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

# Big Brain Ape Quickstart: From Sign-Up to First Trade

> Create your Big Brain Ape account, connect a wallet, and execute your first crypto trade in under 10 minutes with this quickstart guide.

This guide walks you through everything you need to go from zero to your first trade on Big Brain Ape. By the end you'll have a verified account, a connected wallet, and a clear picture of how to use the platform — all in under 10 minutes.

## Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have the following ready:

* **A crypto wallet** — Big Brain Ape supports MetaMask, Phantom, WalletConnect, and other major wallets. If you don't have one yet, install [MetaMask](https://metamask.io) or [Phantom](https://phantom.app) before continuing.
* **Funds to trade** — You'll need some crypto in your wallet to place trades. Even a small amount is enough to follow along.

## Steps

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create your account">
    Go to [app.bigbrainape.com](https://app.bigbrainape.com) and click **Sign Up**. Enter your email address and choose a strong, unique password.

    After submitting the form, check your inbox for a verification email from Big Brain Ape and click the confirmation link. Your account is active as soon as your email is verified.

    <Tip>
      Enable two-factor authentication during signup to secure your account from the start. You can also set it up later in your account settings.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect your wallet">
    Once you're logged in, navigate to **Wallets** in the sidebar and click **Connect Wallet**. Choose your wallet provider from the list:

    * **MetaMask** — EVM-compatible chains (Ethereum, Base, Arbitrum, and more)
    * **Phantom** — Solana and EVM-compatible chains
    * **WalletConnect** — Works with 300+ mobile and desktop wallets

    Approve the connection request in your wallet app. Big Brain Ape reads your on-chain balances but never has access to your private keys or seed phrase.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Fund your account">
    With your wallet connected, your existing on-chain balances are automatically visible in the **Portfolio** dashboard. If you need to move funds:

    * Copy your wallet address from the **Wallets** page.
    * Send crypto from an exchange or another wallet to that address.
    * Wait for the transaction to confirm — most chains take under a minute.

    <Note>
      Make sure you send assets on the correct network. Sending tokens on the wrong chain can result in permanent loss of funds.
    </Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Place your first trade">
    Head to the **Trade** tab and select the token pair you want to swap. Enter the amount, review the estimated price impact and fees, then click **Confirm Trade**.

    Big Brain Ape routes your order for the best available price across supported liquidity sources. Your portfolio balance updates as soon as the transaction is confirmed on-chain.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Ready to go deeper? The [Your First Trade](/guides/first-trade) guide covers order types, reading charts, and setting take-profit alerts in detail.
</Tip>

## Check a token price via the API

If you want to pull market data programmatically, use the `/market-data` endpoint. Here's a quick example that fetches the current price of SOL:

```bash theme={null}
curl -X GET https://api.bigbrainape.com/v1/market-data?token=SOL \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
```

The response returns the latest price, 24-hour volume, and percentage change for the requested token. See the [API Reference](/api/introduction) for the full list of available endpoints and response schemas.