|
| 1 | +--- |
| 2 | +title: Get started |
| 3 | +description: A step-by-step path for new Aztec users - get a wallet, fund your account, make your first private transaction, and explore apps. |
| 4 | +displayed_sidebar: participateSidebar |
| 5 | +--- |
| 6 | + |
| 7 | +# Get started on Aztec |
| 8 | + |
| 9 | +New to Aztec and want to use the network, not build on it? This page is the ordered path: get a wallet, fund your account, make your first private transaction, explore apps, and stay safe along the way. |
| 10 | + |
| 11 | +:::caution Alpha network |
| 12 | +Aztec is in its **Alpha** phase, a live mainnet where bugs, including critical ones, are expected. Use small amounts, and read the [Alpha Network](/participate/alpha) page before you start. |
| 13 | +::: |
| 14 | + |
| 15 | +## 1. Understand what you are using |
| 16 | + |
| 17 | +Aztec is a privacy-first Layer 2 network on Ethereum. In practice that means: |
| 18 | + |
| 19 | +- Your transactions are proven correct **on your own device**, so your private data never leaves it. The network only sees a proof. |
| 20 | +- Apps and users choose what stays private (like balances, identities, and amounts) and what is public. |
| 21 | +- Aztec settles to Ethereum, so it inherits Ethereum's security while transactions stay cheap and private. |
| 22 | + |
| 23 | +For a 90-second explainer, watch the video on the [Participate overview](/participate). For more depth, the [Basics of Aztec](/participate/basics/transactions) pages explain how it all works. |
| 24 | + |
| 25 | +## 2. Get a wallet |
| 26 | + |
| 27 | +You need an Aztec wallet. Aztec wallets are different from Ethereum wallets: they manage your private state and generate proofs on your device, so an Ethereum-only wallet is not enough on its own. |
| 28 | + |
| 29 | +- [**Azguard**](https://azguardwallet.io/) is a browser extension wallet, and currently the wallet to use for interacting with Aztec apps from your browser. It connects to Aztec apps the same way MetaMask connects to Ethereum apps: a website requests a connection, and you approve it in the extension. |
| 30 | +- More wallets are appearing as the ecosystem grows. Find the current list in the Wallets category of the [Aztec ecosystem page](https://aztec.network/projects). |
| 31 | + |
| 32 | +These are early-stage products on an early-stage network, so expect rough edges. |
| 33 | + |
| 34 | +:::caution Install from official sources only |
| 35 | +Fake wallet extensions are a common scam. Open wallet download pages from the [ecosystem page](https://aztec.network/projects) or the wallet team's official channels, never from search ads or links sent to you in chat. See [Staying safe](/participate/safety). |
| 36 | +::: |
| 37 | + |
| 38 | +The [Wallets](/participate/basics/wallets) page explains what makes Aztec wallets different and how to choose one. |
| 39 | + |
| 40 | +## 3. Fund your account |
| 41 | + |
| 42 | +Aztec is a Layer 2, so assets come in from Ethereum through bridges: |
| 43 | + |
| 44 | +- **Bridge apps** walk you through depositing from Ethereum. [Shield](https://shield.human.tech/) bridges assets into Aztec, including converting $AZTEC into **Fee Juice**, the network's fee asset. Find the current list of bridges on the [ecosystem page](https://aztec.network/projects). |
| 45 | +- **Some wallets and apps** include funding flows directly, so check your wallet first. |
| 46 | + |
| 47 | +Transaction fees are paid in Fee Juice, which you get by bridging $AZTEC from Ethereum (bridge apps handle this for you). Many apps also sponsor fees for their users through fee-paying contracts, so you can often start transacting without any Fee Juice of your own. See [Fees](/participate/basics/fees) for how to get Fee Juice and [Bridging](/participate/basics/bridging) for what happens under the hood. |
| 48 | + |
| 49 | +## 4. Make your first transaction |
