Guides

Understand it.
Then use it.

Plain-language guides to how swaps, self-custody, vaults, cards and trading actually work. Each one cites its sources and links the help articles with the steps.

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What is a self-custody wallet?

What a self-custody wallet is, how it differs from a custodial account, the risks you take on and how to back up your keys safely.

  • Self-custody means only you hold the keys that move your coins.
  • The recovery phrase is the wallet, so keep it offline and private.
  • Control comes with responsibility, because nobody can reset a lost phrase.
Beginner · 5 min · 1 diagram · 6 sourcesRead the guide →
Side by side: what can happen when an exchange holds the key, and when you hold the key yourself. Who can move the coins: on an exchange the company, in your own wallet only you. Freeze or pause withdrawals: the platform can, in your own wallet no one can. Reset a lost password: on an exchange yes, through support; in your own wallet there is no reset and your backup is the only way back. If the company or the key is lost: if the company fails or is breached your funds are at risk; if you have no backup, your funds are lost. An exchange holds the key You hold the key Who can move the coins The company Only you Freeze or pause withdrawals Yes, the platform can No one can Reset a lost password Yes, through support No. Your backup is the only way If the company or the key is lost Company fails: funds at risk No backup: funds are lost

Self-custody

What it means to hold your own keys, how to get started, and how to share control across devices.

Beginner · 7 min · 1 diagram · 6 sources

How to move crypto from an exchange to your own wallet

A calm step-by-step guide to withdrawing BTC, ETH or tokens from an exchange to a self-custody wallet, with the checks that prevent mistakes.

Read the guide → Beginner · 6 min · 1 diagram · 6 sources

How to buy crypto straight into your own wallet

You can buy crypto with your own currency through an on-ramp provider and receive it at your own address. Steps, costs, identity checks and limits.

Read the guide → Beginner · 4 min · 1 diagram · 6 sources

What is a multisig wallet?

How a multisig wallet works, what m-of-n means, how it compares with seed phrase and hardware wallets, who needs one and the downsides.

Read the guide →

Swaps

How coins move between blockchains, what a swap costs, and step-by-step guides for the common pairs.

Beginner · 6 min · 1 diagram · 6 sources

Cross-chain swaps explained

Native swaps, bridges, wrapped tokens and centralized exchanges compared, with how each one works, the trade-offs and when to use which.

Read the guide → Beginner · 6 min · 1 diagram · 5 sources

Crypto swap fees explained

The five costs inside a crypto swap, how to read a quote and practical ways to pay less, with THORWallet's own fee tiers.

Read the guide → Intermediate · 5 min · 1 diagram · 6 sources

How to swap BTC to ETH without a bridge

Step-by-step guide to swapping native BTC for native ETH from a self-custody wallet, with timing, costs and common mistakes.

Read the guide → Intermediate · 7 min · 1 diagram · 7 sources

How to swap ETH to BTC without an exchange

Swap ETH for native BTC from your own wallet: Ethereum gas, token approvals, the Bitcoin payout fee, address formats and timing.

Read the guide → Intermediate · 6 min · 1 diagram · 7 sources

How to swap BTC to SOL without a bridge

Swap native BTC for native SOL from your own wallet: Solana addresses, the wrapped tokens you avoid, the Bitcoin wait and the costs.

Read the guide → Intermediate · 8 min · 1 diagram · 6 sources

How to swap BTC to USDT without an exchange

Swap native BTC for USDT from your own wallet: which USDT network to pick, the issuer risk, gas for later transfers and the costs.

Read the guide → Intermediate · 8 min · 1 diagram · 6 sources

How to swap XRP to ETH without an exchange

Swap XRP for native ETH from your own wallet: the XRP account reserve, destination tags, routes, timing, the Ethereum payout fee and gas.

Read the guide → Beginner · 6 min · 6 sources

The best crypto wallet for cross-chain swaps: what to look for

Six criteria for choosing a wallet for cross-chain swaps, from native settlement to fee transparency, and how THORWallet measures up.

Read the guide →

Spending and trading

Crypto cards, tokenized stocks and perpetual futures: how they work and what can go wrong.

Beginner · 5 min · 1 diagram · 5 sources

How crypto cards work

How a crypto card turns crypto into a payment, custodial vs self-custody funding, the fees to watch, and how the THORWallet Card works.

Read the guide → Beginner · 5 min · 1 diagram · 6 sources

Tokenized stocks explained

What a tokenized stock is, who issues it, what you own and do not own, trading hours, eligibility and the risks to understand first.

Read the guide → Intermediate · 6 min · 1 diagram · 6 sources

Perpetual futures explained

How perpetual futures work, covering funding rates, leverage, margin, liquidation, cross vs isolated margin, on-chain order books and risks.

Read the guide → Intermediate · 8 min · 1 diagram · 6 sources

How to trade Hyperliquid perpetuals from your phone

Step-by-step guide to trading Hyperliquid perpetuals from a self-custody wallet on iPhone or Android, with deposit rules, costs and risks.

Read the guide →
Reference

Crypto glossary

Plain definitions of the crypto terms used in THORWallet, from recovery phrase to slippage, each with the help article that has the steps.

36 terms, A to Z →

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Self-custody, native swaps, vaults and a card in one app.

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