What is Ginger Wallet?
Ginger Wallet is an open-source, non-custodial Bitcoin privacy wallet. It is a fork of Wasabi Wallet 2.0, designed to offer the same powerful CoinJoin capabilities but with a focus on uncensored coordination and an improved user interface.
True Privacy
Ginger uses the WabiSabi protocol to mix your coins with others, breaking the link between your identity and your transaction history.
Built-in Tor
All network traffic is routed through Tor by default, hiding your IP address from the world and the wallet developers.
Setup Guide
1 Step 1: Download & Install
Ginger Wallet is a desktop-only application. It requires significant computational power for encryption, which phones cannot yet handle efficiently.
Official Source
Download only from gingerwallet.io or the official GitHub.
Verify
It is best practice to verify the PGP signature of the installer to ensure it has not been tampered with.
2 Step 2: Create Wallet & Passphrase
Launch Ginger and select "Create a new wallet".
CRITICAL WARNING
You will be asked for a Password/Passphrase. In Ginger, this is NOT just a login password. It acts as a "13th seed word" to encrypt your private keys. If you lose this password, your 12 recovery words are useless and your money is gone forever.
- Name: Give your wallet a name.
- Recovery Words: Write down the 12 words displayed. Store them offline.
- Confirm: Re-enter the words to verify accuracy.
3 Step 3: Receiving Funds
To maintain privacy, never reuse addresses.
- Click Receive.
- Add Label: Ginger requires you to label who is sending the funds (e.g., "Exchange Withdrawal"). This prevents "coin merging" mistakes later.
- Copy the address and send Bitcoin to it.
4 Step 4: Start CoinJoin
Ginger makes mixing easy. You don't need technical knowledge to anonymize your coins.
1. Open your wallet dashboard.
2. Look for the "Play" (Music) icon to start the CoinJoin.
3. Ginger will automatically register your coins for mixing rounds.
4. Wait until the privacy progress bar reaches 100%.
5. Your coins are now private and ready to spend.
Where to Spend Mixed BTC
Once your Bitcoin is mixed via Ginger, you can safely spend it on verified markets.
Additional Resources
Helpful links for Ginger Wallet users:
Conclusion
You have successfully installed Ginger Wallet. By using its advanced CoinJoin technology, you are actively protecting your financial data from surveillance. Remember: Your passphrase is your key to your funds—keep it safe!
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