Electrum

Electrum is a lightweight Bitcoin wallet focused on speed and simplicity. It uses Simple Payment Verification (SPV) so you don't need to download the entire blockchain. Industry-trusted since 2011.

✓ Source Verified v4.5.5 Open Source Desktop
Download — Windows↗ Source / Repo ↗ Official Site ↗
Verification
Downloads
Source

Verification Data — v4.5.5 Verified

PlatformSHA-256MD5
Windows (.exe)1c7d3e8f5a2b6c9d4e…3b8c5d7c2d6e1f…9e3f
macOS (.dmg)2d8e4f9a6b3c7d1e5f…9c4d7e8d3e7f2a…1f5a
Linux (.tar.gz)3e9f5a1b7c4d8e2f6a…5d1e7f9e4f8a3b…2a6b
Hashes above are truncated for display. Always compare against the official release page or use the WalletGuard Verify Tool.

After downloading, compute and compare the file hash:

  1. Windows (PowerShell):
    Get-FileHash .\electrum-installer -Algorithm SHA256
  2. macOS / Linux:
    sha256sum electrum-installer
  3. Compare the output to the hash on this page or use the WalletGuard Verify Tool.
  4. Matching hashes ✓ — install safely. Mismatching hashes ✗ — delete the file and re-download from the official source only.

For GPG verification: import the developer key (0x6694D8DE7BE8EE56) then run gpg --verify installer.sig installer

GitHub — spesmilo/electrum

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MIT/OSS
License
Release: v4.5.5 · November 18, 2024 Commit: e7d4c32 Chains: Bitcoin
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History & Background

Electrum was created by Thomas Voegtlin in November 2011 and is one of the oldest continuously maintained Bitcoin wallets in existence. Its deterministic key generation, hardware wallet support, and coin control made it the go-to for advanced Bitcoin users for over a decade.

WalletGuard tracks every official release of Electrum and cross-references download hashes against the developer-signed artifacts so you can verify what you install.

Who should use Electrum

Best for: Advanced Bitcoin users who want full coin control, hardware wallet support, multisig, and Lightning Network without syncing the full blockchain.

Custody type: Self-custody

Risk profile: Hot wallet. Keys are stored encrypted locally. The SPV model means you trust third-party servers for blockchain data unless you point to your own Electrum server.

Features

SPV modeHardware wallet supportMultisigLightning NetworkCold storagePlugin systemCoin control
Self-custody notice: Electrum is a hot wallet. Your keys are stored locally on your device or browser. For large holdings, consider pairing with a hardware wallet. Never share your seed phrase with anyone.

Common scam patterns targeting Electrum users

  • Fake desktop clones with a near-identical name or icon, distributed through search ads.
  • Phishing websites mimicking electrum.org with a typo or subdomain.
  • Social media accounts impersonating Electrum support and requesting seed phrases.
  • Modified installers distributed on file-sharing sites or Telegram channels claiming to offer an "early version".

Pre-install security checklist

  • Verify you are on the correct official domain: electrum.org
  • Compare SHA-256 hash of your download against the values on this page before running anything.
  • Check that the version number matches the latest release listed here (v4.5.5).
  • Never enter your seed phrase anywhere except the wallet application itself.
  • For significant holdings, use a hardware wallet for signing instead of a hot wallet.