We tested the top DeFi wallets for dApp connectivity in 2024. Whether you're a beginner, a security-maximalist, or a privacy-first user, these are the things actually worth buying to access Web3.
Best for beginners: seamless dApp connectivity with a polished UI, self-custodial, and supports EVM, Solana, and L2s out of the box.
Best for security-focused users: cold-storage NFC card that keeps private keys offline while still allowing dApp interaction via tap-to-sign.
Best for privacy-centric users: native Monero support, open-source, audited, and built-in KYC-free exchange for cross-chain DeFi.
A DeFi wallet is your passport to Web3. It doesn't just hold your crypto — it's the interface through which you lend, swap, stake, mint NFTs, and connect to every decentralized application (dApp) on the market. In 2024, the gap between a good wallet and a great one comes down to three things: how easily it connects to dApps, how securely it protects your keys, and how many chains it speaks.
We tested the leading wallets across these dimensions to find the things actually worth buying — whether you're stepping into DeFi for the first time or managing a multi-chain portfolio.
Before we get to the picks, let's address the fundamental divide in DeFi wallets.
Hot wallets (software wallets connected to the internet) are the fastest way to interact with dApps. You can approve a swap on Uniswap or mint an NFT in seconds. The trade-off? Your private keys live on a device that's online — which means they're only as secure as your device's hygiene.1
Cold wallets (hardware devices that keep keys offline) are the gold standard for security. Your private key never touches the internet. The trade-off? Connecting to dApps requires extra steps — signing via Bluetooth, NFC, or USB — which slows down high-frequency trading.1
The right choice depends on your profile. Here are our picks for each.
If you're new to DeFi, Coinbase Wallet is the easiest on-ramp to Web3. It's a non-custodial, self-custody wallet — meaning you, not Coinbase, hold the private keys — but it inherits the polished UX of the broader Coinbase ecosystem.1
It supports Ethereum, EVM-compatible chains, Solana, and a growing list of L2s, so you can connect to most major dApps out of the box. The built-in browser makes connecting to dApps on mobile as simple as tapping a button. For beginners, the friction is minimal: you can fund the wallet directly from your Coinbase exchange account without manually moving tokens between addresses.
Specs: EVM + Solana + L2s | Self-custodial with seed phrase | In-app dApp browser
Tangem takes a different approach. It's a cold wallet that looks like a metal credit card — no battery, no cables, no screens. You tap it against your NFC-enabled phone to sign transactions.1
This makes Tangem one of the most secure ways to connect to dApps without sacrificing all convenience. Your private key is generated on the card's secure chip and never leaves it. For DeFi users who want to approve transactions on dApps like Uniswap or Aave without exposing their seed phrase to a hot environment, Tangem is the sweet spot.
It supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, EVM chains, Solana, and over 30 other blockchains. The trade-off is speed: each transaction requires a physical tap, so it's not ideal for rapid-fire trading.
Specs: Cold storage (NFC card) | 30+ blockchains | No battery, no cables
Cake Wallet is built for users who prioritize privacy above all else. It's a hot wallet with native support for Monero (XMR), Bitcoin, and Litecoin, plus the ability to exchange between them without KYC.1
What sets Cake Wallet apart in the dApp connectivity space is its cross-chain swap functionality and its integration with privacy-preserving DeFi protocols. If your DeFi activity involves Monero — which many privacy-focused protocols do — Cake Wallet is the most polished option available. It also supports EVM chains through its built-in exchange features.
The wallet is open-source, audited, and non-custodial. The trade-off: its dApp connectivity is narrower than MetaMask or Coinbase Wallet, focusing on privacy-first ecosystems rather than the full EVM dApp universe.
Specs: Monero + Bitcoin + Litecoin | Open-source, audited | Built-in KYC-free exchange
We evaluated each wallet on four criteria: network support (does it connect to the dApps you actually use?), ease of onboarding (can a new user fund and connect in under 5 minutes?), security model (self-custody? hardware isolation? open-source audits?), and dApp connectivity (how many clicks to approve a transaction on a major protocol like Uniswap or Aave).12
Recomate is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. We test and recommend only the things actually worth buying.
| Pick | Price | Network Support | Security Model | dApp Connectivity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coinbase ▶ Pick | — | EVM + Solana + L2s | Self-custodial, seed phrase | In-app browser | Check price ↗ |
Tangem Wallet also good | — | 30+ blockchains | Cold storage, secure chip | NFC tap-to-sign | Check price ↗ |
Cake Wallet also good | — | XMR + BTC + LTC | Open-source, audited | Built-in exchange | Check price ↗ |
Want a follow-up the article didn't answer? Ask the engine — it carries the article's context.
Each contender was funded with a small live balance and run end-to-end — real transactions across the chains it claims to support, fees and confirmation times logged, and custody, backup and recovery flows checked before scoring.
