Getting Started

Wallet Setup Guide

How to set up a Polkadot wallet for receiving payments on Opentribe

Overview

To receive bounty payments on Opentribe, you need a Polkadot wallet. This guide will help you choose the right wallet and set it up correctly.

Most organizations pay through Polkadot's Asset Hub, which supports DOT, USDC, USDT, and other tokens. All recommended wallets work with Asset Hub.

Choosing Your Wallet

Opentribe works with all major Polkadot wallets. Here are the three most popular options:

Wallet Comparison

FeatureTalismanSubWalletPolkadot.js
Best ForDesktop users, DeFiMobile + DesktopPower users
Ease of Use⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very easy⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very easy⭐⭐⭐ Technical
PlatformsBrowser ExtensionBrowser + Mobile + WebBrowser Extension
Asset Hub Support✅ Native✅ Native✅ Native
Mobile❌ Desktop only✅ iOS + Android❌ Desktop only
Networks Supported900+150+All Polkadot
Hardware Wallet✅ Ledger✅ Ledger, Keystone, Vault✅ Ledger
Staking✅ Built-in✅ Built-inVia Staking Dashboard
Open Source✅ Yes✅ Yes✅ Yes

Our Recommendations

For Most Users:

  • Talisman or SubWallet - Both are user-friendly and secure

For Mobile Users:

  • SubWallet - Full mobile app for iOS and Android

For Technical Users:

  • Polkadot.js Extension - Lightweight and simple

All three wallets are non-custodial, meaning YOU control your private keys. Never share your seed phrase with anyone, including Opentribe support.

Installing Your Wallet

Install Talisman Wallet

Go to talisman.xyz

Click "Download" and choose your browser:

  • Chrome
  • Firefox
  • Brave
  • Edge
  • Arc
  1. Click "Add to [Browser]"
  2. Confirm the installation
  3. The Talisman icon will appear in your browser toolbar
  1. Click the Talisman icon
  2. Choose "Create New Wallet"
  3. Set a strong password (you'll need this to unlock Talisman)
  4. Click "Continue"

CRITICAL STEP:

  1. Write down your 12-word seed phrase
  2. Store it somewhere safe (NOT on your computer)
  3. Never share it with anyone
  4. Confirm your seed phrase by selecting words in order

Your seed phrase is the ONLY way to recover your wallet if you lose access. If you lose it, your funds are gone forever. If someone else gets it, they can steal your funds.

You now have a Polkadot account. Click on "Polkadot" in Talisman to see your address.

Finding Your Polkadot Address in Talisman

  1. Open Talisman extension
  2. Make sure you're on the "Polkadot" network (top dropdown)
  3. Click on your account name
  4. Click the copy icon next to your address
  5. Your address starts with 1 (for Polkadot mainnet)

Install SubWallet

Browser Extension:

  • Visit subwallet.app
  • Click "Download"
  • Available for Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Edge

Mobile App:

  • iOS: Download from App Store
  • Android: Download from Google Play

Web Dashboard:

  1. Click "Add to [Browser]"
  2. Confirm installation
  3. SubWallet icon appears in toolbar
  1. Click SubWallet icon
  2. Choose "Create a new account"
  3. Set a master password (protects all your accounts)
  4. Select "Create with new seed phrase"

VERY IMPORTANT:

  1. SubWallet shows your 12-word seed phrase
  2. Write it down on paper
  3. Store in a secure location
  4. Never take a screenshot or save digitally
  5. Verify your seed phrase

SubWallet uses a single master password for multiple seed phrases. Your seed phrase is still the ultimate backup - don't lose it!

  1. SubWallet supports 150+ networks
  2. Make sure "Polkadot" and "Polkadot Asset Hub" are enabled
  3. You can add more networks later

Your SubWallet is ready. You can now manage Polkadot assets.

Finding Your Address in SubWallet

  1. Open SubWallet
  2. Click on your account at the top
  3. Select "Polkadot" network from the list
  4. Click the copy icon next to your address
  5. Address starts with 1

Mobile Setup (iOS/Android)

The mobile app setup is similar:

  1. Download SubWallet from App Store or Google Play
  2. Open the app
  3. Tap "Create new account"
  4. Follow the same seed phrase backup process
  5. Enable Polkadot and Asset Hub networks

Install Polkadot.js Extension

Polkadot.js extension is the official wallet from Parity (creators of Polkadot). It's lightweight but more technical than alternatives.

Go to polkadot.js.org/extension/

Available for:

  • Chrome/Brave
  • Firefox
  1. Click "Add to [Browser]"
  2. Confirm installation
  3. Click the extension icon to open
  1. Click "+" (plus icon)
  2. Choose "Create new account"
  3. Your seed phrase is displayed immediately

DO THIS BEFORE CONTINUING:

  1. Write down all 12 words in order
  2. Store securely offline
  3. Check the box confirming you've saved it

Polkadot.js shows your seed phrase immediately. If you don't save it now, you may never see it again.

