Minotaur Wallet is a free, open-source wallet for the Ergo blockchain, built for people who want to hold ERG, tokens and NFTs in one app. The project presents itself as a multi-platform wallet for Ergo, with builds listed for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. It suits users who already hold Ergo and want a wallet that can restore seed phrases created in other popular Ergo tools.
The project is a fork and is marked as active, with its most recent code update dated October 23, 2026. Windows support is listed as likely rather than confirmed, so check the GitHub Releases page for a Windows build before you rely on it. Because this is a wallet that handles private keys, read the safety section before you install anything.
What a Crypto Wallet Actually Holds
A crypto wallet does not store coins in the way a bank stores money. Coins live on the blockchain, and the wallet holds the private keys that prove you are allowed to spend them. Whoever controls those keys controls the funds, which is why the software and the seed phrase deserve careful attention.
Most wallets generate keys from a seed phrase, a list of words written in a specific order. Anyone who has that list can rebuild the wallet on a new device. That is why people often write it down on paper and keep it offline. A mnemonic passphrase adds a second secret on top of the seed phrase, so the same words can produce different wallets depending on the passphrase used.
A wallet also shows you a public address, which is what you share with others to receive funds. Sharing an address is safe, while sharing a seed phrase is not. Understanding this split helps you decide which tasks can run in a read-only mode and which require full signing access.
Who Minotaur Wallet Is For
Minotaur Wallet fits several types of users. The most obvious group is people who hold ERG and want a wallet that runs on more than one operating system. If you already use Yoroi or the Ergo Android app, the restore compatibility makes it easier to bring an existing seed phrase into a new environment.
NFT collectors and token holders are another group. The wallet's ability to display tokens and NFTs with EIP-04 names helps when you have a mixed collection of assets. Developers who want to test token issuance or burning through dApps may also find it useful, as long as they treat those operations with care.
Finally, people who manage funds on behalf of others can benefit from read-only wallets. Adding a watch-only view gives you visibility into balances and history without the risk of accidentally signing a transaction from a monitoring tool.
Can You Watch a Balance Without Risking Funds?
Yes, read-only mode is designed for exactly this. Imagine a small business that keeps most of its Ergo in a cold wallet device and wants a bookkeeper to check incoming payments each month. The bookkeeper can load the public address in a read-only wallet, see the transaction history and token balances, and never touch the keys.
The same approach works for personal savings. You might keep spending keys on a dedicated device and monitor the balance from your everyday computer. This separation reduces the chance that a phishing page or a compromised browser extension can move your funds, because the everyday device never holds the signing authority.
Read-only views do have limits. You cannot send funds from them, and they only reflect what the blockchain records for the address. For day-to-day spending, you will still need a full wallet with signing capability, connected through the cold device.
Key features
Wallet Creation and Restore Compatibility
Read-Only and Cold Wallet Support
Token and NFT Management
Token Issuance and Burning Through dApps
Transaction History and Pre-Signing Review
Multi-Platform Builds
Supported coins
The project documentation names Ergo (ERG) as the supported coin. Beyond the native coin, the wallet works with tokens and NFTs on the Ergo network, including token names displayed according to EIP-04. If you hold other cryptocurrencies, you will need a separate wallet for those assets.
How to install Minotaur Wallet on Windows
- 1
Find the Official Download Source
Go to the project's GitHub Releases page at github.com/minotaur-ergo/minotaur-wallet, or to the official project website if one is linked from the repository. Download only from the official website or the GitHub Releases page. Avoid mirror sites, search-ad links and files shared in chats or social media.
- 2
Locate a Windows Build
The most recent tag in the repository is android-v4.2.1-rc5, which is a release candidate for Android. Look through the release assets for a Windows installer or archive. If the latest release has no Windows file, check earlier releases, and treat Windows support as something to confirm rather than assume.
- 3
Verify the File
Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the downloaded file with the value published on the release page, using a tool such as the built-in PowerShell Get-FileHash command. If a signature is provided, verify it as well. If the values do not match, delete the file and download it again from the same official page.
-
Install and Create Your Wallet
Run the installer, or extract the archive and launch the program. Create a new wallet or restore an existing one using a 12- to 24-word seed phrase. Write the phrase on paper, store it offline, and avoid photographing it or saving it in a notes app.
How to use Minotaur Wallet
Setting up Minotaur Wallet takes only a few minutes, but the choices you make at the start matter. Think about whether you are creating a new wallet or restoring an existing one, and whether you want a mnemonic passphrase. The steps below follow a typical first session.
- Choose create or restore. Create a new wallet if you are starting fresh, or restore one if you already have a 12- to 24-word seed phrase from a compatible tool.
- Write down the seed phrase. Record every word in order on paper and keep the copy somewhere offline and secure.
- Decide on a mnemonic passphrase. If you use one, store it separately from the seed phrase, because losing it means losing access to the wallet.
- Check your addresses and balances. Confirm that the balance and token list match what you expect from the blockchain before you move anything.
