Getting Started on Base: Wallets, Funding and Bot Setup
Choose a wallet for Base: current Phantom and MetaMask support, ETH on Base funding, dedicated trading accounts and conditional bot-wallet import.
Phantom and MetaMask both support Base. Base is an Ethereum L2: ETH on Base pays network gas, while Ethereum Mainnet ETH is a separate balance. Identical 0x addresses do not move funds between these networks.
Use a dedicated Base account for active trading rather than repeatedly approving applications from a wallet holding long-term savings. A separate account is useful only if you also protect its recovery information and signing device.
Current support comparison
| Wallet | Network access | Application connection | Setup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phantom | Active network support | Supported network; application connector required | Enable the network in Active Networks |
| MetaMask | Supported network | Compatible application connector required | Check the network list before manual setup |
Network support does not establish every swap route, token listing, bot integration or hardware-wallet combination.
Choose between a Base funding wallet and a signing wallet
If you only need to fund a Base bot, Phantom and MetaMask are both supported options: the important step is receiving ETH on Base. For a terminal that asks you to connect, choose the provider shown in its Base connection menu. A general Ethereum wallet button does not establish that the terminal has switched to Base.
Base is listed in MetaMask’s supported networks, while Phantom enables it through Active Networks. Check the same account on each device before funding. Adding a network in MetaMask Extension does not automatically configure it in Mobile. Test the connection on the device where you will trade, including any required wallet browser or deep-link flow.
If a Base token does not appear, inspect its Base contract and transfer record before bridging or resending funds. A familiar token name on Ethereum is not evidence of the Base balance. Keep the long-term hardware account separate from a bot-imported software account, and confirm Base signing with your exact hardware integration before relying on it.
Receive ETH on Base before trading
Select Base in MetaMask or enable it in Phantom. Copy the receiving address while viewing Base and choose Base in the exchange withdrawal or source wallet. Send a small test amount and confirm the destination balance.
When starting from Ethereum, use a documented bridge or supported cross-chain route and inspect its quote. Include source-chain gas, bridge fees and destination assets in the decision. Do not treat sending to your own address as a bridge.
Connect to a Base tool or fund its own wallet
Check the specific terminal’s documented wallet connector. If the bot generates a trading wallet, follow its authenticated deposit flow and retain enough ETH on Base for its withdrawal process. Wallet support alone says nothing about that bot’s key ownership.
Begin with the full Base trading guide or Axiom on Base. An Ethereum guide for the same product can have different funding and execution instructions.
Can I import an existing bot wallet?
Only if the bot provides an exportable self-custodial key and the wallet supports that key format. A wallet app’s import feature does not prove that a bot lets you export a key. If custody or export is unverified, use dedicated-wallet funding guidance and check the provider’s official documentation.
A compatible import opens the same on-chain address in another app. It is not a transfer to a fresh wallet and does not take signing access away from the original bot. Prefer a fresh account if you want to isolate a new trading balance. For hardware-backed accounts, use the documented hardware connection; never type the device’s recovery phrase into a software wallet.
Get the wallet and verify the source
Referral link: we may receive compensation from qualifying activity. Phantom referral entry is available during mobile signup; extension-only onboarding does not accept a referral code. Eligibility and terms apply; no reward is guaranteed.
Get MetaMask from the official website · Referral disclosure: we may benefit when you use an eligible referral.
Sources
Verified 10 October 2026. Phantom supported networks · MetaMask network setup · MetaMask account import · Phantom account import · Phantom hardware models · MetaMask hardware connections
Frequently asked questions
Why does my Ethereum ETH not appear as Base gas?
Ethereum Mainnet and Base have separate balances even when the address matches. Use a supported Base withdrawal or bridge route and check the Base receiving balance.
Does connecting MetaMask fund my Base bot?
A connection normally identifies an account and requests signing access. If the bot provides its own deposit address, fund it using that product’s authenticated Base instructions.
Can a wallet recover funds held by a bot?
A wallet app cannot recover a custodial account. Import is conditional on a legitimate exportable key and compatible format; it does not guarantee recovery.