Sparrow Bitcoin Wallet

[dkbit98]

On my quest to find some new interesting Bitcoin wallets I recently found out about Sparrow Wallet.
Sparrow desktop wallet licensed under the Apache 2 license, and it is available for Windows, Linux and Mac OS.
It supports single and multisig wallets, as well as importing and exporting Electrum wallets.
Sparrow is also good for anyone who runs their own Bitcoin nodes., and it supports hardware wallets.
Current version is 1.4.3 stable.

Sparrow supports all the features you would expect from a modern Bitcoin wallet:

-  Full support for single sig and multisig wallets on common script types
-  A range of connection options: Public servers, Bitcoin Core and private Electrum servers
-  Standards based including full PSBT support
-  Support for all common hardware wallets in USB and airgapped modes
-  Full coin and fee control with with comprehensive coin selection
-  Labeling of all transactions, inputs and outputs
-  Lightweight and multi platform
-  Payjoin support
-  Built in Tor
-  Testnet, regtest and signet support

Github:
https://github.com/sparrowwallet/sparrow

Website:
https://www.sparrowwallet.com/

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[bitmover]

It is a beautiful wallet.

I have some mixed feelings about wallets.

I am very satisfied with the wallets I use (software and hardware). They dominate the market somehow

Just like I think oligopolies are bad for everyone, I don't risky trying new wallets.

I trust my money in ledger, trezor and electrum. I wouldn't trust sparrow, at least not with a huge amount. But I could try this wallet for small amounts, if it brings something very new which I would use.

[mk4]

Looks pretty slick— UI looks clean without sacrificing functionality and features.

With that said, I agree with bitmover that I don't think people should use this new wallet for storing keys with high-valued holdings unless you can verify the code and compile it yourself. I'm personally going to wait this out and wait til it gets a bit more publicity.

[mk4]

IMO, it poses no danger to Ledger's keys.

Yeap, not that much risk(as far as I know) since you verify the transaction details on the Ledger device itself anyway. But I was referring to actually using this wallet for generating and actually storing the keys(and not just making transactions like when connecting a hardware wallet to it).

[DaveF]

Was going to take a look because I will play a little with anything.
But why are you using Java to build?. A lot, possibly even most security people see java / java script and run screaming in the other direction.

I don't care one way or the other, but you might want to look at another alternative.

-Dave

[dkbit98]

Was going to take a look because I will play a little with anything.
But why are you using Java to build?. A lot, possibly even most security people see java / java script and run screaming in the other direction.

I don't care one way or the other, but you might want to look at another alternative.

-Dave

Hey Dave
I am not using java or anything, and this is not my wallet project, but I am just testing it because I think it is good that other major wallets have some competition.
We don't want developers to get to lazy, and I like to post something new here in forum so that everyone can explore it. 

Cheers

[hugeblack]

If this wallet is a scam then I think it is a high level of scammers.
They have some unique features that I've never heard of before, such as:

fully featured transaction editor that also functions as a blockchain explorer. This feature not only allows easy editing of all of a transaction’s fields, (including for example locktime and sequence),

Sparrow is desktop focussed and uses a configuration of Argon2 (winner of the Password Hashing Competition in 2015)


With all this power, the transaction viewer doubles as a private blockchain explorer.

Despite all the details, it is not mentioned how the seeds are managed, the cold storage, and the lightning network.

Generally, I'll give it a try when I have some time.

[dkbit98]

Yes, this transaction viewer acts something like personal explorer, and if you run your own node then you don't need to use any web explorer to check your transactions.
Source code is also open, and anyone can check if it is good, and I would like to see testnet integration, so that more people could try using it with testBTC.

[khaled0111]

One of the reason for which I would probably download this wallet and give it a try is the possibility to import Electrum wallets. AFAIK, bluewallet is the only wallet that supports importing electrum seeds.
More users will be interested in using it if they release a mobile version.
I agree with posts above, it too early to trust them with our coins as it's still relatively new and we are not sure how secure it is.

