BOB Wallet for Windows is a desktop wallet for Handshake, a blockchain built around decentralized domain names. It suits people who want to hold and manage Handshake assets on their own computer and who are comfortable running software that works alongside a full node. The program is free and released under the GPL-3.0 license, so its source code is publicly available. The current release is 2.1.0.
Many wallets read balances from remote servers. BOB Wallet bundles its own full node, which lets it check chain data directly rather than relying entirely on a third party. That makes it a better fit for users who value verification than for those who want a quick multi-coin app. The sections below cover features, installation, safety, and how it compares with other wallets in this catalog.
What Is Handshake and Why Does It Need a Wallet?
Handshake is a blockchain built around decentralized top-level domain names. Instead of relying on a central registry to assign a name, the network records ownership on its own ledger. Anyone who wants to hold, send or bid for those assets needs software that can sign transactions with a private key, and that is where a wallet comes in.
A Handshake wallet does two main jobs. It stores the keys that prove ownership, and it builds the transactions that move coins or interact with names. Because the network is specialized, general-purpose wallets may not cover every Handshake function, which is why dedicated software exists.
Understanding this helps set expectations. A wallet for a single network is simpler to learn, but it also means you should confirm which assets and actions your chosen tool supports before you move any funds.
Who Is BOB Wallet For?
BOB Wallet suits people who already follow the Handshake network and want a desktop wallet tied to it. A typical user might be a domain-name enthusiast who prefers to hold HNS in a local wallet rather than on an exchange. A developer testing how Handshake transactions behave on a personal machine could also find it useful.
It is less suited to someone who wants one app for a long list of coins. Exchanges, mobile wallets and multi-asset programs usually handle that job better. The same goes for users who want the lightest possible setup, since a full node asks for more time and storage than a remote-server wallet.
Think of BOB Wallet as a focused tool. If your use case centers on Handshake and you value running your own node, it fits well. If your holdings are spread across many networks, you will likely keep a second wallet for everything else.
Key Terms Before You Start
Several terms come up repeatedly when you set up a self-custody wallet. A seed phrase is a list of words that can recreate your wallet and its keys. Anyone who has it can control the funds, so it should be written down and kept offline.
An address is the public identifier you share to receive assets, and it is safe to share. A private key is the secret that signs transactions. Most wallets derive it from your seed phrase, so protecting the phrase protects the keys as well.
A full node downloads and validates blockchain data on your computer. Syncing means catching up with the latest blocks, which can take a while the first time. Once the node is synced, the wallet can check balances against the chain directly, which is the main reason to choose this design.
Key features
Built for Handshake
Integrated Full Node
Free and Open Source
Supported coins
BOB Wallet is designed for Handshake. If you hold assets on other networks, you will need a separate wallet for them.
How to install BOB Wallet on Windows
PS> scoop install bob-wallet- 1
Install with Scoop
If you already use Scoop, open PowerShell and run scoop install bob-wallet. Scoop downloads and places the program in one step, and it lets you manage later updates from the command line.
- 2
Or Download the Program Directly
Go to the official website or the GitHub Releases page and download the Windows build from there. Avoid links from search ads or unfamiliar mirrors, even if they look similar.
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Verify the File
Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the downloaded file with the value published alongside the release. If the two do not match, delete the file and download it again before running anything.
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Launch and Back Up
Start the program, create a new wallet or restore an existing one, and write down your seed phrase on paper. Store the paper somewhere safe and offline, and confirm it when the program asks you to.
How to use BOB Wallet
Once installed, the first launch is mostly about setup and patience. The steps below describe the general flow, and menu names may change between releases.
- Open BOB Wallet and create a new wallet, or restore one from an existing seed phrase.
- Write the seed phrase on paper, store it offline, and confirm it when prompted.
- Let the built-in full node finish syncing before you rely on balances.
- Check your receiving address against the one you copy, and send a small test amount first.
- Review the fee and confirmation details for each transaction before you approve it.
Pros & cons
- Free, with an open-source GPL-3.0 license
- Built-in full node for direct chain verification
- Simple Scoop install for users who prefer PowerShell
- Focused on Handshake rather than a long list of networks
- Limited to Handshake, so it is not a multi-coin hub
- Initial full node sync takes time and disk space
- Users looking for guides may find fewer resources than for widely used wallets
Is BOB Wallet safe?
BOB Wallet holds your keys, so treat installation as a security task. Download it only from the official website or the GitHub Releases page, and verify the SHA-256 checksum before running the file. The GPL-3.0 license means the code can be reviewed, but that does not replace checking the file itself.
Never enter your seed phrase on third-party websites, in chat messages, or in any app that asks for it unexpectedly. Anyone who asks for your seed phrase is trying to take your funds. Since the latest release is 2.1.0, check the project's site for the newest version before installing. Keep Windows and your antivirus up to date, and never store the seed phrase in a file on the same computer.
- Official source only. Download from www.bobwallet.io. 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
BOB Wallet is narrower than most programs in this catalog. Coinomi supports more than 1,700 assets, Atomic Wallet lists over 500 coins, and Exodus adds a built-in exchange. Electron Cash focuses on Bitcoin Cash, and Frame is a desktop Web3 wallet aimed at a different workflow.
BOB Wallet's advantage is its single-network focus and its own full node for Handshake. If you need one wallet for many assets, Coinomi, Atomic Wallet or Exodus will serve you better. If you want to work directly with Handshake and run a node, BOB Wallet is the more specialized choice.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- GPL-3.0
- Latest version
- 2.1.0
- Last update
- —
- Windows support
- Yes (available via Scoop)
- Official site
- www.bobwallet.io
- Install command
- scoop install bob-wallet
Frequently asked questions
Yes. BOB Wallet is free to use and released under the GPL-3.0 open-source license. Network fees for transactions on the Handshake network are separate from the program and are paid to the network itself.
It can be, if you handle it carefully. Verify the SHA-256 checksum of the installer and never share your seed phrase with anyone. Open-source code adds transparency, but your own habits, such as keeping the seed phrase offline, matter most.
Scoop is a command-line package manager for Windows. It is optional, since you can also install BOB Wallet from a downloaded file. Scoop mainly appeals to people who already work in PowerShell and want installs and updates handled in one place.
A full node is software that downloads and checks blockchain data on your own computer. BOB Wallet includes one, so it can verify balances and transactions without relying only on outside servers. The trade-off is longer syncing time and more disk space.
BOB Wallet is built for Handshake and is not positioned as a multi-coin wallet. If you hold other assets, use a different program for them. Coinomi and Atomic Wallet cover many more networks and may suit mixed portfolios better.
A wallet is a tool for holding and sending assets, not an investment product, and this catalog does not offer financial advice. Any decision about buying or holding Handshake assets is yours to weigh carefully. The software itself is free to download and use.
Your seed phrase is the main backup. Write it on paper when the wallet is created, store it offline in a secure place, and test that you can restore the wallet with it. Copying the wallet folder alone does not replace the seed phrase.
Verdict
BOB Wallet for Windows suits users who want a free, open-source wallet for Handshake and are willing to run a full node. It is not a good fit for anyone who wants to manage many coins in one app. Before installing, check the latest release, verify the checksum, and practice with a small amount. Treat your seed phrase as the most important part of the setup.