Sia walletd is a free, open-source wallet and node for Siacoin, the currency of the Sia decentralized storage network. It is aimed at people who want more control than a typical app offers: miners, exchanges, developers building integrations, and everyday holders who want a self-hosted option.
The program runs as a background service with an embedded web interface, so you can manage funds from a browser on the same machine. Because it is built around a JSON API, the same software can also run headless on a server. Latest version listed is v2.16.1, and the source code is published on GitHub under the Sia Foundation.
What Is Sia walletd and Who Is It For?
Sia walletd is the main wallet built by the Sia Foundation for the Siacoin ecosystem. Unlike simple mobile wallets, it is designed to run continuously and to serve as the backbone of a larger setup.
Three groups tend to benefit most. Storage providers and miners need a reliable way to track balances and payments. Exchanges and services need an API they can automate. Individual holders who prefer self-custody can use the desktop interface and keep their keys under their own control.
How a Self-Hosted Wallet Differs From a Custodial One
With a custodial service, a company holds your keys and you trust it to process withdrawals. With a self-hosted wallet such as walletd, the software runs on hardware you control and the keys are derived locally.
The trade-off is responsibility. If you lose your seed phrase or your device, no support team can restore access. Backing up the seed phrase on paper and storing it offline is the single most important habit for anyone using this kind of software.
Self-hosting also means you handle updates and uptime. A node that is offline cannot sign transactions, so people running walletd for business should plan for monitoring and restarts.
Real-World Use Cases
A few scenarios show how the design fits different needs. A home user might run walletd on a desktop and check balances through the browser each day. A small operator might run it on a Linux server or in Docker, with the API feeding an internal dashboard that reports incoming payments.
Developers often use the JSON API to test transaction flows before writing production code. Because the interface and the API come from the same program, behavior stays consistent between manual use and automated scripts.
For cold storage, some users keep the seed phrase offline and only restore the wallet when they need to move funds, reducing the time keys sit on an internet-connected machine.
Key Concepts: Seed Phrases, Derivation and Hardware Keys
A seed phrase is a list of words that encodes the master key from which all of your addresses are generated. Anyone who has it can spend your funds, so it should never be typed into a website, emailed or photographed.
Key derivation is the process of producing addresses and signing keys from that master secret. The 12-word format is the current standard, while the 28-word format belongs to the older siad generation. Knowing which format your seed uses determines how you restore the wallet.
A hardware wallet such as Ledger stores the private key inside a dedicated device. The computer only sees public information and asks the device to approve each transaction, which protects against malware that tries to read keys from memory.
Key features
Client-server architecture
Multiple key derivation methods
Embedded web UI
Headless JSON API
Configuration by flags and environment variables
Hardware wallet support
Supported coins
walletd is built for Siacoin, the native asset of the Sia network, and the Sia Foundation maintains it alongside the rest of the Sia software stack.
How to install Sia walletd on Windows
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Step 1: Get the official build
Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub Releases page at github.com/SiaFoundation/walletd. Look for a Windows build in the latest release. Avoid mirrors and third-party download sites.
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Step 2: Verify the file
Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the downloaded file with the value published on the release page. If the project provides a signature, verify it as well. Do not run the file if the hash does not match.
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Step 3: Extract and place the program
If the release is a zip archive, extract it to a dedicated folder such as C:\Programs\walletd. Keeping the executable in its own folder makes it easier to manage configuration and data files.
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Step 4: Set configuration
Configure the data directory, network interface and API password. Settings can be supplied through command line flags or environment variables, for example by setting WALLETD_API_PASSWORD before launch.
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Step 5: Start the node and open the interface
Run the executable from a terminal, wait for the node to sync, then open the local web address shown in the console output in your browser.
System requirements
- Windows support is indicated for the software, so check the release notes for the exact build available for your version of Windows.
- A stable internet connection is needed to sync the node with the Sia network.
