Hey guys, merry Christmas! You might be a bit confused with your present from me this year. This brief post should clarify things and get you started in the world of cryptocurrency.

You may have already unwrapped your present to find a piece of paper saying “[your name]’s Solana Wallet\n Secret recovery phrase: …” This is not only the key to unlocking your wallet for the first time, but it’s what will allow you to recover it in case your computer or phone is compromised. Store this in a safe place that you won’t forget. I’ve also included a copy of that piece of paper in case you want to store a backup in another place, or if you trust me, I can hold onto it. I will probably not steal your money.

So how do you actually get to your wallet? Go to the Phantom website and click “Add to Chrome.” Open it up and there should be directions to input your secret recovery phrase and create a new password.

There you go! You’ll see that I’ve already sent you some money to play around with, as well as a piece of artwork. At this point you’ve got everything you need to jump into crypto, but I figured I’d give you a brief introduction to make things easier.

The following is an attempt at consolidating my understanding of smart contracts, and expressing it in a way that is beneficial not only for those familiar with the space, but also someone with little to no background in blockchain.

What is a contract?

A set of promises. Typically between two entities.