Contributor, Benzinga
May 23, 2022
MyEtherWallet
Overall Rating:
securely through MyEtherWallet's website

MyEtherWallet (MEW) is a free, open-source interface that helps you interact with the Ethereum blockchain. The platform is easy to use and allows you to interact with smart contracts, generate wallets, store your Ether and Ethereum-based coins and tokens, earn rewards and much more. 

MEW was launched in 2015 and quickly gained popularity, attracting millions of users during the initial coin offering (ICO) boom in 2017. It established itself as one of the best Ethereum wallets as it enabled users to store any newly issued ERC-20 tokens. 

The Los Angeles, California-based company has continually improved the platform by adding new features and functionalities to MEW over the years, including an iOS and Android wallet app called MEW wallet. MEW has been able to stay ahead of the curve and provide users with new experiences in the fast-growing Ethereum ecosystem. MEW brands itself as Ethereum’s original wallet and a secure and intuitive way to manage Ether and ERC-20 coins and tokens.

Best For
  • Dedicated-currency wallet for users seeking interaction with the Ethereum blockchain
  • Users seeking a non custodial wallet solution
  • Interacting with hardware wallets
  • Swapping for other ERC-20 tokens through their decentralized exchange partners
Pros
  • Supports all ERC-20 tokens
  • Open source
  • Easy to use
  • No data collected or stored in MEW servers, you have complete control
  • A true non custodial wallet
Cons
  • Does not currently support non-Ethereum altcoins
  • No two-factor authentication (2FA) employed as security measures
  • The web experience can be a confusing setup process, especially for beginners

MyEtherWallet Ratings at a Glance

Customer Service
Mobile App
User Benefits
User Experience
Overall

The founders of MEW built the client-side interface to enable users to capture the wide range of opportunities in the Ethereum ecosystem, both on the MEW web wallet and the mobile MEW wallet app. MEW allows users to store, send and receive ETH, ERC-20 tokens and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

myetherwallet platform

Source - Myetherwallet.com

Creating a New MEW wallet:

MEW offers four unique ways to create a new Ethereum wallet (ETH Wallet): MEW Wallet app, buying a hardware wallet such as Ledger or Trezor and using it with MEW, and software methods such as a mnemonic phrase and a Keystore/JSON file. Software methods are not recommended for inexperienced users.

Making Payments Using MEW

Making payments while using MEW is relatively straightforward and gets completed within a few minutes. Users can either use the MEW website or the MEW Wallet app. Here are a few key steps before you can make a payment:

  • Access your wallet on MEW web or open MEW wallet app.
  • Find ‘Send’ button on the MEW web dashboard or the ‘up’ arrow in your MEW wallet app.
  • Enter the recipient’s address and the amount of ETH that you want to spend.

Accessing a Wallet on MEW

MEW offers multiple ways for users to access their Ethereum wallet or popular hardware wallets. First, select “Access My Wallet” on the home page of the web portal. The most recommended options are:

  • MEW wallet app (can be used on its own and with MEW web)
  • Hardware wallets like Ledger Nano S, Trezor
  • Mobile applications 
  • Browser extensions
  • Software such as KeyStore and JSON file

If you have general inquiries, check this link.

Transferring Coins to MEW:

  1. Download MEW wallet for iOS and Android and create a wallet
wallet portfolio
  1. Write down the recovery phrase
  2. View and copy the receiving address by clicking the down arrow on the account card
  3. Send coins from other wallets to the MEW address, or buy crypto directly in the app
  4. Alternatively, connect to MyEtherWallet.com to manage and buy crypto in the web dashboard
MEW qr code

From either the desktop experience or mobile experience you can then receive tokens, or purchase via MEW’s purchasing partners.

MyEtherWallet Customer Service

MyEtherWallet offers email support, a long list of support articles and tutorials and a chatbot on its website. 

MyEtherWallet Mobile App

You can download the MEW Wallet app on your smartphone (available for Android and iOS). To set up MEW Wallet app, look for it in your phone’s app store and download the mobile application.

The mobile app version of MEW comes with the same core features as the web-based interface, enabling users to manage their Ethereum-based assets with just a few taps on their mobile phone.

Before you can start using the features of MEW wallet, you need to click on “Create Wallet” on the “Create a free wallet” page, where you are asked to choose a six-digit PIN. Once you have obtained your PIN and confirmed it, your Ethereum wallet will be generated. Make sure to back up the wallet by writing down your recovery phrase.

