As an expert in bleeding-edge crypto gaming trends, few projects excite me more than Sky Mavis’ Axie Infinity. Powered by the Ronin sidechain specifically optimized for NFT games, Axie has exploding into the stratosphere recently with over 2.5 million daily active players as of November 2021 (source).
But to truly step into this futuristic universe of Pokemon-style battles and breeding, you’ll need a Ronin Wallet. Like a passport to the metaverse, a Ronin wallet allows you to securely store the tokens required to play in Axie Infinity – tracking your non-fungible Axies as well as earnings.
As an Web3 pioneer actively using crypto to transform internet incentives, I couldn’t wait to share this insider’s guide on creating your own Ronin Wallet. Let’s dive in!
Why Axie Infinity is Taking the Crypto World by Storm
Before I walk through the Ronin wallet setup process step-by-step, it’s worth understanding why games like Axie Infinity are having such a massive impact. As Raoul Pal explained recently, Axie isn’t just amusing – it’s providing real income for players around the world through its play-to-earn model.
The facts speak for themselves:
- Over 1 million daily active players as of July 2021 (source)
- $815 million in NFT trading volume, skyrocketing Axie to the #1 NFT game (source)
- Over 2 million lifetime players as of February 2022 (source)
- 350,000+ people already earning income playing Axie full time (source)
Analysts predict play-to-earn games could reach nearly $50 billion by 2025. But games require specialized sidechains able to handle fast transaction speeds and extreme user numbers in a cost-effective way.
That’s where Ronin comes in – the custom Ethereum sidechain built by Sky Mavis specifically for Axie Infinity…which brings us to the star of this guide, the Ronin Wallet. 😉
Why You Need a Ronin Wallet to Play Axie Infinity
Axie Infinity is more than just a game. It functions as a mini economy centered around earning tokens and NFTs called Love Potions and Axies. To fully participate, you need somewhere secure to store earned assets.
Enter the Ronin Wallet browser extension, which gives players a personal safe for all their hard-earned winnings.
A Ronin wallet not only tracks your Axies as uniquely generated NFTs on the blockchain, but also securely holds the wrapped ETH and AXS tokens used to trade and breed new Axies.
Plus, as part of Ronin sidechain infrastructure, a Ronin wallet enables gas-free transactions for a smooth user experience. This approach solves one of the biggest issues facing early blockchain games – the need to constantly pay Ethereum gas fees creating unnecessary friction.
On Ronin sidechain, you can play without worrying about transaction costs throttling enjoyment of the core game. It’s a purpose-built environment optimized for usability from the ground up.
Step 1: Add Ronin Wallet Extension in Google Chrome
Now that you grasp the power of Ronin sidechain and understand why a Ronin wallet is essential for Axie Infinity, let’s get you set up with your own!
The process only takes a few minutes. Since Ronin Wallet is a browser add-on, we’ll need to start by downloading Google Chrome if you don’t already use it.
While Chrome isn’t the only supported browser, I highly recommend it for the best Ronin Wallet user experience across Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems.
Once Chrome is up and running, go directly to the Chrome Web Store page for Ronin Wallet using this link:
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ronin-wallet/fnjhmkhhgeandcohidlmflnpeideamib
And click the blue “Add to Chrome” button to begin installing the extension.
Once added, you’ll see the Ronin Wallet extension enabled in your Chrome toolbar, but we still need to run through the setup wizard before use.
Step 2: Configure Your New Ronin Wallet Account
With software installation complete, it’s time for the fun part – setting up your wallet!
Start by clicking the Ronin Wallet toolbar icon to launch the extension pop-up. This is the actual wallet interface we’ll configure now. Hit “Get Started” to initiate creation of a fresh wallet.
Next, you’ll see two options:
-
I already have a secret recovery phrase. Import wallet.
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I‘m new. Let‘s get set up!
Obviously, choose the second option since this is your first Ronin Wallet.
Double-check you selected “I’m new…” and then hit Continue.
On the Create Password screen, enter a strong password you won’t forget. This encrypts and protects access to your wallet for security.
I recommend a randomized 12+ character password using numbers, letters, and symbols for best results. For maximum security, consider a password manager like LastPass or 1Password to generate and store your Ronin credentials.
Once you enter and confirm a password, your new Ronin Wallet springs to life!
But we aren’t done yet. The next step is equally important…
Step 3: Secure Your Recovery Phrase
The foundation of any cryptocurrency wallet is the recovery seed phrase. This is a unique 12-word string allowing you to restore access to a wallet if you ever lose login credentials.
After setting a login password, Ronin Wallet will display your custom seed phrase – looking something like this:
duck book car window random unique defend comic gift half egg human
Treat this string of 12 words EXACTLY like a password. Copy them and keep in a secure document or password manager rather than screenshotting. And never post or share your phrase publicly for any reason.
With access to your seed phrase, someone could empty your wallet!
When saving the phrase, I recommend an encrypted cloud storage folder or offline written copy locked away securely at home. ethernaut safe cracking challenge solutions geography Test twice to ensure no errors were made copying.
Once positive you have the 12 words properly archived, click “Confirm Seed Phrase” in Ronin Wallet to advance setup.
Almost there!
Step 4: Confirm Secret Recovery Phrase
On this final screen, Ronin Wallet tests your diligence securing the recovery phrase by making you re-enter the 12 words in order.
Don‘t worry though, these fields don’t actually auto-fill or store your phrase locally. They simply confirm you have the words ready to restore access if ever necessary.
For example, my recovery phrase starts with “duck” so I would enter that as Word #1. Your set of random words will differ.
Complete all 12 blanks to verify ownership and security of the wallet. Once finished, Ronin registers your new account!
And that’s it! In just a few quick steps, you now have a Ronin Wallet configured and ready to link with Axie Infinity.
Using Your Shiny New Ronin Wallet to Access Axie Infinity
The fun really starts when you connect your Ronin Wallet to Axie infinity. This lets you see owned NFTs, purchase new Axies from the marketplace, and transfer tokens earned from game rewards or breeding.
Inside Axie Infinity, simply choose the "Login with Ronin Wallet" option. The browser extension will request access to digitally sign transactions, verifying legitimacy and allowing full interaction.
You can also link email and additional authentication options for account security beyond the base wallet.
I highly suggest reviewing the Axie Infinity new player guide at this point for next steps on acquiring starter Axies and battling your way up leaderboards.
Over 2 million people have now experienced the joys of Axie Infinity thanks to frictionless Ronin Wallet onboarding. At this pace, universal gaming adoption of blockchain economies draws closer everyday.
Welcome to the future! I hope you enjoy using your new Ronin Wallet. Let me know if any other questions come up getting started.
The decentralized revolution continues growing at astounding speed. Unique sidechain technologies like Ronin enable gasless transactions and seamless blockchain asset management – key to next-generation games like Axie Infinity demonstrating new economic models.
Now armed with your own Ronin Wallet, you have the keys necessary to explore boundary pushing emergent worlds. Friendly NFT ecosystems where players collectively own the economy. New horizons where time spent gaming builds real livelihoods.
This is just the beginning. Blockchain P2E gaming accrued over $4 billion last year alone. Some analysts predict 25 times growth by 2025. Saddle up and get ready to ride the wave!
