Launched in 2015, Samourai Wallet is a powerful mobile wallet with the primary focus on wallet security and privacy.
Samourai formally started development in February 2015 with the goal of filling a major void in the Bitcoin wallet space: privacy centric wallets. The wallet was created by a group of privacy activists who, according to Samourai’s website, “who have dedicated our lives to creating the software that Silicon Valley will never build, the regulators will never allow, and the VC’s will never invest in. We build the software that Bitcoin deserves.”
The solution offered by Samourai Wallet is something that would greatly appeal to a very niche demographic among cryptocurrency enthusiasts. Despite still being in Alpha phase, it already boasts various functionality perks which have yet to be conceived by other wallet app providers. With a chic and elegant interface, Samourai offers a multitude of functions and features which make it a very attractive proposition for new and advanced wallet seekers alike.
Samourai wallet providers do not encourage users to trust their platform without getting first-hand experience themselves, “Users should look at our reputation thus far and make a judgement as to if we are honest and trustworthy, but at the end of the day code doesn’t lie, we have produced the code, anyone can go take a look, can comment, can suggest, can criticize, can fork. Bitcoiners should only trust one person when it comes to storing their bitcoin – themselves.”
Samourai claims to collect or store no data on their users, “Your wallet is created on your local device and is never stored on any server,” adding further that it is important for people living in places of economic or political strife to have the utmost privacy, “Many of us have the luxury of living in relatively stable economic conditions with relatively stable governments, but a lot more people live under economic devastation and despotic rulers, and to those people keeping their transactions private and decoupled from their identity is a matter of life and death.”
Samourai Bitcoin Wallet Features
A Wallet For The Streets –
Samourai promises you “a modern bitcoin wallet hand forged to keep your transactions private, your identity masked, and your funds secure.” The promise in delivered in the form of high security, privacy of transactions and a advance spend control.
High Security Number Pad –
Most wallets require a PIN code to gain access. Samourai does require a PIN code but the number pad shifts the position of numbers upon each entry, making it impossible for anyone to guess your pin by spying on your keystrokes. There is also a ‘stealth launcher’ feature, which hides the app’s icon, allowing you to launch the app by entering a specific PIN code for accessing the app in stealth mode.
Privacy Of Transactions –
Samourai never reuses addresses, never leaking valuable metadata about you and your purchase habits. Samourai will alert you if you have sent to an address before, helping prevent unintentional address reuse. Samourai is enabled with Tor and VPN support allowing you the ability to route all transactions through an anonymous IP address.
Encryption And Control Of Private Keys –
Samourai is encrypted on the device using AES-256 encryption and never communicated with any servers. Samourai enforces a BIP 39 passphrase encryption on wallet creation, hardening the security of your wallet right out of the gate. Private keys are created and stored on your device and are never communicated with any server or anyone.
Advanced Send –
Samourai constantly tweaks sending algorithms to provide you the most private sending possible. Enabling BIP126 activates a feature known as blockchain obfuscation. PaymentNyms are a pseudonymous address used to stealthily send and receive bitcoin with a code which can be shared publicly.
Ricochet Send –
Ricochet is designed to stump the blockchain spies that provide blacklists to bitcoin banks and exchanges that they use to freeze funds and suspend accounts. Ricochet promotes fungibility in Bitcoin by actively working to disrupt the way blockchain spies attempt to create blacklists.
Samourai Bitcoin Wallet Summary
There are also a lot more cool features such as remote control of your wallet via SMS, custom trusted node, CPFP and full SegWit address support. If privacy and security are what you’re looking for in a Bitcoin wallet, Samourai is your go-to wallet. Alpha 3 of Samourai can be downloaded from their website.
