Iris Wallet Desktop is a free, open-source wallet for people who want to issue, send and receive RGB assets on a Windows computer without learning every technical detail first. It suits users who are curious about RGB and want a familiar wallet-style app instead of command-line tools. The source code is publicly available on GitHub.
The program covers the full asset lifecycle, from issuance to spending and receiving. Its developers have placed much of the underlying complexity behind everyday wallet screens. The latest release is version 0.2.0, and the code was last updated on December 22, 2025. Read on for the feature overview, setup steps, safety guidance and a comparison with other wallets.
What Are RGB Assets?
RGB is a protocol for issuing and transferring digital assets on top of Bitcoin. Instead of recording every detail on the public Bitcoin blockchain, it keeps most asset data between the parties involved in a transfer, while Bitcoin transactions serve as anchors that make the records verifiable.
This design has practical consequences. Transfers can stay private to the parties involved, and the network does not need to store the full history of every asset. The trade-off is that a wallet has to understand RGB rules to show balances and handle transfers correctly, which is the job Iris Wallet Desktop takes on.
For a typical user, the difference shows up in everyday actions. You do not manage the RGB data manually. The wallet tracks what you hold and what you have sent or received, so you can focus on the transfer itself.
Who Is Iris Wallet Desktop For?
Iris Wallet Desktop fits three groups of people. The first is Windows users who want to try RGB assets and prefer a desktop app over command-line tools. The second is developers and testers who build applications on RGB and need a local environment to experiment with issuance and transfers.
The third group is people learning how self-custody works. Because the app is built around familiar wallet screens, it can serve as a practice space before you move larger amounts.
For example, a small community project might test a low-value issued asset on a local regtest network before deciding anything publicly. Regtest is a Bitcoin test mode where coins have no real value, so mistakes cost time rather than money. Anyone planning real transfers should still start small and understand each step first.
How the Lightning Network Fits In
The Lightning Network is a second-layer payment system built on Bitcoin. Participants open payment channels and send transfers through them off-chain, which typically makes small payments faster and cheaper than individual on-chain transactions. The project documentation includes Lightning among the networks it covers, so it is relevant to anyone who wants to combine RGB assets with fast payments.
The setup notes also describe running the application from source with an optional --ldk-port argument. It lets you choose a specific port and can be left out if you do not need one. Most people using the ready-made Windows build will not need this option.
When you read Lightning-related documentation, check which version you are running, since feature coverage can change between releases.
Key features
RGB Asset Management
Wallet-Style Interface
Lightning Network Support
Open Source Code
Free to Use
Ready-Made Windows Build
Supported coins
Iris Wallet Desktop is built around RGB assets, which it can issue, send and receive. On the network side, the project documentation names the Lightning Network as a supported network. Beyond that, the wallet focuses on the RGB workflow rather than offering a long list of coins.
How to install Iris Wallet Desktop on Windows
- 1
Get the Latest Release
Open the project's official website or the GitHub Releases page for Iris Wallet Desktop and choose the latest version, currently 0.2.0. Download the file only from these official sources, and avoid mirror sites or links shared in chats.
- 2
Verify the File
Find the SHA-256 checksum or signature published with the release and compare it with your download. In PowerShell, you can calculate the hash with Get-FileHash using the -Algorithm SHA256 option. If the values do not match, delete the file and download it again.
- 3
Run the Installer
Double-click the Windows installer and follow the on-screen steps. If the project offers a standalone Windows build instead, extract it to a folder you control and launch the executable from there. Windows may show a SmartScreen prompt for new software, so check the publisher before continuing. You do not need Python, Poetry or Rust for the ready-made build.
-
Launch and Set Up Your Wallet
Open Iris Wallet Desktop and follow the first-run prompts. Write down the seed phrase shown during setup on paper and store it offline. Once the wallet is ready, start with a small test issuance or transfer.
How to use Iris Wallet Desktop
Once the wallet is installed, the basic workflow follows the pattern of most wallet apps, with a few RGB-specific steps for assets.
- Open Iris Wallet Desktop and unlock your wallet, or create a new one if this is your first launch.
