Wasabi Wallet is a free, open-source desktop wallet for Bitcoin, built for people who want more privacy when they hold and spend BTC. It suits users who prefer to control their own keys instead of leaving coins with an exchange, and who care how easily transactions can be traced on the public blockchain. Wasabi Wallet for Windows is one of the more focused privacy tools in the Bitcoin wallet category.
The program is non-custodial, which means the coins are controlled by keys on your own computer rather than by a company. Its central idea is CoinJoin, a method that mixes your coins with those of other participants so the link between inputs and outputs becomes harder to follow. The current release is version 2.8.5, and the code is licensed under MIT, so anyone can read, audit or build it.
What Is CoinJoin and How Does It Work?
Bitcoin transactions are recorded on a public ledger, so anyone can follow coins from one address to the next. CoinJoin is a technique that breaks that trail. Several participants contribute coins to one shared transaction, and the outputs go to new addresses owned by each participant in similar amounts.
Because the outputs look alike, an outside observer cannot easily match a specific input to a specific output. The effect is strongest when many participants join the same round, since each extra person adds more possible combinations for an observer to consider.
CoinJoin does not hide transactions from the network, and it does not make coins anonymous in every sense. It makes tracing harder, which is a different goal. Users still need to avoid reusing addresses and to think about where their coins came from and where they are going.
Who Wasabi Wallet Suits Best
Wasabi Wallet is most useful for people who already hold Bitcoin and want their financial activity to be less visible to strangers. A freelancer who receives payments in BTC might run a CoinJoin round before paying a supplier, so that each payment is not linked to one public history.
It also suits users who value self-custody. Someone who wants to avoid depositing coins with an exchange, and who is ready to manage a seed phrase, will find the non-custodial model a good fit. Long-term holders who move coins only occasionally may find that mixing rounds fit comfortably into those rare transfers.
It is less suited to someone who wants one app for many different tokens, or someone who expects a wallet provider to recover funds after a forgotten password. Matching the tool to your actual habits is the simplest way to decide.
Wallet Versus Exchange: What Changes When You Hold Your Own Keys
When coins sit on an exchange, the platform holds the keys and records your balance. Logins, passwords and company policies determine what you can do with the funds. A desktop wallet reverses that arrangement: the keys are generated on your device and stored there, protected by your password.
This brings more control and more responsibility. Transfers do not need a company's approval, but a mistake in an address or a lost seed phrase cannot be reversed by anyone. Bitcoin transactions are final once confirmed on the network.
A practical habit is to test with a small amount first. Send a modest sum to a new address, confirm it arrives, and confirm you can restore the wallet from your written seed phrase before moving larger balances.
Key features
Non-Custodial Control
CoinJoin Privacy Rounds
Open-Source Code Under MIT
Desktop Application on Three Systems
No Price for the Software
Supported coins
Wasabi Wallet is built for Bitcoin (BTC). Its CoinJoin privacy features are designed around Bitcoin transactions, so users who need Ethereum, altcoins or tokens will need a different program. If you hold several currencies, keep your Bitcoin in this wallet and use separate software for the rest.
How to install Wasabi Wallet on Windows
PS> winget install zkSNACKs.WasabiWallet- 1
Check your system
Wasabi Wallet is available for Windows, macOS and Linux. On Windows you can install it in two ways: with the winget command shown below, or by downloading the program manually from the project's GitHub Releases page.
- 2
Install with winget
Open Windows Terminal or Command Prompt and run: winget install zkSNACKs.WasabiWallet. Winget is Microsoft's command-line package manager for Windows, and it handles the download and installation in one step.
- 3
Or download the installer manually
Download only from the official website. The project page is at github.com/WalletWasabi, and releases are published on GitHub. Open the Releases page and pick the Windows build of the latest version, 2.8.5.
- 4
Verify the file
Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the downloaded file with the value published on the release page. If the two do not match, delete the file and download it again. If the release also offers a signature, check that as well.
-
Launch the program
Run the installer and follow the prompts, or open Wasabi Wallet from the Start menu after the winget installation finishes. The first launch leads you into wallet creation, which is covered in the how-to section below.
How to use Wasabi Wallet
Once Wasabi Wallet is installed, the first session is about creating a wallet and protecting its seed phrase. Take your time, because the coins cannot be recovered later if these steps are skipped.
- Start the program and create a new wallet. Choose a strong password to protect the wallet file on your computer.
