What is Celia Wallet? How it Works and How to Get Started

Celia Wallet is a non-custodial mobile app that lets you buy, sell, swap, send, receive, and stake crypto on BNB Chain. It launched on January 15, 2026, and already hit over 1 million downloads. Unlike custodial wallets, where a company holds your funds, Celia keeps your private keys on your device. You own your crypto.

The wallet runs on the native $CELIA token and offers fiat on-ramps and off-ramps. You can send crypto and receive fiat in your bank account, or buy crypto with fiat and have tokens land in your wallet instantly. For users who want a simple way to access BNB Chain without sacrificing control of their keys, Celia offers a straightforward solution.

Who Built Celia Wallet?

Celia Technologies, also known as CELIA EXCHANGE LIMITED, developed the wallet. The company was founded by the Afula Brothers: Eta Emmanuel Afula serves as CEO, and Favour Afula as CTO. They documented their journey building the project in a three-part video series on Instagram, covering the origins, challenges, and long-term vision.

The project started in mid-2025 with a mining and staking app that let users earn $CELIA token credits on mobile devices. By December 2025, social media teasers began building anticipation for the full wallet launch. The team has since grown a community of over 507,000 followers on X through referral programs and mining incentives.

What Can You Do With Celia Wallet?

The wallet packs several features aimed at both new and experienced crypto users.

• Non-custodial storage — Your private keys stay on your device, and no third party can access your funds. The team summarizes this as "Own Your Keys, Own Your Crypto."
• On-chain transactions — Swaps happen directly on BNB Chain using automated market makers like PancakeSwap, which the app integrates natively. Gas fees are paid in BNB, and the app optimizes for low costs.
• Fiat integration — Bridges crypto and traditional finance. Send crypto to the app's smart contract and receive fiat in your linked bank account. Buying reverses the process. Availability may vary by region and payment method. (planned to go live late January 2026)
• Staking — Earn rewards on your $CELIA holdings by depositing tokens into pools via the app dashboard. Pool caps sit at 100,000 tokens to prevent oversaturation, and claims become available after lock-up periods.
• Multi-wallet support — Create and switch between multiple addresses within the app to organize funds or separate personal holdings from business use.
• In-app browser — Access BNB Chain dApps, DeFi platforms, and Web3 projects without leaving the wallet.
• Security tools — Includes a 6-digit passcode, biometric options, and balance hiding via long-press. The in-app browser sandboxes dApp interactions to reduce phishing risks.

Additional features include live price charts, sentiment voting, community polls for $CELIA, and referral mining bonuses for new users.

How Does Celia Wallet Work?

At its foundation, Celia operates as a decentralized exchange wallet on BNB Chain. Here's how the main functions break down.

During setup, you generate a new wallet or import an existing one using a seed phrase. Private keys stay stored locally on your device, and the multi-wallet system lets you create additional addresses if you want to organize different holdings.

Swaps and transfers execute on-chain through BNB Chain's smart contracts. When you swap $CELIA for BNB, for example, the transaction routes through integrated AMMs. The app aims to optimize gas costs while keeping the process quick.

The planned fiat features connect to external payment infrastructure. Selling crypto means sending tokens to a designated smart contract, after which the system processes a fiat deposit to your linked bank. Buying works the opposite way, with crypto landing in your wallet after the fiat clears.

Staking works through the app's dashboard, where you select pools, deposit $CELIA, and track your accumulating rewards. A cap system limits how much can be staked in any single pool.

Transaction verification happens on-chain, with app-level protections adding another layer. Passcodes and biometrics gate access to the wallet itself.

How to Get Started With Celia Wallet

Setting up takes just a few steps.

1. Download the app. Available on iOS through the App Store and Android via Google Play.  Requires Android 7.1+ or iOS 15+.
2. Create an account. Open the app and sign up with your email. The app auto-generates a wallet, or you can import an existing one with your seed phrase.
3. Complete verification. Finish the mainnet verification process for full access. This works like a KYC check. Set a 6-digit passcode and enable biometrics.
4. Fund your wallet. Deposit BNB for gas fees, then buy $CELIA or other BNB Chain tokens through the buy feature. Referral codes unlock mining bonuses.
5. Start using. Swap tokens, stake $CELIA in active pools, or browse dApps through the in-app browser.

What is the $CELIA Token?

$CELIA serves as the utility token powering the ecosystem. It handles transaction fees within the app, staking rewards, and governance participation.

The total supply is fixed at 800 million tokens. Of that, 87.5% (700 million) goes to community rewards, including mining, airdrops, and staking. Another 10.5% is allocated for CEX listings and marketing, with the remaining 2% reserved for contributors. The distribution schedule releases 350 million tokens over five years.

Post-launch sentiment polls showed a bullish community outlook, and the team has announced plans for DEX and CEX listings as the ecosystem expands.

What's Next for Celia Wallet?

The 2026 roadmap includes multi-chain expansion beyond BNB Chain and continued stability improvements. The team also plans to develop advanced DeFi tools and expand fiat support.

Early users reported some app instability and excessive ads at launch, which the team addressed through rapid updates in early January 2026. This iterative approach reflects the founders' stated focus on building utility over generating hype.

Should You Try Celia Wallet?

For BNB Chain users looking for a non-custodial option with built-in staking and fiat features, Celia covers the essentials.

Pros:

• Full control of private keys
• Free to use
• Built-in fiat on/off ramps (planned)
• Staking rewards for $CELIA holders
• Clean interface for everyday transactions

Cons:

• Limited to BNB Chain (multi-chain coming later)
• Some early bugs, though mostly patched
• Advanced features require blockchain knowledge

As the ecosystem develops and multi-chain support rolls out, Celia could become a more complete solution. For now, it serves as a functional entry point into BNB Chain's DeFi landscape.

Download Celia Wallet and explore what it offers. Visit the official website at celia.ltd or follow the project on X at @CeliaWallet to get the latest updates.

Sources:

• Apple App Store - Official iOS listing with app details and download
• Google Play Store - Official Android listing with app details and download
• Celia Official Website - Project documentation and ecosystem overview
• AppBrain - Android app statistics and download metrics
• Celia Wallet X Account - Official announcements and feature updates
• EA Afula X Account - CEO communications and project roadmap details