[dkbit98]

Sparrow wallet version 0.9.5 released with added support for testnet  and other updates.
Full list of update changes:

• Testnet support
• View and edit a wallets output descriptor in wallet Settings
• Exclude UTXOs from a transaction on the Send transaction diagram
• Cobo Vault airgapped file import and export
• Import and export xpubs with QR codes in wallet Settings
• SLIP-132 ypub/zpub/etc support
• Handle incomplete script hash notification sets
• Clear Send details once transaction in mempool
• Respect the minimum relay fee when creating a transaction
• Attempt to import wallet if Open Wallet fails
• Upgrade to JavaFX 15

https://github.com/sparrowwallet/sparrow/releases/tag/0.9.5

[dkbit98]

There is a new Sparrow wallet version 0.9.6 released:

• Send to multiple recipients (transaction batching support)
• Much improved loading of large wallet history
• @CoboVault QR import (single and multisig)
• #Bitbox02 support
• Request encryption on wallet import

https://github.com/sparrowwallet/sparrow/releases/tag/0.9.6

[Forsyth Jones]

Is this wallet opensource?

[Hippocrypto]

Have you tried this running on windows? I am curious on this one because of security issues that might take place in the future. Hopefully you'll have some feedback on this, need some inputs from your end before am going to install sparrow wallet on my pc.

[ABCbits]

Is this wallet opensource?

Yes. It's already mentioned & OP mention github link for the source code.

Have you tried this running on windows? I am curious on this one because of security issues that might take place in the future. Hopefully you'll have some feedback on this, need some inputs from your end before am going to install sparrow wallet on my pc.

Someone make a blog about this wallet at https://www.bitcoinqna.com/post/sparrow-wallet-101, but there's no mention OS used.
But since this wallet is initially released less than a year ago and the version is below 1.0 (assuming the creator follow proper software versioning), i wouldn't recommend it to store big amount of Bitcoin.

[dkbit98]

Have you tried this running on windows? I am curious on this one because of security issues that might take place in the future. Hopefully you'll have some feedback on this, need some inputs from your end before am going to install sparrow wallet on my pc.

I did install it on my OS for testing purposes and yes it is open source Apache license.

Developers are active on github and twitter, and they often release updates and fixes (latest is 0.9.7) and this wallet can be useful only if you are running your own node.

[NeuroticFish]

On my quest to find some new interesting Bitcoin wallets I recently found out about Sparrow Wallet.

It looks nice.
Although I am so much used to Electrum I find it a bit hard to change (maybe I'm getting old?), I already planned to take a look to Wasabi.
Now I've added Sparrow too to my list. I'll give it a try during the Xmas holidays when I should have more (too much?) free time.

It's however nice to see competition coming in this area. I've got sick and tired to "preach" that wallets should become nicer and easier (more newbie friendly) without losing functionality.

[dkbit98]

Interesting new 1.5.0-beta1 beta update for Sparrow wallet introducing some big changes with coinjoin integration working only on testnet currently.
I was playing around with Sparrow for some time, and I have to say that like it more and more, interface is great and this could soon be better alternative for Wasabi wallet.
https://github.com/sparrowwallet/sparrow/releases

[The Sceptical Chymist]

I was playing around with Sparrow for some time, and I have to say that like it more and more, interface is great and this could soon be better alternative for Wasabi wallet.
https://github.com/sparrowwallet/sparrow/releases

Ah, screw it.  I'm going to give it a try.  I must have missed this thread when it was started--or ignored it entirely--but I'm glad you bumped it, dkbit98.  Electrum will probably remain my go-to wallet, but it's been a long time since I played around with a new one.

10 minutes later:  I just set it up, and it looks and feels very nice as a wallet!  I was able to create a wallet with legacy addresses, which you can't do with Electrum anymore, so that's a plus.  Haven't sent any coins to it yet, but I'll bump this thread if anything odd pops up as far as issues go. 

[dkbit98]

10 minutes later:  I just set it up, and it looks and feels very nice as a wallet!  I was able to create a wallet with legacy addresses, which you can't do with Electrum anymore, so that's a plus.  Haven't sent any coins to it yet, but I'll bump this thread if anything odd pops up as far as issues go. 

I love their initial setup with explanations and easy process for users of choosing connection with bitcoin core node, private electrum node or public server.
Tor support is great and as for coinjoin transactiuons, I didn't test it yet but I plan to do it this weekend when I have more free time.
There are still some issues reported on github and I have no idea how to remove or hide hardware wallet connection after you make it, so I had to delete wallet file and create new one for testing.

[NeuroticFish]

Ohoo, I've checked 1.1.0 at some point and I was pretty much disappointed back then, now it's 1.5.0...

I see it does work with my HW now (although the first server I've tried said it has no transactions at all; the second worked). The old version didn't have neither the USB button, nor Ledger on the list of wallets to import.
I see it has things better done than Electrum (View->Hide Empy Used Addresses).
But - at least for me - it still doesn't have the usability of Electrum.
However, it's on the right track, so we'll get there too, and possibly pretty soon.

