You’ve set up your wallet, funded it with ETH, and understand gas fees. Now it’s time for the exciting part—actually using DeFi. In this guide, we’ll walk through connecting to a decentralized app (dApp) and making your first token swap.
What is a dApp?
A decentralized application (dApp) is a website or app that interacts with smart contracts on the blockchain. Popular DeFi dApps include Uniswap (token swapping), Aave (lending), Curve (stablecoin trading), and 1inch (DEX aggregator).
Before You Connect: Security Checklist
- Check the URL carefully – It should be exactly app.uniswap.org, not app-uniswap.org
- Look for HTTPS – The padlock icon should be present
- Use bookmarks – Save legitimate dApp URLs and only use those
- Never click links in DMs – Go directly to the official site
Step-by-Step: Your First Token Swap
Step 1: Navigate to Uniswap
Open your browser and go to app.uniswap.org. Verify the URL is correct!
Step 2: Connect Your Wallet
Click “Connect Wallet” in the top right corner. Select “MetaMask” from the wallet options. MetaMask will pop up asking you to connect. Select the account(s) you want to connect and click “Connect”.
Step 3: Select Your Tokens
In the top field (“You pay”), ETH is usually selected by default. Enter the amount of ETH you want to swap (start small—0.01 ETH). Click the bottom field (“You receive”) and search for “USDC”.
Step 4: Review and Execute
Review the exchange rate, price impact, minimum received, and network fee. Click “Swap”, review the confirmation, click “Confirm Swap”, then confirm in MetaMask.
Key Takeaways
- Always verify the dApp URL before connecting
- Connecting your wallet only shares your address—not your funds
- Review gas fees and exchange rates before confirming
- Token approvals are separate from swaps (two transactions)
- Start with small amounts to practice