- Write the seed phrase on paper, check every word, and store it somewhere safe and offline. Never photograph it or type it into a website.
- Test the backup. Confirm that you understand how the restore process works before you hold significant funds.
- Fund the wallet by sending a small amount of Bitcoin to a fresh receiving address.
- Wait for the transaction to confirm on the blockchain before moving larger sums.
- When you want more privacy, start a CoinJoin round from the wallet's privacy features and let it finish before spending the mixed coins.
- Send payments from the mixed coins, and check the recipient address carefully before confirming.
Take your time between steps. CoinJoin rounds can take a while, and rushing a payment is one of the easiest ways to send coins to the wrong place.
Pros & cons
- Free to use, with no price attached to the software
- Open-source code under the MIT license
- Non-custodial: you control your own keys
- CoinJoin privacy built into a Bitcoin-focused wallet
- Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux
- Simple winget installation on Windows
- Supports Bitcoin (BTC) only
- Desktop application, not a mobile app
- Privacy rounds take time and add steps to everyday payments
- Losing the seed phrase means losing access to the coins
- Requires more care than a custodial exchange account
Is Wasabi Wallet safe?
Wasabi Wallet handles private keys and real Bitcoin, so treat installation as a security task. Download only from the official website at github.com/WalletWasabi, or from the project's GitHub Releases page at github.com/walletwasabi/walletwasabi. Before running the file, compare its SHA-256 checksum with the published value, or verify the signature if one is offered. Fake installers that imitate popular wallets are a common threat. Never enter your seed phrase on any third-party website, in a chat or in an email, no matter how official it looks. Because the code is public, you can review the project's activity yourself, and it is wise to confirm the latest version on the official website before installing.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/WalletWasabi. 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
Wasabi Wallet is narrower than many programs in this catalog, and that focus is part of its appeal. Electrum is a light Bitcoin wallet with Lightning, multisignature and hardware wallet support, which suits people who want more features around everyday payments. Sparrow Wallet targets advanced Bitcoin users with multisignature setups, coin control and hardware wallets. Armory focuses on cold storage, and Bitcoin Safe is designed for simple, secure long-term holding. Wasabi's distinguishing trait is that CoinJoin privacy sits at the core of the program. If you want several currencies, look at Cake Wallet, Stack Wallet or Coin Wallet instead.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- MIT
- Latest version
- 2.8.5
- Last update
- 30 Oct 2026
- Windows support
- Yes (available via winget)
- Official site
- github.com/WalletWasabi
- Source code
- github.com/walletwasabi/walletwasabi
- Install command
- winget install zkSNACKs.WasabiWallet
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Wasabi Wallet is free to download and use, and it is released as open-source software under the MIT license. Bitcoin network fees still apply when you send coins, because they are paid to Bitcoin miners rather than to the wallet developers. Those fees vary with network conditions at the time you send.
It can be, provided you take the usual precautions. The software is open source and non-custodial, and nobody can move your coins without your seed phrase or password. Verify the checksum of the installer, keep your seed phrase offline, and never share it. Most of the real risk comes from how you handle your own keys.
CoinJoin is a method that combines several users' transactions into one, which makes it harder to trace which coins went where. Wasabi Wallet uses it to add privacy to Bitcoin transactions. Its effect grows with the number of participants, so regular use helps more than a single round.
Wasabi Wallet supports Bitcoin (BTC). It is designed as a Bitcoin desktop wallet, so it does not hold other coins or tokens. If you need several currencies, you will need another program for those assets, and you can keep your Bitcoin in Wasabi Wallet alongside it.
Open a terminal on Windows and run winget install zkSNACKs.WasabiWallet. Winget is Microsoft's package manager, so the command fetches the program and installs it. After the installation finishes, open Wasabi Wallet from the Start menu. Check the installed version against the latest release on the project's GitHub page.
Yes. The wallet is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux, so you can use the same program across those systems. The winget command applies only to Windows. On other systems, follow the standard installation route described on the project's GitHub pages.
Verdict
Wasabi Wallet is a strong choice for Windows users who want a free, open-source Bitcoin wallet with privacy built in. It suits people who value self-custody and are willing to manage a seed phrase and occasional CoinJoin rounds. It is less suitable for anyone who needs many currencies or a mobile app, or who expects a provider to handle recovery. Test with small amounts first and keep your backups offline.