Overview
Yoroi is a free browser-based wallet for holding, staking, and trading ADA from your laptop. It's a browser add-on for Chrome, Brave, Edge, and Firefox, built by EMURGO, one of the three organisations that started Cardano in 20171. You hold the recovery phrase, so only you can move your funds.
First released in 2018, Yoroi is one of the original Cardano browser wallets, and EMURGO's role as a founding entity gives it long-standing credibility in the ecosystem. The wallet's stated goals are simple: keep things secure, fast, and easy2.
Key Features
- Built to feel light. Yoroi doesn't download the whole Cardano blockchain. It connects to remote servers in the background, so the wallet opens quickly without using your computer's storage2.
- Stake ADA in a few clicks. Pick a Cardano stake pool from a built-in list and earn rewards every five days. Your ADA stays in your wallet the whole time1.
- Trade tokens without leaving the wallet. A built-in swap tool powered by MuesliSwap lets you exchange ADA for other Cardano tokens. No separate exchange account needed1.
- View your Cardano NFTs. A built-in gallery displays Cardano NFTs alongside your ADA, with artwork rendered directly inside the wallet1.
- Vote on Cardano's future. Yoroi includes Cardano governance voting. Pick a representative (called a DRep) to vote on your behalf, or vote directly on proposals yourself1.
What to Expect
Installing Yoroi takes a couple of minutes. You add it from the Chrome Web Store (also works in Brave and Edge) or from Firefox Add-ons, then create a wallet or restore an existing one with a recovery phrase. The phrase is the only way to recover your wallet if you switch laptops, so keep it offline.
The interface is intentionally plain. Send, receive, stake, swap, NFTs, and DApp connection all sit in one panel without much visual clutter. New users can also buy ADA directly inside the wallet using a credit card, through a payment partner called Banxa, so you don't need to set up an exchange account first1.
Yoroi covers the basics well but isn't as feature-rich as some newer Cardano wallets like Lace, Eternl, or Typhon. What it offers in return is longevity, open code (anyone can inspect it on GitHub), and EMURGO's backing. The wallet is available in English and Japanese, reflecting EMURGO's Japanese roots, and a dedicated help centre covers everyday questions.
One thing worth knowing about any wallet where you hold the keys: there's no "forgot password" option. If you lose your recovery phrase, you lose access, and there's no support team that can recover it for you. Keep the phrase safe and offline.
