Xverse Wallet Chrome Extension | Official Website

The Xverse Wallet Extension is a browser wallet built for Bitcoin and the apps growing on top of it. It lets you hold BTC, store Ordinals, Runes and BRC20 tokens, and connect to Bitcoin web apps straight from Chrome, Brave or Arc. It also supports Stacks, Starknet and Spark, so one wallet covers a lot of ground.

If you've only used Ethereum wallets like MetaMask, Xverse works a little differently, mostly because of how it splits your Bitcoin into separate addresses. This guide covers where to download it safely, how to set it up, how the mobile app compares, and the mistakes that trip up new users.

Xverse Wallet Browser Extension, Mobile App and Portfolio

Xverse comes in a few versions, and you can restore the same wallet on each one using your recovery phrase. Here's what's available on the official download page:

• Browser extension: Installs from the Chrome Web Store and works on Chrome, Brave and Arc. Xverse calls it the best option for using Bitcoin Web3 apps.

• Mobile app: Available on the App Store for iPhone and Google Play for Android, for managing your wallet on the go.

• Portfolio web app: A dashboard at portfolio.xverse.app with sections for exploring Bitcoin apps and swapping assets.

• Hardware wallet accounts: Ledger and Keystone devices can be added as accounts, but only through the browser extension.

Here's a practical way to split things up. If you mint or trade Ordinals, use the extension, since that's where most Bitcoin marketplaces expect to find your wallet. Use the mobile app for checking balances and quick payments, and if you're holding a larger amount long term, pair the extension with a hardware wallet instead of keeping everything in a hot wallet.

What the Xverse Wallet Extension Is Good For

The main job of the Xverse Chrome extension is connecting you to Bitcoin apps like Ordinals marketplaces, minting sites and Bitcoin DeFi platforms. When a site asks to connect, Xverse opens a window where you review the request and approve or reject it. Always read what you're signing, especially on sites you haven't used before.

The part that confuses most beginners is addresses. Xverse gives you separate addresses for separate jobs. Your payment address holds regular BTC and is either Native SegWit (starts with bc1q) or Nested SegWit (starts with 3). Your Ordinals address is a Taproot address (starts with bc1p) and holds inscriptions, Runes and BRC20 tokens. Stacks tokens sit on a separate address that starts with S.

This matters because Xverse's own help center says the most common reason BTC "disappears" is that it was sent to the wrong address type. BTC sent to your bc1p Ordinals address won't show in your total balance, though it isn't lost and can be moved back to your payment address. Going the other way is riskier, so never send Ordinals, Runes or BRC20 tokens to a bc1q or 3 address. Xverse recommends Native SegWit for lower fees, and you can set it under Settings, then Advanced, then Preferred Bitcoin Address.

How to Install the Xverse Chrome Extension

Setup takes a few minutes, and the only step that needs your full attention is the recovery phrase.

1. Go to xverse.app/download and click Chrome, Brave or Arc. This takes you to the official Chrome Web Store listing. Don't just search "Xverse extension" and click the first result, because fake copies of Xverse pages built on free website builders do exist.

2. Click Add to Chrome, then Add extension to confirm.

3. Click the puzzle piece icon in your browser toolbar and pin Xverse so it's always visible.

4. Open the extension and choose Create wallet. If you already have a Bitcoin or Stacks wallet, choose the restore option and enter your existing seed phrase instead.

5. Write your 12 word recovery phrase on paper, in the exact order shown. Xverse will ask you to confirm it before moving on.

6. Create a strong password. This password encrypts your keys on this computer, so don't reuse one from another site.

7. Click Receive and copy the address that matches what you're sending in: bc1q for BTC, bc1p for Ordinals and tokens.

Once you're set up, keep the extension updated through your browser, and never type your recovery phrase into any website, no matter how official it looks.

Using the Xverse Wallet App on Android and iPhone

The Xverse Wallet app gives you the same address layout and asset support as the extension, so BTC, Ordinals, Runes and Stacks tokens all show up in one place. You protect it with a passcode and can turn on Face ID or fingerprint login. The main thing you can't do on mobile is connect a Ledger or Keystone, since Xverse's help center says hardware wallet support is currently extension only.

1. Open the App Store or Google Play, or better yet, use the links on xverse.app/download so you know you're getting the real app.

2. Install Xverse and open it.

3. Tap Create wallet, or choose the restore option if you already have a recovery phrase.

4. Write your recovery phrase down on paper. Don't screenshot it or save it in your notes app.

5. Set a passcode and turn on biometric login if you want faster access.

6. To use the same wallet on your computer, install the extension, pick the restore option and enter the same recovery phrase.

Is the Xverse Wallet Extension Safe? Custody and Security Explained

No wallet can promise you'll never lose funds, but Xverse is fairly open about how it's built. Here's what it offers on the security side:

• Open source code: The extension's code is public on GitHub under Secret Key Labs, the company behind Xverse.

• Third party audit: Xverse says its code is audited by Least Authority, and the audit report is linked on its security page.

• Hardware wallet support: You can manage Bitcoin, Ordinals, Runes, Stacks and Starknet assets from a Ledger or Keystone device through the extension.

• Multisig option: Xverse integrates with Asigna for shared vaults that need more than one signer.

• Privacy: Xverse states it doesn't track personally identifiable information, including your addresses or balances.

• Security levels: You can choose between convenience features like biometrics and stricter password checks.

Xverse is a self custodial, or non custodial, wallet. According to its security page, your private keys are encrypted on your own device with your password and are never shared with anyone, including Xverse, and the company says it can't freeze your wallet or move your funds. The flip side is that nobody can recover your wallet if you lose your recovery phrase. Xverse support will never ask for that phrase, so anyone who does, whether in a DM, email or "support" chat, is trying to steal from you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

The Xverse Wallet Extension is a solid pick if you want one wallet for BTC, Ordinals, Runes and Bitcoin apps, with the option to add a Ledger or Keystone later. Its biggest learning curve is the split between payment and Ordinals addresses, and once that clicks, the rest is pretty straightforward.

Download it only from xverse.app or the Chrome Web Store listing linked there, keep your recovery phrase offline, and double check every address before you hit send. This article is an independent guide and isn't affiliated with Xverse, and nothing here is financial advice.