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Documentation Index

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Find answers to the most common questions about SatSigner, Bitcoin terminology, and how to use the wallet effectively.

Getting Started

SatSigner is a privacy-first Bitcoin wallet application that gives you complete control over your UTXOs (Unspent Transaction Outputs). Built on the Bitcoin Development Kit (BDK), it supports single-signature, multi-signature, and watch-only wallets across Bitcoin mainnet, testnet, and signet networks.Unlike traditional wallets, SatSigner emphasizes:
  • Visual UTXO management with bubble charts
  • Complete coin selection control
  • Privacy-enhancing features
  • Bitcoin-native terminology (sats, UTXOs, not “coins”)
  • No third-party tracking or analytics
Yes! SatSigner is fully open source under the MIT license. You can view, audit, and contribute to the source code on GitHub.All dependencies are also open source, ensuring complete transparency and auditability of the entire codebase.
SatSigner is available for:
  • iOS: Requires iOS 14.0 or later
  • Android: Requires Android 10.0 or later
The app is optimized for mobile devices and provides native performance on both platforms.
Yes, SatSigner is completely free to download and use. There are no subscription fees, premium tiers, or hidden costs.You only pay standard Bitcoin network transaction fees when sending transactions on-chain.

Security & Privacy

SatSigner implements multiple layers of security:
  • AES-256-CBC encryption: All sensitive data is encrypted with your PIN
  • PIN protection: 6-digit PIN required to access the wallet
  • Duress PIN: Optional second PIN that opens a separate wallet in emergency scenarios
  • Seed dropping: Remove mnemonics after key extraction for enhanced security
  • Encrypted storage: All data encrypted at rest on your device
  • No cloud storage: All data stays on your device
Learn more in the Security section.
No. SatSigner does not collect, track, or transmit any personal information or usage data. There are no analytics, no third-party trackers, and no telemetry.Your privacy is paramount:
  • All data stays on your device
  • No account creation required
  • No email or personal information collected
  • Optional Tor support for enhanced privacy
Your private keys are stored encrypted on your device using AES-256-CBC encryption with your PIN as the encryption key. They never leave your device unless you explicitly export them.SatSigner supports “seed dropping” which allows you to remove the mnemonic seed phrase after extracting the extended private key (xprv), reducing attack surface.
If you lose your device, you can recover your wallet using:
  1. Mnemonic seed phrase: 12 or 24-word recovery phrase (if not dropped)
  2. Descriptor backup: Output descriptor with checksum
  3. Extended private key: xprv backup (if seed was dropped)
Always keep secure backups of your recovery information in multiple physical locations.See Backup & Recovery for detailed instructions.
Yes! SatSigner supports watch-only mode where you can import extended public keys (xpub) from hardware wallets like:
  • Ledger
  • Trezor
  • Coldcard
  • Passport
  • And other BIP32-compatible hardware wallets
You can construct transactions in SatSigner, then export PSBTs to sign on your hardware device.

