Before you can trade on LeverUp, you need a wallet that's set up to talk to Monad. If you're new to self-custody wallets entirely, this walks through the whole path — install, configure, fund, connect, trade.

What This Guide Covers

  • Installing a self-custody wallet (MetaMask)
  • Adding Monad as a network
  • Getting assets onto Monad
  • Connecting your wallet to LeverUp
  • Opening your first position

Why This Setup Step Exists

Monad is EVM-compatible, but it isn't a network your wallet knows about by default — you have to add it, the same way you'd add any new EVM chain. This is a one-time setup. Once it's done, connecting to LeverUp and other compatible Monad apps goes through your wallet's standard approval flow.

Step 1 — Install a Wallet

If you don't already have a self-custody wallet, install MetaMask — it's a widely supported option that works as a browser extension.

A self-custody wallet puts you in control of the credentials used to authorize transactions, rather than entrusting them to a centralized platform. The key distinction is that you control transaction authorization — which also means you're responsible for protecting your credentials and reviewing every approval carefully.

  1. Go to metamask.io on a network you trust — not public wifi — and add the extension to your browser
  2. Click Create a new wallet and set a password (this password only unlocks the extension locally; it isn't a blockchain credential)
  3. MetaMask shows you a 12-word seed phrase — write it down on paper and store it somewhere safe
📸 [IMAGE: MetaMask seed phrase recovery screen showing the 12-word phrase]

Don't enter your seed phrase into an ordinary website, and don't share it with anyone. Anyone who has it can move your funds, and wallet support can't recover a lost seed phrase or reverse an unauthorized blockchain transaction. Only ever enter it directly into your wallet provider's verified application when intentionally restoring a wallet. Write it down and keep it somewhere only you can access.

Step 2 — Add Monad as a Network

MetaMask supports Ethereum by default, but Monad needs to be added manually as a custom network.

  1. Open MetaMask and click the network dropdown at the top
  2. Click Add network → Add a network manually
  3. Enter the following:
Field Value
Network Name Monad Mainnet
New RPC URL https://rpc.monad.xyz
Chain ID 143
Currency Symbol MON
Block Explorer URL https://monadvision.com
  1. Save, then switch to Monad Mainnet from the network dropdown
📸 [IMAGE: MetaMask "Add a network manually" form filled in with Monad Mainnet details]

Double-check these values against docs.monad.xyz before saving — network details occasionally get spoofed on phishing sites, so typing them in from an official source matters.

Step 3 — Get Assets onto Monad

A new wallet on Monad starts empty. You need MON for gas and, typically, USDC as your starting collateral.

If your assets currently live on another chain or a centralized exchange, follow How to Bridge Assets to Monad — it covers both the cross-chain bridge path and the CEX withdrawal path.

📸 [IMAGE: Wallet balance showing MON and USDC after a completed bridge transaction]

Step 4 — Connect Your Wallet to LeverUp

  1. Go to app.leverup.xyz
  2. Click Connect Wallet in the top-right corner
  3. Select MetaMask and approve the connection request
  4. Confirm your wallet is on Monad Mainnet — LeverUp will prompt you to switch networks if it isn't
📸 [IMAGE: LeverUp Connect Wallet flow with MetaMask selected]

Step 5 — Open Your First Trade

Your supported collateral balance is your available margin, subject to LeverUp's current collateral and risk parameters — there's no separate pre-funding deposit step. From here, follow How to Open Your First Trade on LeverUp for the full walkthrough: selecting a market, setting leverage, and opening a position.

Common Mistakes

Downloading a fake wallet extension. Only install MetaMask from metamask.io or your browser's official extension store. Fake extensions designed to steal seed phrases are a common phishing vector.

Typing your seed phrase into a website. Don't enter your seed phrase into an ordinary website — only your wallet provider's own verified application should ever ask for it, and only when you're intentionally restoring a wallet. If a site asks for it, close the tab.

Adding network details from an unverified source. Always cross-check RPC URLs and chain IDs against docs.monad.xyz rather than a random search result or link.

Leaving assets on a centralized exchange out of habit. If you're setting up a wallet specifically to trade on-chain, the point is holding your own keys. For more on why that distinction matters, see FTX, Self-Custody, and How DEX Trading Reduces Custodial Risk.

Trade on LeverUp: app.leverup.xyz