Bitcoin Safe is a free, open-source Bitcoin wallet built for people who want to keep their coins for the long term and manage them carefully. It is aimed at users who already take security seriously, such as those who pair a wallet with a hardware signer and want a clear view of their transaction history.
The program runs on Windows as a standard installer or portable build, and it is also available for macOS, Linux and Docker. It is licensed under GPLv3, so anyone can read the Python source code on GitHub and check how it handles keys and transactions. The current release is 2.2.0, and its code was last updated on 2026-10-31.
What Is Bitcoin Safe and Why Use It?
Bitcoin Safe is a desktop wallet focused on Bitcoin rather than on a broad range of tokens. Its main job is to hold coins over long periods and to make the funds easy to inspect, label and move when needed. Many users come to it after outgrowing simpler mobile wallets and wanting more control over fees and coin history.
The program is not a trading tool and it does not hold funds on your behalf. You keep control of your keys, and the wallet builds and tracks transactions on your machine. Because the code is open source, the approach is transparent to anyone who wants to audit it.
Who Benefits Most From a Desktop Bitcoin Wallet?
Desktop wallets suit people who prefer a larger screen and the ability to work with files. A typical user keeps a sizable balance, receives payments from several sources and wants a clean record of which coins are which. Others run a small business and need to pay many contractors from a CSV list.
Users who plan to pair the wallet with a hardware device will find that a desktop program is the natural place to prepare transactions, review them and send the partially signed files to the signer. The wallet handles the bookkeeping while the hardware device keeps the keys offline.
Understanding Labels, Categories and Transaction Tracking
Labels are short notes attached to addresses, transactions or coins. Good labeling is one of the most underrated habits in Bitcoin management, because it lets you answer questions months later, such as which payment came from a client and which came from an exchange withdrawal.
Bitcoin Safe supports category-style labels, which keeps the process quick. Combined with BIP329 export, your labeling work is not locked inside one program, so you can move it if your setup changes.
Bitcoin Transaction Fees and Why Timing Matters
Every Bitcoin transaction pays a fee to miners, and the fee level determines how quickly it confirms when the network is busy. A transaction with a fee that is too low can sit unconfirmed for a long time. Being able to replace it with a higher fee is therefore a practical safety valve.
Replace-by-Fee and Child Pays For Parents address the two common cases: fixing your own outgoing payment and speeding up an incoming payment you need to spend. Understanding both options helps you avoid waiting without a plan.
Key features
Import and export of wallet data
Label import and export with BIP329
Money flow diagram export
Drag and drop support
Address categories
Fee bumping with Replace-by-Fee
Faster receiving with Child Pays For Parents
Encrypted wallet storage
Supported coins
Bitcoin Safe is built around Bitcoin (BTC). The project documentation also mentions Nostr. The wallet works with hardware signers from several manufacturers, including Ledger, Trezor, BitBox, Coldcard, Keystone, Blockstream Jade, Foundation Passport and SeedSigner.
How to install Bitcoin Safe on Windows
- 1
Download the program
Download the Windows build or installer from the official website or from the project's GitHub Releases page. Avoid copies on unfamiliar download sites, since a modified file can contain malware.
- 2
Verify the file
Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the downloaded file with the value published by the developers. If the release is signed, verify the signature as well. Do not continue if the values do not match.
- 3
Run the installer
Open the file and follow the installation prompts. Choose a folder you can find later and let the program create its shortcut. If you prefer a portable setup, use the portable build instead.
- 4
Prepare your hardware signer
Set up your hardware wallet separately, using its own official software. Write down the seed phrase on paper and store it securely offline. Never type the seed phrase into the computer or a website.
-
Create or import your wallet
Launch Bitcoin Safe, then create a new wallet or import an existing one. Connect your hardware signer when the wallet asks for it, so the keys stay on the device.
System requirements
- Windows is supported through a standard build or installer.
- A separate hardware signer or hardware wallet is needed for safe seed storage.
How to use Bitcoin Safe
Bitcoin Safe is organized around wallets, transactions and labels. Once the wallet is set up and connected to your hardware signer, most daily work follows the same pattern: prepare a transaction, review it, sign it on the device and broadcast it.
- Open the wallet and check that your hardware signer is connected.
- Click the option to send, enter the recipient address and amount, and choose a fee.
