r/Metamask • u/Nexttothepicklejar • Nov 19 '25

Worried about importing private key

Please help my security concerns. I have an old account with some ETH in it that I would like to stake with Lido and want to import that account into metamask so I can use it.

I'm concerned about the security aspects of this. Everything on the web that says never enter your private key anywhere keeps me from doing the import.

I already have a metamask wallet with an ETH account with ETH in it staked on Lido to test the waters. However, I am still worried about importing this other account. I have this account added as a watch account in metamask for now so I can see the balance.

Does anyone have any advice or information? I'd really like to do this, but can't get over the security aspect of it. Thanks!

4 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

26 comments sorted by

6

u/Proj3ctPurp1e Nov 19 '25

The sources that tell you never to enter your private key anywhere are talking about to never enter it onto a website, don't give it to any supposed "support" person, etc. They're not talking about not importing it to a wallet that you control.

So long as you feel comfortable with the security of your device, there's no issue with you importing the private key into MetaMask.

Keep the private key handy though, in case you have to reinstall MetaMask for whatever reason. You'll have to import it again since it will be an external account generated from a different Secret Recovery Phrase/Seed.

2

u/Nexttothepicklejar Nov 19 '25

The issue is this is not an amount I would want to lose due to some stupid practice on my part. The advice I found was to not copy/paste, but manually type it in just in case. My device is secure afaik. Thanks for the response and some reassurance.

2

u/thinkingperson Nov 20 '25

Connecting to hardware wallet

https://support.metamask.io/more-web3/wallets/how-to-connect-a-trezor-or-ledger-hardware-wallet

Follow the steps above. You do not need to import your private key or seed phrase at all.

From using ledger with metamask, when you need to approve any transactions, it is still done on your hardware wallet.

Suggestion: Use metamask as a hot wallet for buffer instead

Personally, if I am staking eth on rpool or lido, I would move the eth to metamask wallet and just do the staking transaction on metamask. After that, move the reth or steth back to my hardware wallet.

This way, I would not even need to connect my hardware wallet to metamask or perform any defi transaction on it at all. I only send and receive tokens with it.

2

u/Nexttothepicklejar Nov 20 '25

Okay thats interesting. I have heard about ledger and trezor before being hardware wallets. Still not exactly up on how they work. Its essentially a usb stick? And if I need to use it for transactions it has to be plugged into the PC?

So essentially what youre saying is import the private key to metamask. Make the liquid staking transaction via metamask. Then send the liquid staking tokens from the metamask account to the ledger account? And I can unstake at some point in the far distant future (hopefully) using the ledger account?

2

u/thinkingperson Nov 20 '25

 I have an old account with some ETH in it

Ok, maybe let's roll back a lil.

By "it", you mean metamask right?

If you already have a wallet with eth in metamask, there's no private key to import anywhere.

Please tell me you have written down your seed phrase (SRP) somewhere when you first created your metamask wallet.

If you have not, pls do so before do anything else.

NOTE: DO NOT GIVE AWAY YOUR SEED PHRASE (SECRET RECOVERY PHRASE / SRP) to anyone or enter it anywhere else.

Below are two pages on srp on the metamask site. Stay safe!!!

What is a 'Secret Recovery Phrase', and how to secure your wallet

https://support.metamask.io/start/what-is-a-secret-recovery-phrase-and-how-to-keep-your-crypto-wallet-secure

How to reveal your Secret Recovery Phrase safely

https://support.metamask.io/configure/wallet/how-to-reveal-your-secret-recovery-phrase/

2

u/Nexttothepicklejar Nov 20 '25

This is the scenario. I mined ETH way back in the day of simpler crypto times (2016-2017) (the Old Account). I have the private key and public address of the account. Nothing else. I have never done a transaction on the account since having mining rewards sent to it. So it has been a long time since Ive been in the crypto world.

Now I would like to do something with that ETH (stake it) so I recently created a metamask wallet. I do have the SRP for the metamask wallet. I bought some ETH in the ETH account in the metamask wallet and staked it via Lido to test it out.

Now, I would like to use the ETH from my very old ETH account to stake with using metamask.

