Recommended Bitcoin Wallets

There are dozens of wallets to choose from when it comes to securing your private keys. Hardware, software, metal, paper, each with their own trade-offs. Remember: if you aren't holding your own private keys, you don't actually own bitcoin - you just own an IOU for BTC!


Wallet Basics:

  • Do not use wallets that don't give you recovery data; these wallets are likely controlling your keys.
  • Do not use paper wallets or paper wallet backups. Paper is not an acceptable form of backup because it is so fragile, and most means of creating paper wallets are not secure.
  • Do not store large amounts of value in single signature wallets.
  • Have an post-death plan for your Bitcoin using tools like scripts or trusted persons.

Note that it is NOT recommended that novices use a Bitcoin node's built-in wallet. If you want to use a wallet backed by a fully validating node you run, read this article or ask in the Bitcoin Discord Server.

Wallet Backups:

Key Storage Hardware:

Guides:

Wallet Recovery:

The best way to avoid loss is by pursuing best practices when securing your bitcoin. Join the Bitcoin Discord Server for help setting up a new wallet or recovering old wallets.