The team behind Phantom Wallet has introduced a new feature that allows users to create a crypto wallet using only an email address and a four-digit PIN code.

It’s never been easier to onboard your friends and family to crypto.

Starting today, new users can sign up for Phantom with just an email and a 4-digit PIN. pic.twitter.com/aUHx0QQkKw
— Phantom (@phantom) December 3, 2024

The developers believe that requiring users to write down or memorize a seed phrase when creating a wallet is too cumbersome and confusing for most people.

To avoid this complexity, users often resort to risky practices, such as taking screenshots of their seed phrases, which can expose them to hacks. Additionally, physical copies can be lost, resulting in permanent loss of access to their funds.

Instead, Phantom has adopted a Web2-like approach, enabling wallet creation via email or accounts from services like Google and Apple. Access to the wallet is secured with a simple four-digit PIN code.

How It Works

This functionality is built on a non-custodial key management protocol. The seed phrase has not been removed; it is hidden from the user and stored locally on their device. Backup seed phrases are encrypted and stored on Phantom’s servers. Additionally, key backups are split and distributed across the Juicebox network.

The developers emphasized that “no party, other than the user, will ever have access to the seed phrase in a decrypted format.”

Available Now

The feature has already been rolled out across Phantom’s applications.

Context

In November, some users of the Phantom app for iOS experienced issues accessing their tokens following an update.

This new functionality reflects a broader trend toward simplifying crypto wallet management while maintaining security, aiming to bridge the gap between traditional Web2 and Web3 user experiences.