Have the MetaMask browser extension installed. See instructions in the link below.
Add the Arbitrum One network to your MetaMask. See instructions in the link below.
[Optional] Add ETH funds into your wallet in MetaMask. See instructions in the link below.
In the current phase of development of The Beacon, only players who hold a self-custody Ethereum wallet can access the game. This wallet will need to be able to connect to the Arbitrum One network.
If you do not already have a self-custody wallet, we highly recommend using MetaMask to get one set up.
If you already have a self-custody wallet, we still highly recommend using MetaMask as the wallet client. At the moment, The Beacon interface only supports MetaMask. We plan on adding native support for more wallet clients in the near future.
An Ethereum wallet is a cryptocurrency wallet on the Ethereum blockchain network.
Explain like I’m 5: Each blockchain is like a bank that exists purely online. The Ethereum blockchain is one such bank, and the currency this bank uses for bookkeeping is called Ether (ETH). When you create an Ethereum wallet, it is akin to you creating an account with this Ethereum bank.
A self-custody wallet is one where you own the key (or seed phrase) to. If you have funds on a centralized exchange (i.e. Coinbase, Binance, Crypto.com), those funds will likely be in a custodial wallet as opposed to a self-custody wallet.
By having a self-custody wallet, you will be able to use your wallet as an identity tool. As such, you will be able to log into services and affirm your identity using the wallet.
Explain like I’m 5: If a custodial wallet is like a bank account opened and managed through a private wealth manager, a self-custody wallet would be like an account that you opened directly with the bank. When you use a wealth manager, they may often create various bank accounts on your behalf such that you may not even know their account numbers. Conversely, in the self-custody case, you will know the account number and you will have direct authority to do with that bank account as you please.
The Beacon game will be using the Arbitrum One network. Arbitrum One is a Layer-2 network of Ethereum. It’s an optimistic rollup that inherits the Ethereum network’s security while making transactions cheaper and faster. All transactions that happen on Arbitrum One will be written to the base Ethereum blockchain in due time.
Explain like I’m 5: When you send money from your bank account to someone else, you can often choose the delivery method of those funds. Some common delivery methods may include wire transfers, ACH, SEPA, etc. Analogously, the Ethereum mainnet and Arbitrum One can be thought of as two different delivery methods. The Ethereum mainnet is a tried and true method for delivering funds, but it is slow and expensive. Arbitrum One makes some optimizations on top of the Ethereum network, and so is able to deliver funds quicker and cheaper.