| 50 | + |
| 51 | +Once your wallet holds funds, try a private transfer: |
| 52 | + |
| 53 | +1. **Receive**: share your Aztec address (or your wallet's payment link or QR code) with the sender. Incoming private transfers are visible only to you. |
| 54 | +2. **Send**: enter the recipient's address and amount in your wallet and confirm. Your wallet generates a proof on your device before submitting, so the first transaction can take a little longer than you may be used to. |
| 55 | +3. **Check the result**: your wallet shows the transaction status. You can also look it up on a block explorer like [Aztecscan](https://aztecscan.xyz), keeping in mind that private details (sender, recipient, amount) are not visible there, which is the point. |
| 56 | + |
| 57 | +The [Transactions](/participate/basics/transactions) page explains what happens behind the scenes. |
| 58 | + |
| 59 | +## 5. Explore apps |
| 60 | + |
| 61 | +Payments, trading, collectibles, and more are live on Aztec, with new apps launching regularly. See [Explore apps](/participate/apps) for what you can try today and where to find the up-to-date list. |
| 62 | + |
| 63 | +## Stay safe |
| 64 | + |
| 65 | +Three rules cover most risks: |
| 66 | + |
| 67 | +1. Never share your seed phrase or private keys with anyone, ever. |
| 68 | +2. Only open wallets, bridges, and apps from links on the [official ecosystem page](https://aztec.network/projects) or other [official Aztec channels](/participate/safety#official-aztec-links). |
| 69 | +3. Treat Alpha as early software: start with small amounts. |
| 70 | + |
| 71 | +Read [Staying safe](/participate/safety) for the full list of official links and common scams to avoid. |
| 72 | + |
| 73 | +## Get help |
| 74 | + |
| 75 | +- The [Aztec Discord](https://discord.gg/aztec) is the fastest place to ask questions. |
| 76 | +- The [Aztec forum](https://forum.aztec.network/) is best for longer discussions. |
| 77 | +- For wallet or app issues, check that project's own support channels, linked from the [ecosystem page](https://aztec.network/projects). |
| 78 | +- Found a security vulnerability? Report it privately following the [security disclosure process](/participate/alpha#security-disclosures), not in public channels. |
| 79 | + |
| 80 | +## Key terms in plain language |
| 81 | + |
| 82 | +| Term | Meaning | |
| 83 | +|------|---------| |
| 84 | +| **Layer 2 (L2) / rollup** | A network that runs on top of Ethereum (Layer 1), batching many transactions and posting proofs to Ethereum for security | |
| 85 | +| **Mainnet vs testnet** | Mainnet uses real assets; testnet is a free practice network. Aztec's live mainnet phase is called Alpha | |
| 86 | +| **Note** | A piece of private state, like a private "coin" only you can see and spend | |
| 87 | +| **PXE** | Private eXecution Environment: the part of your wallet that runs private transactions and generates proofs on your device | |
| 88 | +| **Mana** | Aztec's unit of computational work, like Ethereum's gas | |
| 89 | +| **$AZTEC / Fee Juice** | $AZTEC is the network's token on Ethereum, used for fees, staking, and governance. Fee Juice is the non-transferable fee asset created on Aztec by bridging $AZTEC | |
| 90 | +| **Sequencer** | A network operator that orders transactions into blocks | |
| 91 | +| **Prover** | A network operator that generates the proofs posted to Ethereum | |
| 92 | +| **Bridge / portal** | The mechanism that moves assets between Ethereum and Aztec | |
| 93 | +| **Epoch** | A batch of blocks proven together before settling on Ethereum | |
| 94 | + |
| 95 | +--- |
| 96 | + |
| 97 | +:::tip Want to go deeper? |
| 98 | +Learn how the network operates in [Basics of Aztec](/participate/basics/addresses), or read about the [$AZTEC token](/participate/token) and [governance](/participate/governance). |
| 99 | +::: |
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