to get into here, but my advice is to keep a separate hardware wallet for long-term assets and larger sums of tokens/NFTs that you want to keep safe and away from people online who are trying to rob you (yes, you!). You may not need a hardware wallet when you’re just getting started, and if you only want to trade and use tokens on centralized exchanges and feel comfortable allowing them to custody your assets for you, then you don’t need to take these extra steps. However, if you want to explore, you’ll need these decentralized wallets to take your safety into your own hands.

Okay, so you’re set-up, but you’re worried about being safe. I am not a security expert, but I have spent a lot of time the past few years meeting and speaking with Web3 security folks. Some of the best recommendations that I can share from them are things that I utilize myself. For example, start by evaluating your Web2 security. Are you set up with an antivirus software? Do you have an ad blocker on your device? How freely are you providing your user data online? These basic steps are important for anyone exploring anything on the internet, but even more important in the world of Web3.

As far as Web3-specific steps, in addition to your hardware wallet, you’re going to want to use some tools that have been created to help with security. Some of the tools that I use include Harpie, Wallet Guard, Pocket Universe, Webacy, and Revoke.Cash. Many of these sites allow you to set up an account with an email and a wallet address, and provide valuable services FOR FREE like simulating transactions before they process on the blockchain, wallet transaction updates via email, backup wallet services in case of a breach, permissions removal for your wallet (Revoke.Cash), and more. Remember to ALWAYS go into your wallet after you are done connecting it to an external site and remove the permissions for that site. If the permissions are not removed and that site is malicious or gets hacked, you could lose assets. This is a good practice on Web2 sites, such as social media. Also, don’t provide your phone number to sites as much as you possibly can. Personally, I love Brave as a browser option because it has a built-in ad blocker, and a built-in wallet, which makes navigating Web3 easier.

Revoke.Cash

I’m sure if you’ve gotten to this point, your head probably hurts and you’re overwhelmed. There is an awful lot to learn in Web3, even with the advancing technology making it easier than ever before to get started. In addition to just spewing nonsense online, I do occasionally try to provide valuable information for people on my social media accounts. You can find me at the username “@depressivehacks” on just about any platform that you choose to spend your time on. Additionally, your friend who onboarded you likely has experience and wisdom that will help you, but don’t rely on them alone to get you up to speed. The more quality information you can consume from folks, the easier it will be for you to get started safely and smoothly. Don’t stress. It will get easier, I promise. There is a lot to do in Web3 and it is growing every day, so remain calm and open to learning new things. Even after almost three years, I am constantly learning new things to make my experience better, which I use to try to improve what I am doing with DepressiveHacks.

As always, if you have reached this final paragraph, thank you for being here. I wish you well in your journey and if you ever need a hand from a friendly neighborhood astronaut, reach out on the timeline of your choosing.