Thanks @dkbit98 for the update!

[The Sceptical Chymist]

I love their initial setup with explanations and easy process for users of choosing connection with bitcoin core node, private electrum node or public server.

OK, that part confused me a little bit since Electrum, for instance, doesn't make you choose a server (although you could if you wanted to).  I didn't play around with the wallet since creating it, so I'm not sure how the bitcoin core node works.  That's the one I selected initially, but it doesn't connect.  When I selected the public server, all was good except I got the warning message "Using a public server means it can see your transactions."

How bad is it that my transactions can be seen on a public server?  

Edit:

Why don’t you run your personal server for electrum. That would be quite handy to keep your things private and secured.

Because I'm a dumbass and haven't learned how to do it and why it's important to do.  You'd think I'd have learned more about the technical aspects of bitcoin by now, but nope.  I pick up dribs and drabs as time goes on.  I didn't even know what a GPU was until about a year ago.

[RapTarX]

with legacy addresses, which you can't do with Electrum anymore, so that's a plus.

I guess you still can use Legacy in Electrum but you need to work with the command line, IIRC. I'm on bed now and with my mobile. I can't check it out to confirm whether it's possible or not but it should be possible I guess. I didn’t like this update personally at all. Legacy must be an option & preference for users.

How bad is it that my transactions can be seen on a public server?  

You are sharing your tx details mean which address belongs to you & whom you are sending BTC. If you aren’t concerned enough about this, I guess no problem at all. Why don’t you run your personal server for electrum. That would be quite handy to keep your things private and secured.

[BlackHatCoiner]

How bad is it that my transactions can be seen on a public server?

Your transactions can been seen by everyone; that's the block chain technology. The scare about needing a public server to know your balance and transact is the case you want to remain anonymous. If the server knew your IP and you demanded to know how much money does 1PharM... have, you could be noted as related with it. Let alone if you sent a signed transaction, which would prove it's you. You could use Tor and avoid this.

The other downside is that in HD wallets, you'll have to send all of those addresses to the server, so it can return you their balances. This is a matter of privacy due to the connection they can make between them even if some have never transacted with each other.

Because I'm a dumbass and haven't learned how to do it and why it's important to do.

Think of this. You own a few bitcoins and transact everyday. You know how Bitcoin works, but you prefer having another party delivering your information. You don't want to verify the blocks which is the whole point of self-dependence. Instead, you trust another doing it for you.

If you sit down and overthink it, you'll realize that you have no idea how much money you have. You're trusting a third party for telling it to you. The whole cash system truly works if you're badass enough to verify it yourself.

Example in real life: You have some cash, but instead of looking up on your packet you let a stranger do that for you. By the assumption he wouldn't be able to steal them from you, would you still feel confident if you allowed that man grabbing your money and paying for your goods?

[Pmalek]

I was able to create a wallet with legacy addresses, which you can't do with Electrum anymore, so that's a plus.

You can, but not in a standard way. You have to first enable the console tab by clicking on 'View' and 'Show Console'. Enter the following code in the console tab:

Code:

make_seed(128,"","standard") 

Electrum will then generate a new 12-word seed for you to write down.

Here is an example of how it looks. For some reason, I had to do it twice because nothing happened the first time.

[DaveF]

Why don’t you run your personal server for electrum. That would be quite handy to keep your things private and secured.

Because I'm a dumbass and haven't learned how to do it and why it's important to do.  You'd think I'd have learned more about the technical aspects of bitcoin by now, but nope.  I pick up dribs and drabs as time goes on.  I didn't even know what a GPU was until about a year ago.

No 'real' knowledge required:
raspiblitz https://github.com/rootzoll/raspiblitz has ElectRS as a 1 click install to setup your own electrum server
mynode https://www.mynodebtc.com/ has one too

RaspberryPi and a 1TB drive and your good.
If you don't want to do that mynode has a virtual machine download so you can run it on your PC using VirtualBox if you want.

Even if it does not work for you for what you want to do it's still a good learning experience.

-Dave

[Dabs]

I love their initial setup with explanations and easy process for users of choosing connection with bitcoin core node, private electrum node or public server.

OK, that part confused me a little bit since Electrum, for instance, doesn't make you choose a server (although you could if you wanted to).  I didn't play around with the wallet since creating it, so I'm not sure how the bitcoin core node works.  That's the one I selected initially, but it doesn't connect.  When I selected the public server, all was good except I got the warning message "Using a public server means it can see your transactions."