MEW users can connect their account to a wide range of decentralized applications (dApps) within the app’s interface.

MyEtherWallet User Benefits

MEW provides the following core offerings to its users, which makes the platform one of the favorites for both professional and beginner traders:

  1. Compatible with Multiple OSs

Given that the portal is an open-source interface, MEW is compatible with all popular operating systems like macOS, Windows, Linux and others, both on desktop and mobile.

  1. Free

As MEW is a tool for interfacing with Ethereum the portal is completely free to use. 

  1. High Levels of Versatility

As the Ethereum ecosystem continues to evolve, so too does MEW. At present, users can capitalize on a wide range of features that MEW offers. On MEW, you can buy Ethereum and Ethereum-related cryptocurrency with a bank card, swap tokens, stake Ether (ETH), exchange tokens across blockchains, manage your NFT collection and interact with dApps.

  1. Security

MEW does not store any user data making it a secure, non custodial solution. Users are in complete control of their assets. On the mobile experience the security is second only to hardware wallets.

MyEtherWallet User Experience

The founders of MEW built the client-side interface to enable users to positively experience the Ethereum ecosystem. However, many users have reported that the setup process is a bit confusing, especially for beginners. The platform offers a variety of video tutorials to check out if something seems intimidating.  

In terms of more advanced users, MEW is a great option. MEW users can stake ETH and manage and purchase blockchain-based ENS domains by accessing the interface’s connected DApp ecosystem, in addition to hundreds of other dApps using the MEW Wallet app.

Additionally, while MEW is an Ethereum-based interface, it is possible for users to engage in cross-chain swaps to swap tokens across blockchains. For example, ETH holders can swap their tokens for Bitcoin, Litecoin, or Dogecoin, but they need to have another wallet that supports these. 

MEW supports Ethereum, all Ethereum based cryptocurrencies, and many Ethereum Layer 2s/sidechains. Ethereum is the second-most popular cryptocurrency in the world. It can be argued that most MEW users know what they’re getting into straight from the get-go – most people who use MEW do so because they use Ethereum and all the decentralized applications (like NFTs, DeFi, and staking) that are built on it.

MyEtherWallet vs Competitors

MEW is rivaled by many other cryptocurrency wallets in terms of reputation; however, these often underperform in terms of functionality and customer support. A few alternatives to MEW include Coinbase Wallet, Trust Wallet and Exodus.

  • MyEtherWallet
    Best For:
    Non Custodial Wallet Solution
    securely through MyEtherWallet's website
  • Coinbase
    Best For:
    Active Crypto Traders
    securely through Coinbase's website

    Sum of median estimated savings and rewards earned, per user in 2021 across multiple Coinbase programs (excluding sweepstakes). This amount includes fee waivers from Coinbase One (excluding the subscription cost), rewards from Coinbase Card, and staking rewards. ³Crypto rewards is an optional Coinbase offer. Upon purchase of USDC, you will be automatically opted in to rewards. If you’d like to opt out or learn more about rewards, you can click here. The rewards rate is subject to change and can vary by region. Customers will be able to see the latest applicable rates directly within their accounts.

  • Exodus Wallet
    Best For:
    Staking Crypto + Earning Rewards
    securely through Exodus Wallet's website
  • Guarda Wallet
    Best For:
    Web Wallet
    securely through Guarda Wallet's website

MyEtherWallet Overall

Overall, MEW is a powerful interface that allows you to manage your Ethereum-based assets and interact with a variety of Ethereum applications. It’s free and open source, which makes it an attractive option for both beginner and experienced investors. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q

Can MyEtherWallet be trusted?

A

The user’s account is secured with keys that are immediately generated as soon as the account is created, and can be in the form of a recovery phrase, a private key, or a keystore file. Since the keys are not stored on MEW’s online servers, it’s the user’s responsibility to keep their keys safe.

Q

What coins does MyEtherWallet support?

A

MyEtherWallet is a multi-platform wallet that supports Ether (ETH), Ethereum-related assets such as Ethereum Classic (ETC), all ERC-20 tokens on the Ethereum blockchain, and Ethereum Layer2 solutions/sidechains like Polygon and Binance Smart Chain.

Submit Your One Minute Opinion

How do you like MyEtherWallet?




The Crypto Rocketship: Weekly Newsletter
  • Exclusive Crypto Airdrops
  • Altcoin of the Week
  • Insider Interviews
  • News & Show Highlights
  • Completely FREE