Bitcoin Concepts

UTXO stands for Unspent Transaction Output. Think of UTXOs as individual “bills” in your Bitcoin wallet, similar to physical cash.Why UTXOs matter:
  • Each UTXO has its own history and provenance
  • You can select specific UTXOs to spend (coin control)
  • Different UTXOs may have different privacy implications
  • Understanding UTXOs helps optimize transaction fees
SatSigner visualizes your UTXOs as bubbles, where size represents value, making it easy to see and select specific coins.Learn more in UTXO Control.
A “sat” (satoshi) is the smallest unit of Bitcoin:
  • 1 BTC = 100,000,000 sats
  • 1 sat = 0.00000001 BTC
SatSigner uses sats as the primary unit because:
  • More intuitive for everyday amounts
  • Aligns with Bitcoin’s true nature (sat denomination supremacy)
  • Avoids confusing decimal places
  • Reflects Bitcoin’s deflationary nature
Example: 0.00050000 BTC = 50,000 sats (much clearer!)
PSBT (Partially Signed Bitcoin Transaction) is a standardized format for constructing and signing Bitcoin transactions, especially useful for:
  • Multi-signature wallets: Multiple parties can sign sequentially
  • Hardware wallets: Build transaction on one device, sign on another
  • Air-gapped signing: Transfer unsigned transactions via QR codes or files
SatSigner has full PSBT support including:
  • Creating PSBTs from transactions
  • Importing PSBTs via QR code, NFC, or file
  • Signing PSBTs with your keys
  • Exporting signed PSBTs
  • Combining multiple signatures
See the Glossary for more details.
A descriptor is a compact way to describe how to derive Bitcoin addresses from your keys. It includes:
  • The script type (P2PKH, P2WPKH, P2TR, etc.)
  • The derivation path
  • The extended public key(s)
  • Checksums for verification
Example descriptor:
wpkh([d34db33f/84h/0h/0h]xpub6ERa...RggN6/0/*)#checksum
Descriptors are more powerful than just addresses because they describe your entire wallet structure. SatSigner fully supports descriptor import/export.Learn more in the Glossary.
Single-signature wallet:
  • One private key controls the funds
  • Faster to set up and use
  • You have complete control (and responsibility)
  • Suitable for most personal use cases
Multi-signature wallet (multisig):
  • Requires M-of-N keys to spend (e.g., 2-of-3)
  • Enhanced security through key distribution
  • Useful for shared funds or corporate treasuries
  • Protects against single point of failure
  • Requires coordination between cosigners
SatSigner supports both types. See Multi-signature Wallets for setup instructions.

Wallet Usage

To receive Bitcoin:
  1. Open your wallet in SatSigner
  2. Tap the Receive button
  3. Share your address via:
    • QR code (sender can scan)
    • Copy address to clipboard
    • NFC (tap to share)
Best practices:
  • Verify the address on screen matches what you share
  • Use a new address for each transaction (privacy)
  • Add labels to track incoming payments
  • Consider using BIP329 labels for better organization
To send Bitcoin:
  1. Tap Send in your wallet
  2. Enter recipient address (scan QR or paste)
  3. Enter amount in sats
  4. Select UTXOs to spend (or use automatic selection)
  5. Set fee rate (view mempool suggestions)
  6. Review transaction details
  7. Enter PIN to confirm and broadcast
SatSigner gives you full control over:
  • Which UTXOs to spend
  • Fee rate (sat/vByte)
  • Change address
  • RBF (Replace-By-Fee) settings
Yes! You can use the same wallet on multiple devices by:Method 1: Import mnemonic
  • Import your 12/24-word seed phrase on the new device
  • Your wallet will be fully restored
Method 2: Import descriptor
  • Export your wallet descriptor from the first device
  • Import it on the second device
  • Creates a watch-only wallet if you don’t import keys
Method 3: Nostr sync
  • Enable Nostr label synchronization
  • Labels and transaction metadata sync across devices
  • Keys remain separate (more secure)
See Nostr Sync for label synchronization.
SatSigner supports three Bitcoin networks:
  • Mainnet: The real Bitcoin network with real value
  • Testnet: Test network with test coins (no value)
  • Signet: Another test network with more controlled block production
You can switch between networks in Settings. Testnet and Signet are useful for:
  • Learning how Bitcoin works without risk
  • Testing new features
  • Development and debugging
  • Practicing multisig setups
Bitcoin transaction fees are paid to miners to include your transaction in a block. Higher fees = faster confirmation.SatSigner provides:
  • Real-time fee estimates from mempool data
  • Manual fee control (set custom sat/vByte rate)
  • Fee rate history charts to see trends
  • RBF (Replace-By-Fee) to bump fees if needed
Fee formula: Fee = Transaction Size (vBytes) × Fee Rate (sat/vByte)Transaction size depends on:
  • Number of inputs (UTXOs spent)
  • Number of outputs (recipients + change)
  • Script type (SegWit transactions are smaller)
Tip: Consolidate UTXOs when fees are low to save on future transactions.