How bad is it that my transactions can be seen on a public server?  

Edit:

Why don’t you run your personal server for electrum. That would be quite handy to keep your things private and secured.

Because I'm a dumbass and haven't learned how to do it and why it's important to do.  You'd think I'd have learned more about the technical aspects of bitcoin by now, but nope.  I pick up dribs and drabs as time goes on.  I didn't even know what a GPU was until about a year ago.

It was recently confirmed that Chainalysis runs public servers. Is it bad? We bitcoiners have known that this has always been possible.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5361277.0

[The Sceptical Chymist]

You can, but not in a standard way.

Dude, you rock!!  I was able to create an Electrum wallet with legacy addresses, which I thought was impossible.  Thank you for that.

I'm still liking the Sparrow wallet, by the way.  I don't exactly have a need for another wallet, and I like Electrum a little bit better, but I'm not going to discard it like I have with so many other wallets I've tried (like Exodus, Coinomi, and a bunch of others).

RaspberryPi and a 1TB drive and your good.

I've got the former but not the latter--at least not unoccupied at the moment.  But I appreciate the suggestion very much.

[Pmalek]

I was able to create an Electrum wallet with legacy addresses, which I thought was impossible.  Thank you for that.

No problem, you are welcome. Although, it doesn't make much sense using legacy wallets and addresses nowadays, but I understand that you want the ability to create those if you wanted that. A significant number of crypto-related services should already be configured to recognize native segwit addresses, and if they don't, there is compatibility with nested segwit addresses in over 90% of the cases.

[BlackHatCoiner]

That's so true:

Although, it doesn't make much sense using legacy wallets and addresses nowadays

There's only ONE exception why one would prefer on using a legacy address and that's the signature verification part. Apparently, verifying a message which was signed using a SegWit address isn't standard. Each software implements a different way.

So if you ever wanted to sign a message which could be verified even from an abandoned project-site such as brainwallet you should use a legacy address.

There's not even one reason if you want to make transactions with it.

[dkbit98]

It was recently confirmed that Chainalysis runs public servers. Is it bad? We bitcoiners have known that this has always been possible.

We knew it was happening and I bet that government agencies are also running a bunch of nodes and servers for years, same way like they are using Tor and everything else for spying people.
It's not so hard or expensive to run your own node on some old computer or Raspberry Pi device.

There's not even one reason if you want to make transactions with it.

You can have your old coins in legacy address format (like there are a bunch of them) and that is a valid reason to use them to send and make new transaction with them.

Please let's all keep to the topic subject - Sparrow Bitcoin Wallet.
Thanks

[witcher_sense]

After the developers of Sparrow Bitcoin wallet have finally implemented Whirlpool, which is another way to CoinJoin bitcoin transactions, I decided to try it out. The question is how do I do mixing without leaking unnecessary information that may further be used to deanonymize me or to connect my identity to transactions I make in the bitcoin network. Assume I installed my personal bitcoin full node through Bitcoin Core wallet and connected my Sparrow wallet directly to it. Is that the right direction or am I supposed to connect my wallet to a public server instead? How do I properly configure my bitcoin full node? What further steps should I take to achieve maximum anonymity? I want to use Sparrow wallet in the most effective way possible...

[Pmalek]

<Snip>

Have you checked out this guide that explains how to use the Sparrow Wallet Whirlpool feature to protect your privacy?
Mixing with Whirlpool
This article by Samourai Wallet discusses Whirlpool CoinJoins:
Diving head first into Whirlpool Anonymity Sets

Unfortunately, I don't use this particular wallet and can't provide more precise information. Maybe these resources are a good start.

[dkbit98]

Assume I installed my personal bitcoin full node through Bitcoin Core wallet and connected my Sparrow wallet directly to it. Is that the right direction or am I supposed to connect my wallet to a public server instead?

You can participate in in Whirlpool only if you run full node with Ronin Dojo node package.
Sparrow is using same pools like Samourai wallet, they are just another client, and I would always choose Wasabi coinjoins rather than what Samourai is doing, but you can find detailed instructions on sparrow website.
I would wait for Wasabi 2.0 to come out soon, it should be more simple to use and I here some great improvements are coming, like reducing 0.1 BTC minimum.

How do I properly configure my bitcoin full node? What further steps should I take to achieve maximum anonymity?

