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New to Koinos?

From the bank to the block.

Koinos is a blockchain where using apps is free: instead of paying a fee for every action, your KOIN gives you Mana, which refills on its own. Here's how to get from dollars (or the crypto you already have) onto Koinos, and what to do once you're there.

Two ways in

From dollars

Bank → exchange → bridge

  1. Bank accountdollars
  2. A regulated exchangebuy ETH or USDT (e.g. Coinbase, Kraken)
  3. MetaMasksend it to your Ethereum wallet
  4. Vortex Bridgecross to Koinos
  5. Kondorswap to KOIN on KoinDX or Trade Koinos
Already in crypto

Ethereum → Koinos

  1. ETH, USDT or KOIN on EthereumKOIN trades on Uniswap too
  2. Vortex BridgeMetaMask on one side, Kondor on the other
  3. Kondoryour tokens arrive on Koinos

KOIN isn't listed on any centralized exchange right now, so the way in is through Ethereum and the Vortex Bridge. Check that an exchange is available where you live before signing up. This is general information, not financial advice.

Step by step

  1. Get a Koinos wallet

    Install the Kondor browser extension on a computer. On a phone, use KOIN Vault: your fingerprint or face is the key, nothing to install. You can also create a free, sponsored account at Use Koinos. With Kondor, write your secret recovery words on paper and keep them offline.

  2. Get some crypto

    On a regulated exchange, link your bank and buy ETH or USDT, then send it to your MetaMask wallet. Start small while you learn.

  3. Cross the bridge

    Use Vortex Bridge to move ETH, USDT or KOIN from Ethereum to Koinos. The walkthrough is below.

  4. Swap to KOIN

    If you bridged ETH or USDT, swap it for KOIN on KoinDX or Trade Koinos.

  5. Mana: free actions

    Holding KOIN gives you Mana, which pays for your transactions and refills over a few days. Low on Mana? Kondor has a free-Mana option.

  6. Play Knode

    Open Knode, connect Kondor or KOIN Vault and stake at least 1 VHP. You can stake KOIN too; it's turned into VHP for you. Then answer the daily questions.

Crossing the Vortex Bridge

  1. Open the bridge at vortexbridge.io/bridge and choose the direction: Ethereum → Koinos to come in, Koinos → Ethereum to go out.
  2. Connect both wallets: MetaMask for Ethereum, Kondor for Koinos. The receiving address fills in by itself. Check it is yours.
  3. Pick the token and amount (KOIN, ETH or USDT), then submit and confirm in your wallet.
  4. Wait for the guardians. Independent guardian nodes watch both chains; 5 of 7 must sign. About 15 minutes from Ethereum, about 3 minutes from Koinos.
  5. Claim, then redeem on the receiving side. Your tokens arrive in that wallet.

Explore Koinos

Stay safe

  • Never share your recovery words or private key. No app, team member or support chat needs them. Knode never asks.
  • Type addresses of sites yourself or use the links here. Scam copies of popular sites are common.
  • Before sending, check the network (Koinos or Ethereum) and the first and last characters of the address.
  • Start with a small amount until each step feels familiar.