# Rainbow

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/rainbow
> research date 2026-05-29 · extracted at 2026-10-03
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

Specifications:
- [Rainbow — official](https://rainbow.me/)

## Overview

**Rainbow** is **a design-focused self-custody Ethereum + L2 wallet**, operated by **Rainbow Wallet** <sup>[1][1], [2][2]</sup>. While smaller than MetaMask / Trust Wallet / Phantom by user count (**100K+ active users**), Rainbow is **widely regarded as the best-designed Ethereum wallet** — known for **polished mobile UX, NFT-management focus, and ENS integration**. **$19.5 million in funding** to date.

**Major 2025-2026 event**: **$RNBW token launched via Token Generation Event (TGE) February 5, 2026** — Rainbow's native non-custodial Ethereum-wallet token. **Rainbow supports Ethereum mainnet + Arbitrum, Optimism, Base L2s**.

## History

**July 2020 — Rainbow launches** <sup>[2][2]</sup> by **Mike Demarais (Rainbow team)** as design-focused Ethereum mobile wallet.

**2020-2024 — Mass NFT-era + DeFi adoption** with polished mobile-first UX <sup>[2][2]</sup>.

**2024 — Rainbow browser extension launches** <sup>[2][2]</sup>.

**2025 — $RNBW token TGE planned for Q4 2025** <sup>[3][3]</sup>.

**February 5, 2026 — $RNBW token launched** <sup>[4][4]</sup>.

## Ownership & operator

**Operating entity**: **Rainbow Wallet**.

**Founders**: **Mike Demarais (Rainbow team)**.

**Funding**: $19.5 million raised.

**Regulator distinction**: Non-custodial — users hold own private keys.

## Technical integration

| Layer | Description |
|---|---|
| **Channels** | Rainbow mobile app (iOS + Android) + browser extension |
| **Supported networks** | **Ethereum mainnet + Arbitrum + Optimism + Base** (Ethereum + major L2s) |
| **Identifiers** | Blockchain addresses + ENS names |
| **Distinctive features** | **Best-designed Ethereum wallet** (widely cited); NFT management focus; ENS integration; cross-L2 swapping |
| **Self-custody** | Private keys held on user device |
| **Native token** | **$RNBW** (launched Feb 5, 2026) |

## Users & growth

**2025** <sup>[1][1]</sup>:
- **Active users**: 100,000+
- **Funding raised**: $19.5 million
- **$RNBW token TGE**: February 5, 2026

## Use cases

NFT storage + management (defining Rainbow use case); Ethereum + L2 (Arbitrum + Optimism + Base) self-custody; DeFi interactions; ENS name management; cross-L2 swapping; $RNBW token holding (post-Feb 5, 2026).

## Implementations & partners

**Operator**: **Rainbow Wallet**.

**Major Ethereum + L2 integrations**: Arbitrum, Optimism, Base + Ethereum mainnet.

**Major competitors**: **MetaMask** (143M users; broadly multi-chain), **Trust Wallet** (200M+; 70 chains), **Phantom** (15M MAU; multi-chain), **[Coinbase Wallet (Smart Wallet)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/coinbase-wallet)** (3.2M MAU; Coinbase Base L2 integration), **Argent** (smart-contract wallet).

## Fun facts

- **July 2020 launch by Mike Demarais (Rainbow team)** as design-focused Ethereum mobile wallet.
- **Widely regarded as best-designed Ethereum wallet** for mobile UX + NFT management.
- **100K+ active users** — smaller than MetaMask/Trust/Phantom but design-quality differentiated.
- **$19.5 million funding**.
- **February 5, 2026 $RNBW token TGE** — Rainbow's native token launch.
- **Ethereum + L2 focus** (Arbitrum + Optimism + Base) vs broader multi-chain peers.
- **ENS-integrated** — Ethereum Name Service is foundational to Rainbow UX.

## Comparison

| Feature | Rainbow | MetaMask | Trust Wallet | Phantom | [Coinbase Wallet (Smart Wallet)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/coinbase-wallet) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | **Rainbow Wallet** | ConsenSys | Independent (post-May 2025) | Phantom Inc. | Coinbase Global (NASDAQ: COIN) |
| Type | **Ethereum + L2 design-focused self-custody** | Browser-extension + mobile multi-chain | Mobile-first 70-chain | Solana-native + multi-chain | Smart Wallet + Base L2 |
| Users | **100K+ active** | 143M / 30M MAU | 200M+ / 115M active | 15M+ MAU | 3.2M MAU |
| Chains | **Ethereum + Arbitrum + Optimism + Base** | 7+ (Ethereum + EVM + Solana + Bitcoin + Monad + Sei) | 70+ | 6 | Multi-chain |
| Native token | **$RNBW (Feb 5, 2026 TGE)** | mUSD stablecoin | None | None | None |
| Distinctive | **Best-designed Ethereum wallet UX + NFT management + ENS** | mUSD + Web3Auth onboarding | 70-chain breadth | Solana-heritage | Smart Wallet ERC-4337 |

## Status

**Active, design-focused Ethereum + L2 self-custody** <sup>[1][1], [4][4]</sup>:
- **Rainbow Wallet** since July 2020.
- **100K+ active users + $19.5M funding**.
- **Ethereum + Arbitrum + Optimism + Base L2 support**.
- **February 5, 2026 $RNBW token TGE**.

## Sources

[1]: https://coinlaw.io/rainbow-wallet-statistics/ "Rainbow Wallet Statistics 2025 — CoinLaw"
[2]: https://rainbow.me/ "Rainbow — official"
[3]: https://web3.bitget.com/en/academy/rainbow-listing-airdrop-guide-rnbw-launch-date-what-is-the-non-custodial-ethereum-wallet-token "Rainbow $RNBW launch — Bitget Web3"
[4]: https://www.bitdegree.org/crypto/rainbow-wallet-review "Rainbow Wallet Review — BitDegree"

- [1] [Rainbow Wallet Statistics — CoinLaw][1]
- [2] [Rainbow — official][2]
- [3] [Rainbow $RNBW launch — Bitget Web3][3]
- [4] [Rainbow Wallet Review — BitDegree][4]

## Source

Biography extracted from [rainbow.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/source/wallets/rainbow). See `matrix.md` for standards-support matrix if present.