There are many guides for running full Bitcoin node and it's nothing complicated, all you need is to have separate computer of RaspberryPi with hard drive, than you download entire Bitcoin blockchain, and let it run.

[witcher_sense]

You can participate in in Whirlpool only if you run full node with Ronin Dojo node package.
Sparrow is using same pools like Samourai wallet, they are just another client, and I would always choose Wasabi coinjoins rather than what Samourai is doing, but you can find detailed instructions on sparrow website.
I would wait for Wasabi 2.0 to come out soon, it should be more simple to use and I here some great improvements are coming, like reducing 0.1 BTC minimum.

You mean, despite that I already connected my Sparrow wallet to my Bitcoin Core node, I still have to have the Ronin Dojo node running to use Whirlpool Coinjoin anonymously?  What if I don't have Ronin Dojo? I heard that, in Samourai Wallet, if you are not running one, all the information about transactions and addresses goes directly to Samourai servers, which means they can deanonymize you if they want. However, in the article, it is said that "Sparrow does not ever use Samourai’s servers to provide wallet transactions or UTXO information. This information comes from your connected server, as it has always done. Only the independent Whirlpool server receives communication, and the data it receives is blinded so no privacy is lost when using Tor." I don't understand how in this case Samourai devs can obtain information about my transactions?

[dkbit98]

You mean, despite that I already connected my Sparrow wallet to my Bitcoin Core node, I still have to have the Ronin Dojo node running to use Whirlpool Coinjoin anonymously?

I never had Ronin Dojo node running, and I don't have any plan for doing that, so I can't tell you anything more about that.
My understanding is that nobody can obtain any information if you are using whirlpool correctly with Sparrow and enabled Tor, but I can't personally vouch for that.
It's relative to specific situation but Ronin Dojo is your own backend replacement for servers, so if only you are using Dojo in mixing round than privacy will obviously not exist.

[shield132]

Since this thread looks like an ANN thread of Sparrow Wallet, I'll ask this question here instead of creating a new topic.
I want to download Sparrow Bitcoin Wallet from sparrowwallet.com/download for Windows. I choose the following wallet ->> Type Windows Installer (7+); Link Sparrow-1.8.4.exe <-- Now the problem is that it takes almost one day to download the wallet while filesize is up to 98 MB. For some reasons, their servers don't let me to download it with normal internet speed and limit my download speed significantly. Does anyone know where is a good alternative to download this wallet? Or do you also experience download limit from Sparrow? I have no idea why that happens.

[Eleutheria]

Now the problem is that it takes almost one day to download the wallet while filesize is up to 98 MB. For some reasons, their servers don't let me to download it with normal internet speed and limit my download speed significantly.

I just downloaded it now and it took roughly 20 minutes to download with my personal internet connection. I do not think it is their server limiting your download speed and surely not intentionally. Could be an overload on available connections on the web server or some other reason.
Try clearing your cache and try again.

[Cricktor]

...

All download links at https://sparrowwallet.com/download/ point to Github links like https://github.com/sparrowwallet/sparrow/releases/download/<version>/<filename>. I just checked the Windows Installer download file link and it took me only 10+ seconds to download the file (download was finished after I chose the save file location as my browser is setup to always ask where to save a download file; I have a stable 100MBit/s downstream internet speed).

Maybe you experienced some temporary or local Github connectivity issues. And nobody except you can know what's going on in your local network.

20min for the download of ~100MB doesn't sound any fast either, but Eleutheria didn't mention any details of personal internet connection. Such a download time could happen when you only have something like 1MBit/s downstream.

[shield132]

Now the problem is that it takes almost one day to download the wallet while filesize is up to 98 MB. For some reasons, their servers don't let me to download it with normal internet speed and limit my download speed significantly.

I just downloaded it now and it took roughly 20 minutes to download with my personal internet connection. I do not think it is their server limiting your download speed and surely not intentionally. Could be an overload on available connections on the web server or some other reason.
Try clearing your cache and try again.

20 minutes is too much for 98 MB file unless you are using a cheap DSL internet with low speed and I personally use fiber optic and my speed is 100 Mbps. It should be downloaded in seconds instead of hours.
I finally managed to download it in one hour instead of a day. Thanks god, speed improved a little.

Maybe you experienced some temporary or local Github connectivity issues. And nobody except you can know what's going on in your local network.

20min for the download of ~100MB doesn't sound any fast either, but Eleutheria didn't mention any details of personal internet connection. Such a download time could happen when you only have something like 1MBit/s downstream.