- Check your balances and confirm that the RGB assets you expect appear in the list.
- To issue an asset, enter the details the issuance screen requests and review them carefully before confirming.
- To send an asset, enter the recipient's details as the app asks, specify the amount and confirm the transfer.
- To receive an asset, generate a request from the receive screen and share it with the sender.
- After each transfer, check its status before assuming the funds have arrived.
Keep amounts small for your first attempts, so any mistake is cheap to fix and easy to learn from.
Pros & cons
- Free to use, with no purchase price attached
- Source code is publicly available on GitHub
- Wallet-style interface hides much of the RGB technical complexity
- Covers issuance, sending and receiving of RGB assets
- Ready-made Windows build means no developer toolchain is needed
- Version 0.2.0 points to an early release line, so expect changes
- Documented network support is limited to the Lightning Network
- Focused on RGB assets, so it is not a general multi-coin wallet
- Documentation for building from source is developer-oriented and may confuse beginners
Is Iris Wallet Desktop safe?
Iris Wallet Desktop handles keys and assets, so security should come first. Download the installer only from the official website or the project's GitHub Releases page. After downloading, compare the file's SHA-256 checksum or verify its signature against the value the project publishes. A mismatch means you should not run the file.
Never enter your seed phrase on third-party websites, in chat messages or in support requests. Write it down on paper and store it offline, not in a screenshot or a cloud note. Because the code is open, it can be inspected, but you still need to trust your own download. Start with small test amounts before moving significant value.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/rgb-tools/iris-wallet-desktop. 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
Iris Wallet Desktop has a narrower focus than most wallets in this category. Coinomi, Atomic Wallet and Exodus are multi-asset wallets that cover hundreds or thousands of coins, which suits people who want one app for many tokens. Iris Wallet centers on RGB assets, so its value lies in that specific workflow rather than in breadth.
Electron Cash is a lightweight Bitcoin Cash wallet, Frame is a system Web3 wallet, and Trust Wallet works on a computer mainly as a browser extension. If you want to manage RGB assets from a desktop app, Iris Wallet is the closer match. For everyday multi-coin holdings, the other programs may be a better starting point.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- 0.2.0
- Last update
- 22 Dec 2025
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/rgb-tools/iris-wallet-desktop
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Iris Wallet Desktop is free to use, and its source code is open. No purchase price is attached to the program. Blockchain transactions you make with the wallet still involve network costs, which are separate from the software itself, so plan for those when you send assets.
It can be used safely if you take basic precautions. Stick to the project's own release channels, check the SHA-256 checksum of your download, and never type your seed phrase into a third-party site. Back up your seed phrase offline before storing anything of significant value.
Yes. Windows support is provided as a ready-made build or installer, so you can run the wallet without setting up Python or other development tools. After installation, open the program and follow the first-run prompts to create or restore your wallet.
RGB assets are digital assets issued and transferred under the RGB protocol, which runs on top of Bitcoin. Most asset data is shared between the parties in a transfer rather than broadcast to the whole network, while Bitcoin transactions anchor the records. Iris Wallet Desktop is designed to handle issuance, sending and receiving of these assets.
The project documentation mentions the Lightning Network as one of the networks it covers. Lightning is a Bitcoin payment layer that uses channels to make transfers faster and cheaper than on-chain transactions. Review the documentation for the version you install to see exactly which Lightning operations are available.
Yes. The source code is published on GitHub in the rgb-tools repository, so anyone can inspect how it works, report problems or follow development. Open code does not guarantee security by itself, but it allows independent review and makes issues easier to find.
No wallet can promise profits, and Iris Wallet Desktop is a wallet rather than an investment tool. It helps you hold, send and receive RGB assets. Decisions about buying, selling or holding any asset are your own responsibility, so research carefully before acting.
Verdict
Iris Wallet Desktop suits Windows users who want a free, open-source wallet for RGB assets and do not want to work through technical tools for every task. It is a good fit for learning the RGB workflow, trying issuance and transfers with small amounts, and for developers who want to explore a regtest setup. If you need broad multi-coin support, a larger wallet such as Exodus or Coinomi may fit better. Confirm the latest version on the official website before you begin.