Advanced Features

SatSigner can connect to LND (Lightning Network Daemon) nodes via REST API, allowing you to:
  • View Lightning channel balances
  • Create Lightning invoices
  • Pay Lightning invoices
  • Manage Lightning channels
  • Move funds between on-chain and Lightning
Lightning Network enables instant, low-fee Bitcoin payments. See Lightning Integration for setup.
eCash (Cashu protocol) provides privacy-enhanced digital cash backed by Bitcoin:
  • Privacy: Transactions are unlinkable
  • Instant: No confirmation times
  • Portable: Send via text, QR, or NFC
  • Custodial: Mints hold the Bitcoin backing
SatSigner’s eCash features:
  • Connect to Cashu mints
  • Receive and send eCash tokens
  • Manage multiple mints
  • Redeem tokens for Bitcoin
Use cases: small payments, tipping, privacy-focused transactions.Learn more in eCash Integration.
SatSigner can sync wallet labels (for transactions, addresses, UTXOs) across devices using Nostr protocol:How it works:
  1. Labels are encrypted and stored as Nostr events
  2. Events are sent to Nostr relays
  3. Other devices fetch and decrypt labels
  4. Labels stay synchronized across devices
Benefits:
  • Decentralized (no central server)
  • Encrypted (only your devices can read)
  • Automatic synchronization
  • Works across different wallet apps (BIP329 standard)
See Nostr Sync for setup instructions.
Yes! SatSigner supports BIP329 label export in multiple formats:
  • JSON: Structured format with all label data
  • JSONL: JSON Lines (one label per line)
  • CSV: Spreadsheet-compatible format
Labels include:
  • Transaction labels and notes
  • Address labels
  • UTXO labels
  • Input and output labels
Export from: SettingsLabelsExport LabelsYou can import these labels into other BIP329-compatible wallets like Sparrow.

Troubleshooting

Unfortunately, if you forget your PIN, you cannot decrypt the data stored in SatSigner on that device.Recovery options:
  1. If you have your mnemonic seed phrase: Reinstall SatSigner and import your seed
  2. If you have your descriptor backup: Import descriptor (may be watch-only without xprv)
  3. If you have xprv backup: Import extended private key
This is why backing up your recovery information is critical.See Backup & Recovery for best practices.
If your transaction hasn’t confirmed:
  1. Check if it’s in the mempool: Use SatSigner’s blockchain explorer
  2. Check the fee rate: Compare to current mempool rates
  3. Wait: Low-fee transactions may take hours or days
  4. Use RBF: If enabled, create a replacement transaction with higher fee
  5. CPFP: If RBF not enabled, use Child-Pays-For-Parent (spend the unconfirmed output with high fee)
Most “stuck” transactions eventually confirm or drop from the mempool after 2 weeks.See Transaction Troubleshooting for more help.
If you need help or found a bug:When reporting bugs, include:
  • Device type and OS version
  • SatSigner version
  • Steps to reproduce
  • Screenshots if applicable (blur sensitive info!)

Contributing

SatSigner welcomes contributions! You can help by:
  • Code: Submit pull requests for bug fixes or new features
  • Documentation: Improve docs, add examples, fix typos
  • Testing: Test new releases, report bugs
  • Translation: Help translate SatSigner to other languages
  • Design: Contribute UI/UX improvements
  • Education: Create tutorials, videos, guides
See the Contributing Guide to get started.
SatSigner is built with:Backend:
  • Bitcoin Development Kit (BDK) via RN-BDK
  • Blockstream Electrs for backend
  • Photon SDK for Bitcoin dev tools
Frontend:
  • React Native for mobile apps
  • TypeScript for type safety
  • React bubble charts for UTXO visualization
  • React D3 for transaction flow diagrams
Development:
  • Storybook for component development
  • Comprehensive testing suite
  • Open source dependencies only
Learn more in Architecture.
Didn’t find your answer? Check the Troubleshooting guide or visit the GitHub repository to ask questions.