Today I tried to download Sparrow Wallet again and the speed was improved but there were limits on download. There is definitely a problem on their side. I'll try to contact them and let them know about this issue.

[ABCbits]

Maybe you experienced some temporary or local Github connectivity issues. And nobody except you can know what's going on in your local network.

20min for the download of ~100MB doesn't sound any fast either, but Eleutheria didn't mention any details of personal internet connection. Such a download time could happen when you only have something like 1MBit/s downstream.

Today I tried to download Sparrow Wallet again and the speed was improved but there were limits on download. There is definitely a problem on their side. I'll try to contact them and let them know about this issue.

I tried download it just now, but it use my maximum internet speed. It's likely their server was overloaded, although there's small chance your ISP throttle your connection. Next time you experience this problem, you might want to use VPN and see whether you still experience slow download speed.

[dkbit98]

Today I tried to download Sparrow Wallet again and the speed was improved but there were limits on download. There is definitely a problem on their side. I'll try to contact them and let them know about this issue.

If you are the only one reporting this problem than issue can't be on their side.
Download is working fine for me, and it's not the first time I did that, but you can always use alternative option and download Sparrow from their official github page:
https://github.com/sparrowwallet/sparrow/releases

[cygan]

sparrow has published a new release today
version 1.8.5 includes the following new features:

• whirlpool over decentralized soroban
• faster initial server connections
• restart in a different home folder
• upgrade to hwi 3.0.0

the complete changelog can be found in the github link: https://github.com/sparrowwallet/sparrow/releases/tag/1.8.5
you can also download the new version for your os there as well as on the official website: https://sparrowwallet.com/download/

[zabzob]

Is there a good tutorial out there on how to set up an Electrum server to use with a Sparrow wallet? There's a guide on the Sparrow website for setting up a server with ElectrumX, but I'm wondering whether that's the best option? Is there any reason to use ElectrumX instead of other options like Electrum-Server or Electrs?

Another question I have (which I don't see answered on Sparrow site) is whether it's advisable to run the Electrum server on the same laptop that Sparrow (and Bitcoin full node) is running on. I remember reading somewhere (forget where) that doing that can cause security/privacy issues and it's better to run Electrum server on separate hardware. Is this the case?

[Cricktor]

...

The setup of an Electrum server is off-topic to this thread regardless if you want to use it specifically for a Sparrow wallet. If you dare to use the forum's search, it doesn't hurt by the way, you will find a few threads that discuss various Electrum servers (let me throw in Fulcrum as another option) and also provide valuable instructions how to setup one.

If you dislike the built-in forum's search, try https://ninjastic.space/search instead...

[zabzob]

...

The setup of an Electrum server is off-topic to this thread regardless if you want to use it specifically for a Sparrow wallet. If you dare to use the forum's search, it doesn't hurt by the way, you will find a few threads that discuss various Electrum servers (let me throw in Fulcrum as another option) and also provide valuable instructions how to setup one.

If you dislike the built-in forum's search, try https://ninjastic.space/search instead...

Thanks for the reply and info--Fulcrum looks like the way to go. Didn't mean to be off-topic, I'll look elsewhere for info on setting up an Electrum server. I don't think my second question is off-topic though, since it's asking a specific question about how best to set up a server for use with Sparrow (i.e. is it safe to install both on a single device). But I will search for answers to this question as well.

[Cricktor]

...

I run a dedicated energy efficient device 24/7 for my personal Electrum server on a Raspi 4B 8GB RAM and a 1TB SSD as storage device. Based on a RaspiBlitz node with little mods my Electrum server is Fulcrum. Basically my RaspiBlitz runs a headless bitcoind (as Core), Fulcrum as Electrum server and LND as Lightning node.

As an experimental playground I have another Raspi 4B which runs an Umbrel node which has electrs as Electrum server component. This Umbrel Electrum server can easily be accessed via local network and Tor from outside if necessary.

I run any wallet software, be it a software wallet or to communicate with hardware wallet devices, on a different dedicated computer in my local network. This Linux box is only for wallet software (Electrum, Sparrow, BitBox app, Trezor suite, Bisq) and not used for daily internet stuff.

No particular recommendation, just my personal setup.

[zabzob]

...

I run a dedicated energy efficient device 24/7 for my personal Electrum server on a Raspi 4B 8GB RAM and a 1TB SSD as storage device. Based on a RaspiBlitz node with little mods my Electrum server is Fulcrum. Basically my RaspiBlitz runs a headless bitcoind (as Core), Fulcrum as Electrum server and LND as Lightning node.

