How to Add a New Account to Eternl Wallet

Understanding Eternl Wallet Account Structure

1. Eternl is a non-custodial, open-source wallet built exclusively for the Cardano blockchain. It does not support Ethereum, Solana, or other ecosystems.

2. Each Eternl account corresponds to a unique set of cryptographic keys derived from a single 24-word recovery phrase.

3. Accounts are numbered sequentially — Account #1, Account #2 — and each holds its own ADA balance and associated assets.

4. Adding a new account does not require re-entering the seed phrase; it is generated deterministically from the same mnemonic using BIP-44 derivation paths.

5. All accounts share the same underlying security model: private keys never leave the device, and no third party has access to signing material.

Step-by-Step Process to Add an Account

1. Launch the Eternl browser extension or desktop application and unlock it with your wallet password.

2. Navigate to the top-right corner and click the user icon or the current account name displayed next to the ADA balance.

3. Select “Add account” from the dropdown menu — this option appears only if at least one account already exists.

4. Confirm the action by entering your wallet password again. No biometric or secondary verification is required at this stage.

5. A new account number appears instantly in the account switcher, along with its fresh receiving address starting with “addr1”.

Verifying the New Account’s Functionality

1. Click on the newly added account to activate it as the default view in the interface.

2. Locate the “Receive” button and copy the generated Cardano address to verify uniqueness against previous accounts.

3. Initiate a small test transaction from another wallet or exchange to confirm on-chain recognition.

4. Check the transaction history tab — entries should appear under the correct account identifier without cross-contamination.

5. Observe that staking delegation remains independent per account unless manually reassigned through the delegation center.

Security Considerations When Managing Multiple Accounts

1. All accounts inherit the same root seed phrase — losing or exposing that phrase compromises every account.

2. Account names are purely cosmetic labels stored locally; they do not affect on-chain behavior or key derivation.

3. Exporting account-specific private keys is disabled by design — Eternl enforces full mnemonic-based control.

4. Browser extension users must ensure no malicious extensions intercept clipboard data during address copying.

5. Desktop users should avoid running Eternl alongside untrusted Electron-based applications that may share renderer process vulnerabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I delete an Eternl account once it’s created? No. Account deletion is not supported. You can stop using it, but the keys remain recoverable via the original 24-word phrase.

Q: Does adding more accounts increase gas fees or slow down syncing? No. Eternl uses lightweight UTxO scanning optimized for Cardano’s ledger structure. Account count has no measurable impact on performance.

Q: Can I import an external Cardano address into Eternl as a new account? No. Eternl only supports deterministic derivation from its own 24-word mnemonic. External addresses cannot be imported without their corresponding private keys — which contradicts Eternl’s non-custodial architecture.

Q: Is there a limit to how many accounts I can add? Technically no hard limit exists, but practical usability degrades beyond ~20 accounts due to UI navigation constraints and increased memory footprint during large asset listings.