# (-- TON Onboarding --)

Interested in bridging to The Open Network (TON)? Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

## Setting up a TON wallet

First, you'll need to set up a TON wallet. Did you know that if you have a Telegram account, you already have a TON wallet?

A crypto wallet is a digital tool that allows users to securely store, send, and receive cryptocurrencies. It stores the private keys needed to access and manage the cryptocurrencies stored on the blockchain.

In the DEX context It's necessary to use a non-custodial wallet, but we will shortly describe both types.

## Custodial wallets

Custodial wallets are managed by a third party, similar to a bank account.

Examples:

* Built-in Telegram wallet or other TG bots
* Any CEX (centralized exchange)
* Any wallet that offers you to register by email and sign in with login and password

## Non-custodial wallets

Non-custodial wallets are self-hosted, meaning you control your own private keys. Non-custodial wallets offer more security and privacy but require more responsibility from a user.

Examples:

* Built-in Telegram wallet with TON Space enabled
* [TonHub](https://tonhub.com)
* [MyTonWallet](https://mytonwallet.io/)
* [Tonkeeper](https://tonkeeper.com/)

❗You need a **non-custodial** wallet to trade on DeDust.io (or any other DEX)

## Acquiring TON for gas fees

Next, you'll need to acquire some TON to use for gas fees. There are several options depending on your experience level.

**Newcomer**

You can use an on-ramp service to buy TON directly with your credit card right from within the Telegram app. This is a simple and convenient way to get started with TON without needing to navigate complex crypto exchanges or wallet setups. Learn more about ways to buy TON on [the official TON website](https://ton.org/en/buy-toncoin).

**Experienced**

If you're already familiar with crypto but not experienced with on-chain operations, the easiest way to acquire TON is by purchasing it on a centralized cryptocurrency exchange (CEX) like [Binance](https://www.binance.com/), [OKX](https://www.okx.com/), [KuCoin](https://www.kucoin.com/), [Bybit](https://www.bybit.com/en), [Gate.io](https://www.gate.io/ru). Once you're ready, you can withdraw TON to your personal TON wallet.

❗When withdrawing from a CEX to your wallet, you don't need a memo, but if you send TON from your wallet to a CEX, be sure to include the memo in the transaction comments.

Now that you have some TON in your wallet, you can start swapping to your favorite token on [DeDust.io](http://dedust.io/).
