Electrum
by Electrum Technologies GmbH
Bitcoin
Quick Fact
Electrum was released in 2011 and remains one of the most enduring and trusted Bitcoin wallets. It operates as a thin client using SPV (Simple Payment Verification), meaning it does not download the full blockchain. The wallet supports advanced features like multisignature, cold-storage, hardware wallet integration (e.g., Trezor, Ledger, Coldcard), Tor connectivity, and add-on plugins—all while its code remains open-source and auditable under the MIT License.
Electrum is a high-performance, open-source Bitcoin wallet focused on speed, security, and user sovereignty. First introduced in 2011 and maintained by Electrum Technologies GmbH in Berlin, Electrum is one of the most mature and trusted wallets in the Bitcoin ecosystem. It is purpose-built for managing Bitcoin (BTC) efficiently without compromising user control or privacy.
Bitcoin-Only Architecture
Electrum is intentionally limited to supporting only the Bitcoin network. This focused design allows it to deliver an optimized experience for BTC users, offering faster synchronization, lower resource requirements, and better protocol alignment than most multi-asset wallets. It operates using Simple Payment Verification (SPV), which verifies transactions without requiring the entire blockchain to be downloaded.
Core Functionality
Self-Custodial Key Management
Electrum gives users complete control over their private keys. Keys are stored locally and never shared with the network or any third party. The wallet supports encrypted seed phrases, custom passphrases, and secure backups in both standard (BIP39) and Electrum-native formats.
Support for Hardware Wallets
Electrum integrates with leading hardware devices including Ledger, Trezor, Coldcard, and KeepKey. This allows users to manage BTC holdings via cold storage, while leveraging Electrum’s interface for transaction signing, address generation, and security configuration.
Multisignature and Watch-Only Wallets
Electrum offers full support for multisig wallets, enabling distributed control over funds across multiple devices or parties. Users can also set up watch-only wallets to view account activity and balances without storing private keys on a given device.
Lightning Network Capabilities
The wallet includes native Lightning Network support, making it suitable for fast and low-fee Bitcoin payments. This layer-2 functionality extends the wallet’s use cases into retail, microtransactions, and real-time peer-to-peer transfers.
Privacy and Network Configuration
Electrum allows advanced control over server connections, including the ability to manually select Electrum servers or route traffic through the Tor network for enhanced privacy. Users can also verify payment status through multiple sources to reduce reliance on any single node.
Network and Asset Support
Electrum supports the Bitcoin (BTC) blockchain exclusively. It does not accommodate altcoins or other token standards. However, independent forks such as Electrum-LTC (for Litecoin) exist and use the same underlying architecture.
Open Source and Developer Tools
Electrum is released under the MIT License and fully open-source. Its extensible plugin system enables integrations with merchant services, third-party verification tools, and custom scripting modules. Developers can audit and contribute to the project via its official GitHub repository.