As an experimental playground I have another Raspi 4B which runs an Umbrel node which has electrs as Electrum server component. This Umbrel Electrum server can easily be accessed via local network and Tor from outside if necessary.

I run any wallet software, be it a software wallet or to communicate with hardware wallet devices, on a different dedicated computer in my local network. This Linux box is only for wallet software (Electrum, Sparrow, BitBox app, Trezor suite, Bisq) and not used for daily internet stuff.

No particular recommendation, just my personal setup.

Thanks for sharing, that looks like a robust setup.

[ABCbits]

sparrow has published a new release today
version 1.8.5 includes the following new features:

• whirlpool over decentralized soroban

--snip--

I didn't expect they'd implement it quickly. After all, Samourai only announce it on their wallet last month[1].

Another question I have (which I don't see answered on Sparrow site) is whether it's advisable to run the Electrum server on the same laptop that Sparrow (and Bitcoin full node) is running on. I remember reading somewhere (forget where) that doing that can cause security/privacy issues and it's better to run Electrum server on separate hardware. Is this the case?

At least for privacy issue, other people might say that since spying company could find out which node/IP address broadcast certain transaction for first time. In this case, configuring Bitcoin Core to use VPN or Tor should solve the issue.

[1] https://blog.samourai.is/decentralized-whirlpool-stage-1/[/list]

[cygan]

and the next release is out today.
the 1.8.6 version includes the following new features

• wallet search improvements
• all open wallets summary
• mix from postmix
• import Samourai backup file

there are numerous other new functions and various bug fixes. you can read all about them under the following link and also find the download files there: https://github.com/sparrowwallet/sparrow/releases/tag/1.8.6

[satscraper]

Following the latest development with Samourai Wallet , Sparrow team hurriedly released v.1.9.0

Sparrow got rid of the mixing feature, which is a bad birdcage at the current circumstances.

"Remove Whirlpool client, and other Soroban related features and dependencies".

They also  removed "mixing with whirlpool" section from the wallets docs.

[apogio]

Following the latest development with Samourai Wallet , Sparrow team hurriedly released v.1.9.0


"Remove Whirlpool client, and other Soroban related features and dependencies".

They also  removed "mixing with whirlpool" section from the wallets docs.

I prefer to lose the whirlpool feature, rather than losing the wallet.
Do you think it was a wise choice? The question obviously goes to everyone who have been using Sparrow

[satscraper]

Do you think it was a wise choice? The question obviously goes to everyone who have been using Sparrow

Sure, it is a wise movement to prevent the risk of being caught   in the neck by feds, good riddance!

I prefer to lose the whirlpool feature, rather than losing the wallet.

So do I. To be frankly I have never used it because I think such mixing results in the illusion  of improved privacy, thus there's no feeling of deprivation.

Sparrow allows PayNym payments, which serve better in this respect.

[NotATether]

"Remove Whirlpool client, and other Soroban related features and dependencies".

JFC.

I can understand Sparrow Wallet wanting to reduce their liability, but damn, are we going to consider Whirlpool malicious software now?

[Cricktor]

I definitely don't like it that Sparrow has removed mixing. For me it was a nice to have, but I didn't use it very often or all the time. Sad to see that it's handled like something criminal. But OK the devs aren't paid to maintain and develop the software and that alone is likely some hassle. I have to accept that they don't want and need any legal trouble.

[ABCbits]

Following the latest development with Samourai Wallet , Sparrow team hurriedly released v.1.9.0

Sparrow got rid of the mixing feature, which is a bad birdcage at the current circumstances.

"Remove Whirlpool client, and other Soroban related features and dependencies".

They also  removed "mixing with whirlpool" section from the wallets docs.

Based on my memory, the only up-to-date wallet which support CoinJoin are only Wasabi Wallet and Join Market. Sparrow developer also use major number change (1.8.6 to 1.9.0) even though they only remove CoinJoin feature. For average Bitcoiner, we only can see whether someone decide to fork either Sparrow or Samourai Wallet, while preserving it's CoinJoin feature.

[satscraper]

Following the latest development with Samourai Wallet , Sparrow team hurriedly released v.1.9.0

Sparrow got rid of the mixing feature, which is a bad birdcage at the current circumstances.

"Remove Whirlpool client, and other Soroban related features and dependencies".