- Send a small test transaction. Start with a small amount of ERG to confirm that the address and fee are correct.
- Review each transaction before signing. Check the recipient, amount and fees on the pre-signing screen, and cancel if anything looks off.
- Use a cold device for larger amounts. If you hold significant funds, connect a supported cold wallet device so that signing stays separate from your everyday computer.
Pros & cons
- Supports mnemonic lengths of 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 words
- Supports mnemonic passphrases for extra protection
- Restores wallets compatible with Yoroi and the Ergo Android app
- Read-only mode lets you monitor balances without signing rights
- Supports cold wallet devices
- Displays and sends tokens and NFTs with EIP-04 token names
- Shows generated transactions for review before signing
- Free and open source, with the code publicly available on GitHub
- Marked as an active project with a recent code update
- Windows support is listed as likely rather than confirmed, so you need to check the releases page
- The most recent tag is a release candidate for Android, which may not reflect the state of the desktop build
- Ergo (ERG) is the only coin named in the project documentation, so it is not a multi-currency wallet
- Token issuance and burning through dApps require careful checking, and mistakes can be costly
- Its focus on one network makes it less convenient if your portfolio is spread across many blockchains
Is Minotaur Wallet safe?
Minotaur Wallet handles private keys, so treat installation as a security task. Download the program only from the official GitHub Releases page or the project website, and avoid links from third-party sites or messages. After downloading, verify the SHA-256 checksum against the published value, or check the signature if one is provided. Confirm the latest version on the official website before installing, since the most recent tag in the repository is a release candidate.
Never enter your seed phrase on any website, app or support chat that is not part of the official wallet. Legitimate software does not need your seed phrase to help you, and fake support pages are a common scam. Keep the phrase offline, and remember that anyone who sees it can take your funds. The code is open source and recently updated, which helps, but it does not replace these everyday precautions.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/minotaur-ergo/minotaur-wallet. 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
Minotaur Wallet sits in a narrower niche than many desktop wallets. Satergo is a desktop Ergo wallet with a built-in node, which appeals to people who want to run their own infrastructure. Ergowallet Desktop is another Ergo-focused option. Minotaur Wallet differentiates itself with its multi-platform builds, its restore compatibility with Yoroi and the Ergo Android app, and its support for cold wallet devices.
If you need many coins in one app, Coinomi and Exodus are broader choices. Coinomi lists more than 1,700 assets, and Exodus includes a built-in exchange. Atomic Wallet also covers a large number of coins. Rosetta API for Ergo is different in kind: it is an integration standard for exchanges and wallet developers rather than an end-user app. Choose Minotaur Wallet if Ergo is your main focus.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- android-v4.2.1-rc5
- Last update
- 23 Oct 2026
- Windows support
- Likely (builds for Windows; check releases)
- Source code
- github.com/minotaur-ergo/minotaur-wallet
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Minotaur Wallet is listed as free and open source, so there is no purchase price for the software. Network fees on Ergo are separate from the wallet itself and apply when you send transactions. Review the fee shown before signing each transfer, since it determines the total cost of the transaction.
The project lists Windows among its target platforms, but Windows support is marked as likely rather than confirmed. Check the GitHub Releases page for a Windows installer or archive in the current release. If none is available, look at earlier releases before deciding whether the Windows build meets your needs.
Safety depends mostly on where you download the software and how you store your seed phrase. The code is open source, which allows public review, and the project is marked as active. Download only from the official source, verify the SHA-256 checksum, and never enter your seed phrase on third-party websites.
Yes, the wallet is designed to restore wallets in a format compatible with Yoroi, the Ergo node and the Ergo Android app. Use the restore option and enter your 12- to 24-word seed phrase. If you used a mnemonic passphrase in the original wallet, you will need to enter it as well to recover the same addresses.
Yes, the wallet can display and send NFTs along with tokens. Token names follow the EIP-04 standard, which makes collections easier to read. Keep in mind that sending an NFT is a transaction like any other, so check the recipient address carefully before signing.
A read-only wallet shows balances and transaction history for an address without giving the ability to sign transactions. It is useful for monitoring funds, bookkeeping or watching a cold storage address. Because it holds no spending keys, a read-only view cannot move funds, even if the device running it is compromised.
A mnemonic passphrase is an extra secret word or phrase added to the seed phrase when generating a wallet. The same seed words combined with a different passphrase produce a different wallet. This adds protection, but losing the passphrase means losing access, so store it separately and make sure you can recover it.
Yes, the wallet supports cold wallet devices, which keep spending keys off an everyday computer. Connect the supported device when you need to sign transactions, and confirm each action on the device itself. This setup is especially useful for holding larger amounts of ERG.
Verdict
Minotaur Wallet is a good fit for Ergo holders who want a free, open-source wallet that works across several operating systems and can restore seed phrases from compatible tools. Its support for read-only views, cold devices and tokens or NFTs covers most everyday needs. If you need many blockchains in one app, or you are not sure whether your Windows build is available, consider a broader wallet or check the releases page first.