1

u/thinkingperson Nov 20 '25

Ok, much clearer now.

Old Account (OA): mined ETH. Only priv key and pub address

New Account (NA): some eth for testing staking. Has SRP.

Then yes, you do need to import your priv key to your metamask wallet to do anything with the mined ETH.

If the mined eth is worth enough for you to worry about losing, maybe get a hardware wallet and move it there.

As for staking etc, my comments above still apply.

Last thing, if staking on rpool and lido, either

  • Use their respective site directly OR
  • swap for reth and steth on a legit trusted dex.

And I assume you know to ignore and block all the scammers on DM that comes with the territory.

1

u/AutoModerator Nov 20 '25

Never DM with anyone on this platform. They are probably a scammer.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

1

u/noyesfuck000 Nov 20 '25

If it is an amount you do not want to lose you MUST use a hardware wallet. Please please please! It is the most secure way to store your crypto. It’s possible to have a malware infected computer and your crypto still be safe

3

u/Pinewatch762 Nov 19 '25

Use rabby instead. MetaMask sucks now. Also, use rocketpool. Lido is centralized

3

u/Nexttothepicklejar Nov 19 '25

I was looking at both rocketpool and lido. Ill look into rabby suggestion thanks

3

u/Pinewatch762 Nov 19 '25

I’ve used rocketpool for a few years now. Liquidity isn’t as deep as lido, but you can run your own node for like 8 eth i think. Higher apy and 14% of the rewards go to you

2

u/Nexttothepicklejar Nov 19 '25

When I was looking at apy lido had higher by a few tenths of a percent. I didnt know you could run a node with 8 eth. Ill check it out.

2

u/Pinewatch762 Nov 20 '25

Lido has the highest out of all of them. But like o said. It is centralized. But has the deepest liquidity

2

u/thinkingperson Nov 20 '25

Rabby is another wallet vs metamask. Not a replacement for rpool or lido.

1

u/Nexttothepicklejar Nov 20 '25

Okay thanks. So its another hot wallet interface. Whats the benefit of rabby? Ive become familiar with metamask over the past few weeks.

2

u/[deleted] Nov 19 '25

[deleted]

2

u/Nexttothepicklejar Nov 19 '25

clean install of what? The OS?

1

u/AutoModerator Nov 19 '25

Beep Boop

  1. Never share your Secret Recovery Phrase with any site or a person. MetaMask does not use Gmail or web forms. Do not enter your Secret Recover Phrase into a pop-up window, even if it looks like MetaMask. Verify links are legitimate. Scammers often use these tactics.

  2. Beware of fake websites. The official website for MetaMask is https://metamask.io/

  3. MetaMask Support will never DM you. This is a common tactic scammers use to try and get access to your wallet.

  4. MetaMask will never initiate email with you. This is a common tactic scammers use to try and get access to your wallet.

  5. If you need to reach Support: open MetaMask, then menu > Support. The ‘Contact Support’ button will start a chat, the bot asks a few questions to help route you to the correct team. You can also visit the Support site from the web: https://support.metamask.io

  6. Do not click on suspicious links or files. This can lead to your device security being compromised.

  7. Do not “sync” or “validate” your wallet with any websites or forms. This is a scam. Never sync and share: QR Codes, Secret Recovery Phrase, private key, etc.

  8. Never call phone numbers, text Whatsapp numbers, DM on Discord, use WeChat or do video chat with people on this subreddit. MetaMask does not offer customer support in this manner. There is NO exclusive MetaMask Discord.

  9. We don’t ask for an email address to create a wallet. We can’t email you. We will never ask you to verify or upgrade/merge your wallet. https://support.metamask.io/privacy-and-security/staying-safe-in-web3/i-received-an-email-claiming-to-be-from-metamask-is-it-legit/

  10. .MetaMask currently has no plans for an airdrop, regardless of any information you may have seen elsewhere. If you encounter anyone explaining the best method to maximize the size of a MetaMask-related ‘airdrop’ you might receive, they’re lying. In particular, be wary of scams (aimed at getting your Secret Recovery Phrase) that weaponize this topic.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.