How to use Sia walletd
Using walletd is mostly about getting your keys in place and letting the node stay synchronized. Once it is running, the workflow is simple.
- Start walletd and wait until the node reports that it is synchronized with the network.
- Open the web interface in your browser and create a new wallet, or restore an existing one using your 12-word or 28-word seed phrase.
- Write down the seed phrase on paper and confirm that it matches the one shown during setup before you deposit any funds.
- Copy a receiving address from the interface and send a small test amount to confirm everything works.
- To send Siacoin, enter the recipient address and amount, review the fee, and approve the transaction.
- For a Ledger setup, connect the device, unlock it, and approve each transaction on its screen.
- If you use the API, set a strong password through the environment variable and restrict access to the local network.
- Check your transaction history periodically to confirm that incoming and outgoing payments match your records.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, with the code available on GitHub
- Works both with a graphical interface and headless through a JSON API
- Supports legacy 28-word seeds and Ledger hardware wallets
- Can run on Windows, macOS, Linux and in Docker
- Self-hosted design keeps private keys under your control
- Self-hosting makes you responsible for backups and uptime
- Setup is more involved than a typical mobile wallet
- Focused on Siacoin, so it is not a multi-coin wallet
- Documentation is aimed partly at developers and may feel technical to beginners
Is Sia walletd safe?
walletd handles private keys, so treat it with the same care as a bank account. Download only from the official website or the GitHub Releases page, and verify the SHA-256 checksum or signature before running the file. Never enter your seed phrase on any third-party website, in a chat or in an email. Store the seed phrase offline in a safe place, and consider a hardware wallet for larger balances. Check the project's release page regularly for security updates, and keep the operating system and antivirus software up to date.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/SiaFoundation/walletd. 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
Compared with multi-coin desktop apps such as Exodus or Atomic Wallet, walletd is narrower and more technical. It focuses on Siacoin and rewards users who want to run their own node and integrate it with other systems. Those apps are easier for someone who wants a single program for many assets and a polished, consumer-style experience.
Compared with Coinomi or Trust Wallet, which emphasize broad asset lists and mobile or extension use, walletd is more of a server-style tool. If your goal is a headless node or an API for automation, walletd fits better. If you mostly want to hold a range of tokens on a phone or in a browser, the other options are more convenient.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- v2.16.1
- Last update
- 30 Oct 2026
- Windows support
- Likely (builds for Windows; check releases)
- Source code
- github.com/SiaFoundation/walletd
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Sia walletd is listed as free and open source. You can download it from the official project page or GitHub without paying a license fee. Network transaction fees on the Sia blockchain still apply when you send Siacoin.
walletd supports the legacy 28-word seed phrase used by the older siad software, alongside the current 12-word format. Enter the phrase during wallet creation or restore and confirm the balance after the node finishes syncing.
Yes, Ledger hardware wallets are supported. The private key stays on the device, and you approve each transaction on the Ledger screen. This is a good option for keeping larger amounts away from internet-connected computers.
For a wallet that only sends and receives occasionally, you can run it when needed. However, a node must be running and synchronized to sign and broadcast transactions, so businesses and miners usually keep it online continuously.
Yes. Because walletd includes a JSON API, you can run it headless on a server and control it through scripts or other software. Set a strong API password and limit access to trusted networks.
It can be, provided you download the official build, verify its checksum, and protect your seed phrase. Antivirus software may sometimes flag new executables, so compare the file hash before deciding how to handle any warning, and never disable protection entirely.
Without the seed phrase, you cannot restore the wallet on a new device, and no one can recover the funds for you. Keeping at least one offline backup of the seed phrase is essential before you receive any Siacoin.
Verdict
Sia walletd suits people who want a self-hosted Siacoin wallet and are comfortable with some technical setup. It is well matched to miners, operators, developers and careful holders who value hardware wallet support and an API. If you want a simple app for many coins with minimal configuration, a multi-coin desktop wallet will be easier. Before relying on any version, check the latest release on the official site.