  1. Give your account a descriptive name
  2. Set a strong password
  3. Click "Add the account with the generated seed"

Your Polkadot account is ready to use.

Finding Your Address

  1. Click the Polkadot.js extension icon
  2. Your account name is listed
  3. Click the three dots next to your account
  4. Select "Copy address"
  5. Your Polkadot address is copied (starts with 1)

Adding Your Wallet to Opentribe

Once you have your wallet set up, add the address to your Opentribe profile:

Use the instructions above for your chosen wallet to copy your address.

Make sure you're copying your Polkadot address (starts with 1), not Kusama (capital letters) or another chain.

Go to opentribe.io and sign in.

  1. Click your profile icon (top right)
  2. Select "Settings" or "Profile"
  3. Find the "Wallet Address" field
  1. Paste your Polkadot address
  2. Opentribe validates the format
  3. Click "Save Changes" and you're ready to get paid

Viewing Your Asset Hub Balances

To see your DOT and other tokens:

In Talisman:

  • Switch the network dropdown to "Asset Hub"

In SubWallet:

  • Enable "Polkadot Asset Hub" in network settings

In Polkadot.js:

Security Best Practices

Following these security practices is critical to keeping your funds safe.

Seed Phrase Security

DO:

  • ✅ Write your seed phrase on paper
  • ✅ Store in a safe place (safe, bank vault)
  • ✅ Consider using a metal backup for fire/water protection
  • ✅ Test your seed phrase recovery

DON'T:

  • ❌ Save seed phrase digitally (no screenshots, no cloud storage)
  • ❌ Share with anyone (even Opentribe support)
  • ❌ Email or message your seed phrase
  • ❌ Type it into any website except your wallet

Password Best Practices

  • Use a unique, strong password for your wallet
  • Different from your email or Opentribe password
  • Consider using a password manager
  • Enable biometric unlock on mobile if available

Wallet Safety

  • Only download wallets from official websites:
  • Verify browser extension before installing
  • Be cautious of phishing websites
  • Never enter your seed phrase on any website

Hardware Wallets (Advanced)

For large amounts, consider a hardware wallet:

  • Ledger Nano S/X - Supported by all three wallets
  • Keystone - Supported by SubWallet
  • Polkadot Vault - Supported by SubWallet

Hardware wallets store your private keys offline, providing maximum security.

Common Issues

Can't See an Asset Hub Balance

Solution:

  1. Make sure you're connected to the Asset Hub network
  2. In Talisman: Switch to "Asset Hub - Polkadot"
  3. In SubWallet: Enable Asset Hub in network settings
  4. Wallets need a small amount of DOT (~0.1) for the account to be active

Address Starts with Different Letter

Issue: Address doesn't start with 1

Solution:

  • Polkadot addresses start with 1
  • Kusama addresses start with capital letters
  • Make sure you're copying the Polkadot address, not Kusama
  • The same seed phrase generates different addresses for different networks

Lost Access to Wallet

With Seed Phrase:

  1. Install wallet on a new device
  2. Choose "Import from seed phrase"
  3. Enter your 12-word seed phrase
  4. Your account is recovered

Without Seed Phrase:

  • Unfortunately, your wallet cannot be recovered
  • This is why backing up your seed phrase is critical

Wallet Extension Not Detected

Solution:

  1. Refresh the webpage
  2. Make sure extension is installed and unlocked
  3. Check if extension has permission for the site
  4. Try a different browser
  5. Reinstall extension if necessary

Testing Your Wallet

Before receiving large payments, test with a small amount:

  1. Use a faucet or buy a small amount of DOT on an exchange
  2. Send ~1 DOT to your wallet as a test
  1. Check your wallet balance
  2. Look for the transaction on Subscan: assethub-polkadot.subscan.io
  3. Confirm you can see the balance
  1. Send a tiny amount (0.01 DOT) to another address
  2. Make sure you understand the process
  3. Check the transaction fee

Next Steps

For Builders Guide

Complete getting started guide for builders

Receiving Payments

How to receive your first bounty payment

Payment Wallets

Learn about wallets and Asset Hub

Common Payment Tokens

See which tokens organizations typically use

Need Help?

If you're having trouble setting up your wallet:

  1. Check the FAQ section
  2. Visit wallet-specific help:
  3. Contact Opentribe support: support@opentribe.io
  4. Join our Discord for community help

Remember: Legitimate support will NEVER ask for your seed phrase or private keys. If someone does, it's a scam.

Getting Started for Organizations

Post opportunities and find talent on Opentribe

How Payments Work

Understanding Opentribe's role in the payment process