Keplr Wallet Tutorial: Your Gateway to the Cosmos Ecosystem (Staking ATOM & More)

Getting Started with Keplr Wallet

1. Visit the official Keplr website and download the browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. The extension is open-source and audited regularly by independent security firms.

2. Click “Add to Chrome” and confirm the installation prompt. Once installed, a fox-shaped icon appears in the top-right corner of your browser toolbar.

3. Click the icon and select “Create a new wallet”. You’ll be prompted to set a strong password and back up your 24-word mnemonic phrase. Store this phrase offline—never screenshot or share it digitally.

4. Confirm the recovery phrase in the correct order. This step is mandatory and irreversible. Without it, access to funds is permanently lost.

5. After confirmation, your wallet is initialized with a default Cosmos Hub account (cosmos1... address). No initial deposit is required to begin interacting with dApps.

Connecting to Cosmos-Based Chains

1. Navigate to a supported Cosmos dApp such as Osmosis, Cosmos Hub staking interface, or Regen Network. Most display a “Connect Wallet” button.

2. Click the button and select “Keplr” from the wallet list. A pop-up appears requesting permission to connect your public address.

3. Approve the connection. Keplr injects your account information into the dApp’s frontend without exposing private keys.

4. Some chains require manual chain registration. Open Keplr settings, go to “Chain Registry”, and enable auto-detection or manually add chain parameters using verified JSON configurations from Chainlist.org.

5. Once registered, you can switch between chains like Cosmos Hub, Juno, and Stargaze directly inside Keplr’s sidebar without reinstalling or reconfiguring.

Staking ATOM Tokens Securely

1. Ensure your wallet holds ATOM tokens. If not, transfer them from an exchange using the Cosmos Hub network (not ERC-20 or other bridged versions).

2. Open the Cosmos Hub staking dashboard via the Keplr interface or go to https://hub.cosmos.network/staking. Click “Delegate”.

3. Select a validator from the list. Prioritize validators with high uptime, reasonable commission rates (

4. Enter the amount of ATOM to delegate. Note that undelegation takes 21 days and incurs no fee, but rewards accrue only while staked.

5. Review the transaction summary, sign with Keplr, and confirm. Your delegation appears in the “My Delegations” section within seconds.

Managing IBC Transfers and Cross-Chain Assets

1. To send tokens across Cosmos chains, use the “Send” function inside Keplr and ensure both source and destination chains support IBC and have active light clients.

2. Paste the recipient’s address on the target chain (e.g., juno1..., osmo1...). Keplr auto-detects the correct channel ID if the chain is registered.

3. Choose the token denomination. For ATOM, select “uatom”; for OSMO, select “uosmo”. Denomination mismatches cause failed transfers.

4. Set appropriate gas limits and fees. Keplr suggests defaults, but during congestion, increasing the fee ensures faster confirmation.

5. Confirm the IBC packet details before signing. Transactions appear in explorers like Mintscan or Big Dipper once relayed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can Keplr store non-Cosmos assets like Ethereum or Solana tokens?Keplr natively supports only Cosmos SDK-based chains and IBC-enabled zones. It does not handle Ethereum, Solana, or Bitcoin private keys. Multi-chain support is limited to interoperable Cosmos ecosystems.

Q: What happens if I lose my 24-word phrase but remember my password?The password only encrypts the local wallet file. Without the mnemonic, there is no recovery path. All assets become irretrievable.

Q: Does Keplr support hardware wallets?Yes—Keplr integrates with Ledger Nano S/X for Cosmos chains. During account creation or import, select “Ledger” and follow device prompts to authorize signing.

Q: Why does my ATOM balance show zero after switching to another Cosmos chain?This occurs because balances are chain-specific. ATOM exists natively only on Cosmos Hub. On other chains, you hold IBC-received ATOM (e.g., “ibc/...” denominations), which require separate balance queries per chain.