How to add a custom token to a wallet?

Understanding Custom Token Standards

1. Most custom tokens on Ethereum-compatible blockchains follow the ERC-20 standard, which defines a common set of rules for fungible tokens including functions like transfer, balanceOf, and totalSupply.

2. Binance Smart Chain uses BEP-20, a nearly identical implementation with minor network-specific adjustments, enabling cross-chain token compatibility in many wallets.

3. Solana-based tokens adhere to the SPL token standard, requiring different parameters such as mint address and decimals, and are not interchangeable with ERC-20 tokens without bridging.

4. Polygon, Arbitrum, and Optimism support ERC-20 natively but require correct RPC configuration and chain selection within the wallet interface before token addition.

5. Non-fungible tokens like ERC-721 or ERC-1155 use distinct contract structures and cannot be added via standard token import flows—specialized NFT viewers or marketplace integrations are required instead.

Manual Token Import Process

1. Open the wallet application and navigate to the asset or token management section—often labeled “Add Token”, “Import Token”, or represented by a plus (+) icon.

2. Select the option for “Custom Token” or “Manually Add Token”, then ensure the correct blockchain network is active in the wallet’s network selector.

3. Paste the full contract address of the token into the designated field—this must match the exact case-sensitive hexadecimal string deployed on the target chain.

4. Input the token symbol exactly as published by the project, typically 3–6 uppercase letters, and verify the decimal precision value—common values are 18, 9, or 6.

5. Confirm the entry; the wallet will query the node for the contract’s code and event logs to validate existence and fetch balance data from the user’s public address.

Verification and Security Checks

1. Always cross-reference the contract address on a blockchain explorer like Etherscan, BscScan, or Solscan—look for verified source code, audit reports, and recent transaction activity.

2. Check if the token appears on reputable decentralized exchanges such as Uniswap or PancakeSwap—liquidity depth and trading volume serve as indirect trust signals.

3. Review ownership controls: contracts with renounced ownership or immutable logic reduce risks of malicious minting or withdrawal functions.

4. Avoid tokens with suspicious naming patterns—duplicate symbols, slight misspellings of well-known projects, or mismatched decimals often indicate scams.

5. Never enter seed phrases or private keys when adding tokens; legitimate wallet interfaces never request them during token import.

Wallet-Specific Interface Variations

1. MetaMask displays “Import Tokens” under the Assets tab, supports auto-detection for known tokens, and allows manual entry only after switching to the correct network.

2. Trust Wallet enables token search by name or contract address directly from the main token list screen, with automatic symbol and decimal detection upon pasting.

3. Phantom for Solana requires users to paste the mint address in the “Add Token” flow and manually input decimals and symbol—no auto-fetch capability exists for SPL tokens.

4. Coinbase Wallet offers both QR-based token discovery and manual contract entry, with built-in warnings for unverified or low-liquidity tokens.

5. Ledger Live does not support direct custom token addition in standalone mode; users must connect a compatible third-party wallet like MetaMask and manage tokens there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why does my wallet show zero balance after adding a custom token?A: The token contract may not be deployed on the selected network, the address was pasted incorrectly, or the wallet has not yet synced the latest state—refreshing the account or re-importing may resolve it.

Q: Can I add a token that exists on multiple chains using the same contract address?A: No—contract addresses are unique per chain. A token on Ethereum has a different address than its counterpart on BSC or Polygon, even if the name and symbol are identical.

Q: Does adding a custom token expose my private keys to the token’s developers?A: No—wallets interact solely with on-chain contract data through public RPC endpoints. Private keys remain offline and inaccessible to any smart contract or external service.

Q: Why does my wallet warn me about an “unverified” token?A: This indicates the contract source code has not been submitted to or validated by the blockchain explorer. It does not mean the token is unsafe, but due diligence is required before interacting.