- Review the transaction details before creating it, paying close attention to the address.
- Create the transaction and send it to your hardware signer as a PSBT.
- Confirm the transaction on the device, then return to the program.
- Broadcast the signed transaction and wait for confirmations.
- Add a label to the transaction so you can recognize it later.
- Export your data to CSV whenever you need a record for accounting.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source under GPLv3, so the code can be reviewed.
- Works with many popular hardware signers.
- Strong labeling tools with BIP329 support for portability.
- CSV import and export make batch payments and bookkeeping practical.
- Replace-by-Fee and Child Pays For Parents give control over stuck transactions.
- Encrypted wallet storage adds a layer of protection to the wallet file.
- Focused on Bitcoin, so it does not suit users who want many different coins.
- Serious use requires a separate hardware signer, which adds cost and setup time.
- Advanced features such as PSBT workflows take time to learn for beginners.
- Being a desktop program, it does not replace a mobile wallet for everyday spending on the go.
Is Bitcoin Safe safe?
Download Bitcoin Safe only from the official website or the project's GitHub Releases page. After downloading, check the SHA-256 checksum or signature against the values the developers publish, and do not run a file that fails verification. Because this is a wallet that handles keys and money, these steps matter more than usual.
Never enter your seed phrase on a website, in a chat or into a form, and do not share it with anyone who claims to offer support. Keep the seed phrase on paper or metal and store it in a secure place. Using a hardware signer means the keys stay on the device, which greatly reduces the risk of theft from a compromised computer.
Before you rely on the wallet with a large balance, test it with a small amount. Also check the latest version on the official website before each update.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/andreasgriffin/bitcoin-safe. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Bitcoin Safe is narrower in scope than many wallets in this catalog. Electrum and Sparrow Wallet also target Bitcoin and offer advanced features such as hardware signer support and coin control, so the choice often comes down to interface and workflow preference. Bitcoin Safe puts particular emphasis on labeling, CSV handling and fee tools for transactions.
Wasabi Wallet is built around CoinJoin privacy, which is a different goal from the long-term storage focus of Bitcoin Safe. Armory is another option for cold storage. Wallets such as Feather and Cake Wallet cover other privacy coins and currencies, so they are better suited to users who hold assets beyond Bitcoin.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- GPLv3
- Latest version
- 2.2.0
- Last update
- 31 Oct 2026
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/andreasgriffin/bitcoin-safe
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Bitcoin Safe is free and released under the GPLv3 open-source license. You can download it, use it and read its source code without paying the developers. Hardware signers you may need for secure seed storage are sold separately by their manufacturers.
Yes, the program has Windows support through a Windows build or installer. It is also available for macOS, Linux and Docker. Download the file from the official website or GitHub Releases page and verify it before running.
A separate hardware signer is strongly recommended for safe seed storage. The project's requirements state that seed storage requires a dedicated hardware device. Supported devices include Ledger, Trezor, BitBox, Coldcard, Keystone, Blockstream Jade, Foundation Passport and SeedSigner.
Bitcoin Safe is designed around Bitcoin (BTC). The documentation also mentions Nostr, but the wallet is not a general multi-coin tool. If you need many different assets, look at other wallets in the catalog.
Replace-by-Fee lets you send a new version of a pending transaction with a higher fee. Miners then prefer the higher-fee version, so the payment can confirm faster. It is useful when a transaction is stuck because the original fee was too low.
Child Pays For Parents is a technique where you spend an unconfirmed incoming payment in a new transaction that carries a higher fee. The higher fee encourages miners to confirm the parent transaction as well. It helps when you need to use received funds without waiting.
Yes, labels can be exported and imported in the BIP329 format, which is designed for portability between compatible wallets. You can also import labels from an Electrum wallet, making it easier to switch software without losing your notes.
The program is open source and encrypts its wallet storage, which are good signs. Safety still depends on how you use it: download from the official source, verify the file, use a hardware signer and keep your seed phrase offline. Always check the latest version on the official website.
Verdict
Bitcoin Safe suits people who hold Bitcoin for the long term and want a free, open-source desktop wallet with strong labeling, CSV tools and fee control. It works best when paired with a hardware signer, and users who are new to Bitcoin should take time to learn the PSBT workflow before moving large amounts. If you need many different coins or a mobile-first wallet, compare the alternatives before deciding.