They also  removed "mixing with whirlpool" section from the wallets docs.

Sparrow developer also use major number change (1.8.6 to 1.9.0) even though they only remove CoinJoin feature.

Yeah, they did a great work on refining Sparrow wallet.  In fact it has almost all  I need to deal with bitcoin. What I would want to have else are WalletConnect interface and the ability to use OP_RETURN when building send transactions. These features and those ones that wallet has already should  cover all my needs.

[dkbit98]

I prefer to lose the whirlpool feature, rather than losing the wallet.
Do you think it was a wise choice? The question obviously goes to everyone who have been using Sparrow

I dont think whirlpool is going to survive in the form it worked in last few years, so yes it was only reasonable decision they could do to avoid the same destiny as another wallet with Japanese name 
However, that doesn't mean that we should now all give up the fight for more privacy on bitcoin just because it's hard and dangerous thing to do.

[shield132]

I prefer to lose the whirlpool feature, rather than losing the wallet.
Do you think it was a wise choice? The question obviously goes to everyone who have been using Sparrow

It's better to have something compared to having nothing. It would be a big loss if we didn't have Sparrow wallet, so losing the whirlpool feature was better than losing the whole wallet. It's like, losing a hand vs losing a life.

I definitely don't like it that Sparrow has removed mixing. For me it was a nice to have, but I didn't use it very often or all the time.

Like you, I haven't used the mixing feature but it was really a great feature for privacy seekers.

A few hours ago I signed and broadcasted a transaction with Sparrow but for some reasons, it wasn't really broadcasted but Sparrow was showing me that it was. I waited an hour, but nothing, the transaction wasn't searchable in the blockchain. Then I input a raw Bitcoin transaction in hex format on Blockchain.com and broadcasted the transaction that way. Then within minutes, my transaction appeared in every blockchain explorer and I also got a confirmation within minutes.
Can anyone tell me why did that happen? Why Sparrow didn't broadcast my transaction? It showed me that it did. Btw Electrum has never failed me.

[satscraper]

Can anyone tell me why did that happen? Why Sparrow didn't broadcast my transaction? It showed me that it did. Btw Electrum has never failed me.

To broadcast transaction Sparrow must be connected to node, either yours or public one.

Probably in your setup Sparrow was  connected to public node, sent to this node your transaction but there was a problem with that node, so the transaction has actually not been broadcast to net.

[Cricktor]

That's another reason why I run my own node for my wallets and for my own Electrum server. I know what going on with my node and I don't need to rely on foreign and unknown other nodes to submit a transaction from my wallet or when my Electrum or Sparrow wallet has to inquire transaction history and transaction updates.

I know, my own Electrum server doesn't collect my wallet's addresses for nefarious address analysis purposes.

I value my privacy.

[apogio]

It's like, losing a hand vs losing a life.

Well, kind of exaggeration, but I agree it would be a loss to lose Sparrow wallet  forever.

However, luckily, Bitcoin is open-source, just like most of the reputable wallets that you can use.
So, I am certain that there will be other wallets in the future that will gain significant popularity.
Don't forget that most people don't even use self-custodial wallets... So...

[AprilioMP]

Following the latest development with Samourai Wallet , Sparrow team hurriedly released v.1.9.0

Sparrow got rid of the mixing feature, which is a bad birdcage at the current circumstances.

"Remove Whirlpool client, and other Soroban related features and dependencies".

They also  removed "mixing with whirlpool" section from the wallets docs.

I know that whirlpool is used to help prevent people from tracking transaction movements[1]. I know that Whirlpool was made by the Samourai Wallet Development Team and was an implementation of Zerolink coinjoin[2].

When the party who has the power to make a decision as was done on Samourai, Sparrow also moved to remove the whirlpool client in the release version 1.9.0. I think this is an attempt to be made to avoid the desired thing. In addition, is the remove whirlpool client on the release version 1.9.0 based on fear?

[1]. https://bitcoinmagazine.com/technical/how-to-whirlpool-bitcoin-sparrow-wallet
[2]. https://bitcoiner.guide/whirlpool/

[satscraper]

is the remove whirlpool client on the release version 1.9.0 based on fear?

On    common sense and wisdom rather on fear.  Better to be safe and maintain the development of the good product than be involved into hearing of a case. Sparrow has a good  feature, namely PayNym, that allows  to keep transactions between contractors in the dark, That is why I  prefer to lose the controversial wirlpool mixing feature  rather than the whole wallet.