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

# Accounts

> Understand accounts and authentication with the SX Bet API.

## Creating an account

Sign up at [sx.bet](https://sx.bet) and choose a username. There are two ways to sign up:

* **Email or Google** — SX Bet creates a non-custodial [Magic](https://magic.link/) wallet for you, tied to your email address. Easiest for users with no prior crypto experience.
* **Connect a wallet** — If you already have a crypto wallet like [MetaMask](https://metamask.io) or [Rabby](https://rabby.io), you can connect it directly instead.

***

## Your wallet, your funds

SX Bet is **non-custodial** — your funds remain in your personal wallet at all times. This is fundamentally different from a traditional sportsbook where your deposit is held in an account the company controls.

Here's how it works in practice:

<Steps>
  <Step title="You hold funds in your wallet">
    Your USDC sits in your personal crypto wallet — whether that's your email wallet or MetaMask/Rabby.
  </Step>

  <Step title="You place a bet">
    When you place a bet, you cryptographically sign the transaction with your private key. This authorizes the transfer — nothing moves without your explicit approval.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Funds move to escrow">
    Your stake moves from your wallet into an escrow smart contract. The same happens for the users on the other side of your bet. Neither party can touch the funds while the market is open — the contract holds them trustlessly.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Market settles, winnings paid out">
    When the event concludes, the escrow contract automatically pays out the winnings directly to the winner's wallet.
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Your address and private key

Every wallet has two components:

* Your **address** is your public identity on SX Bet — it looks like `0x52adf738AAD93c31f798a30b2C74D658e1E9a562`. This is how the API identifies you, and it's safe to share.
* Your **private key** is what proves you own your wallet. It's used to sign every order and transaction. It never leaves your device and must be kept secret.

<Warning>
  Anyone with your private key has full control of your wallet and funds. Never share it, never hardcode it in your code, and never commit it to version control. Always use environment variables.
</Warning>

If you signed up with email/Google, you can retrieve your private key from the [assets page](https://sx.bet/wallet/assets) on SX Bet. Store it securely in a `.env` file:

```bash theme={null}
SX_PRIVATE_KEY="0xyour_private_key_here"
```

***

## Funding your account

All bets on SX Bet are denominated in **USDC**. To place or post orders, you'll need USDC in your wallet.

See the [deposit & withdraw guides](/user-guides/deposit-withdraw/transfer-crypto) for instructions on depositing funds.

<Note>
  You can read all public data — sports, fixtures, markets, orderbooks — without an account or any funds. You only need a funded wallet to post or fill orders.
</Note>

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Testnet & Mainnet" icon="flask" href="/developers/testnet-and-mainnet">
    Test without real funds using the SX Bet testnet
  </Card>

  <Card title="Create an Account" icon="wallet" href="/developers/create-account">
    Step-by-step guide to setting up your wallet
  </Card>
</CardGroup>