> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.hidemytx.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connecting Wallets

> Connect Phantom (Solana) or an EVM browser wallet to unlock Private Send and Shielded Send features.

HideMyTx uses two wallet types. Private Swaps and Normal Swaps do not require a connected wallet to get a quote, but Private Send (Solana) requires Phantom and Shielded Send (EVM) requires any EVM browser wallet.

| Feature               | Wallet required                                |
| --------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| Private Swaps         | None (optional for source chain)               |
| Normal Swaps          | None                                           |
| Private Send (Solana) | Phantom                                        |
| Shielded Send (EVM)   | Any EVM browser wallet (MetaMask, Rabby, etc.) |

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Solana (Phantom)">
    ## Connecting Phantom

    <Steps>
      <Step title="Install Phantom">
        Download the [Phantom browser extension](https://phantom.app) and create or import a wallet. HideMyTx connects to Phantom via the standard Solana wallet adapter.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Click Connect in the Private Send panel">
        Open the **Private Send** workstation and click **Connect Wallet**. Phantom will prompt you to approve the connection.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Sign the encryption key derivation message">
        After connecting, HideMyTx asks you to sign a short message:

        ```text theme={null}
        Privacy Money account sign in
        ```

        This signature is used to derive your PrivacyCash encryption key — it never leaves your browser and is not a transaction. Your private UTXO balance is only readable with this key.

        <Note>
          The signature is cached in `localStorage` so you only sign once per wallet address per browser. Subsequent sessions load the cached signature automatically without prompting you again.
        </Note>
      </Step>
    </Steps>

    ## What happens after signing

    HideMyTx derives your PrivacyCash encryption key from your wallet signature. This key is used to read and spend your shielded UTXO balance. The key is deterministic — signing again with the same wallet always produces the same key, so your shielded funds are always recoverable.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="EVM (MetaMask / any EVM wallet)">
    ## Connecting an EVM wallet

    Any EVM-compatible browser wallet works — MetaMask, Rabby, Frame, Coinbase Wallet, and others.

    <Steps>
      <Step title="Install an EVM wallet extension">
        Install MetaMask or any EVM browser. Make sure your wallet is unlocked before connecting.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Click Connect in the Shielded Send panel">
        Open the **Shielded Send** workstation and click **Connect Wallet**. Your wallet will prompt you to approve the connection and switch to the selected network (Ethereum, Arbitrum, Polygon, or BNB Chain).
      </Step>

      <Step title="Sign the two RAILGUN derivation messages">
        HideMyTx requests two signatures to bootstrap your RAILGUN private wallet:

        1. **Wallet seed signature** — signs the message `HideMyTx RAILGUN wallet` to derive your RAILGUN mnemonic and encryption key
        2. **Shield key signature** — signs a RAILGUN-generated message to derive your shield private key

        Both signatures are off-chain (no gas required) and deterministic. Your RAILGUN address and private balances are always recoverable from these two signatures.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Wait for the RAILGUN engine to bootstrap">
        On first connect, the RAILGUN engine loads. This typically completes in a few seconds.

        The engine also runs a short scan to find any existing shield history for your address. Subsequent connects reuse the stored wallet state and load much faster.
      </Step>
    </Steps>

    ## Supported networks

    | Network   | Chain ID |
    | --------- | -------- |
    | Ethereum  | 1        |
    | Arbitrum  | 42161    |
    | Polygon   | 137      |
    | BNB Chain | 56       |

    HideMyTx will prompt your wallet to switch to the correct network automatically when you select a chain in the Shielded Send panel.

    <Tip>
      If the automatic network switch fails (some wallet extensions block this), switch networks manually in your wallet and reload the Shielded Send panel.
    </Tip>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Disconnecting

HideMyTx does not store private keys or mnemonics. To disconnect, use the disconnect option in your wallet extension.