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name: bitcoin-infrastructure-electrum-wallet description: | Electrum Wallet: classic Python desktop wallet. Lightweight, runs on most platforms, plugin ecosystem, hardware wallet support. USE WHEN: evaluating mature Bitcoin wallet, integrating Electrum protocol clients. allowed-tools: Read, Grep, Glob

Electrum Wallet

The classic Bitcoin desktop wallet (since 2011). Python, lightweight, mature.

Repo: github.com/spesmilo/electrum.

Features

• Multi-platform: Linux, macOS, Windows, Android.
• Light-client by default (Electrum protocol → ElectrumX, electrs, or Fulcrum servers).
• Hardware wallet support: Trezor, Ledger, Coldcard, KeepKey, BitBox.
• Multisig support.
• Lightning (in newer versions, optional).
• Plugin system.
• 2FA via TrustedCoin (custodial 2-of-3 multisig service).

Server choice

By default connects to public ElectrumX servers. For privacy:

• Run your own electrs / Fulcrum.
• Configure Electrum to connect: Tools → Network → Server.

Compared

Aspect	Electrum	Sparrow	Specter
Maturity	Oldest (2011+)	Newer (2020+)	2018+
Lightning	optional	partial	yes
Detailed PSBT	basic	best	rich
Multi-sig	yes	yes	yes
HW support	partial	best	rich
Mobile	yes (Android)	no	no

Use cases

• Long-time users familiar with Electrum.
• Mobile (Android) — one of few options.
• Mature stable wallet for daily use.

Common issues

• Default public Electrum servers reveal your address history → use Tor or self-hosted server.
• Plugin compatibility: some plugins outdated.
• Lightning is experimental in Electrum compared to LND/CLN.

See also

• sparrow/SKILL.md
• electrs/SKILL.md
• bluewallet/SKILL.md