Electrum Wallet Review (2025)

Editorial Note: While we adhere to strict Editorial Integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for How We Make Money. None of the data and information on this webpage constitutes investment advice according to our Disclaimer.

Electrum Wallet is one of the oldest and most trusted Bitcoin wallets. Launched in 2011, Electrum continues to be favored by advanced users who want full control over their private keys and feel more comfortable using desktop apps instead of mobile wallets. As of 2025, Electrum is still exclusively a Bitcoin wallet, which works well for people who mostly deal with BTC transactions and need advanced features like hardware wallet integration, cold storage, and customizable transaction fees.

In this Electrum Wallet review, we’ll explore key aspects like how secure it is, what coins it supports, what it costs, and how it performs in real situations. We’ll also compare Electrum to other popular wallets like ZenGo, MetaMask, and Trust Wallet to see if it still meets expectations in today’s diverse crypto ecosystem.

Risk warning: Cryptocurrency markets are highly volatile, with sharp price swings and regulatory uncertainties. Research indicates that 75-90% of traders face losses. Only invest discretionary funds and consult an experienced financial advisor.

What is an Electrum wallet?

Electrum wallet

Electrum Wallet is a lightweight, open-source Bitcoin wallet designed for speed and reliability. It’s a non-custodial wallet, which means users maintain complete control over their funds and private keys. Electrum works on desktop platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux) and Android devices, making it popular among users seeking more flexibility and autonomy than most mobile-first wallets provide.

Created by Thomas Voegtlin and continuously enhanced by a community of developers, Electrum is well-regarded in the crypto space for its focus on privacy, compatibility with cold storage, and Bitcoin-specific functionalities such as SegWit and multi-signature wallet setup.

Electrum wallet security: Is it safe?

Electrum Wallet is considered one of the most secure Bitcoin wallets, especially for experienced users who are confident in managing their own private keys and working with tools such as hardware wallets or offline setups. While it doesn’t rely on newer MPC technologies, Electrum uses traditional seed phrases and stores encrypted private keys on the user's device.

Key security features

Deterministic wallet with seed phrase. Electrum generates a 12-word seed phrase during setup, which is encrypted and stored on the user’s device. It is the user's responsibility to keep this backup safe.
Full user control. Users have full authority over their private keys and funds. No third-party service retains sensitive user information.
Custom transaction verification. Electrum connects to independent Bitcoin servers, enabling users to verify their own transactions without depending on centralized APIs.
Two-factor authentication (2FA). Electrum can be configured to use TrustedCoin’s 2FA service, which requires both a password and a second verification step to authorize transactions.
Cold storage support. Electrum enables the creation of cold wallets where private keys are never exposed to online risks. This feature is ideal for long-term Bitcoin investors.
Hardware wallet integration. Electrum works with popular hardware wallets such as Trezor, Ledger, and KeepKey, providing secure offline key storage through Electrum’s interface.
Open-source code. The wallet’s open-source structure promotes transparency, peer review, and frequent security improvements.

Since its inception, Electrum has experienced some phishing-related issues (mainly from users downloading counterfeit versions), but the official wallet has maintained a strong security record when obtained from verified sources.

Supported coins and tokens

Supported coins and tokens of Electrum wallet

Electrum is a lightweight, fast, and secure Bitcoin wallet. While many expect it to support multiple coins, it's laser-focused. As of 2025, Electrum officially supports only a few coins via official or community forks, not natively. This section breaks down what Electrum supports and what it doesn't, with key timelines.

Supported

Bitcoin only, officially. Electrum has natively supported Bitcoin since its launch in 2011 and continues to be one of the most reliable wallets for BTC transactions.
Litecoin via forked Electrum-LTC. Since around 2016, a separate version called Electrum-LTC has allowed Litecoin users to enjoy similar functionality, but it's not the main Electrum build.
Bitcoin Cash via Electron Cash. After the BTC-BCH split in 2017, a fork called Electron Cash was developed specifically for Bitcoin Cash users, based on Electrum’s codebase.
Dash with Electrum-Dash. Dash users can use Electrum-Dash, a fork released in 2018, supporting InstantSend and PrivateSend features specific to Dash.

Not supported

Ethereum and ERC-20 tokens. Electrum doesn’t support Ethereum, ETH-based tokens, or smart contracts at all, because its infrastructure isn’t built for EVM chains.
Multi-coin storage. It’s not designed to hold multiple types of coins like Exodus or Trust Wallet; it’s single-coin focused with community forks for alternatives.
NFTs and DeFi assets. Electrum has no support for NFTs or anything tied to DeFi platforms, as its focus is on security and simplicity, not emerging trends.

Pricing and fees

Electrum is a lightweight Bitcoin wallet known for its speed and security. It's free to use, but its true power lies in how it handles transaction fees. Unlike other wallets, Electrum gives you full control over how much you pay in fees, which can drastically change your experience depending on when and how you use it.

Electrum is free to download. There’s no charge to install or create a wallet, whether you're on Windows, Linux, or Android. It’s open-source, so there are no hidden costs either.
Dynamic fee slider saves money. Electrum introduced the fee slider years ago, letting users adjust fees based on network congestion. This feature helps you avoid overpaying when the network is quiet.
Manual fee setting gives full control. Advanced users can manually set sat/byte rates. This is ideal during off-peak hours, sometimes reducing costs by over 70% compared to auto settings.
Replace-by-fee (RBF) allows smart fee fixes. If your transaction is stuck, Electrum’s RBF feature (added around 2016) lets you resend it with a higher fee without starting over.
Batch sending cuts fee costs. Since 2017, Electrum supports sending BTC to multiple addresses in one go. This technique drastically reduces per-recipient cost.
Watch out for legacy address fees. If you use older legacy addresses (starting with “1”), they generate larger, more expensive transactions. Switching to SegWit (addresses starting with “bc1”) saves on fees.

User interface & experience

User interface & experience of Electrum wallet

Electrum Wallet is designed more for intermediate and advanced users. While its interface is less intuitive than ZenGo or MetaMask, it gives advanced users lots of control through settings that can be fine-tuned with experience.

Highlights

Desktop-first experience. Ideal for users who prefer managing assets on a laptop or PC.
Multi-signature wallets. Users can create multi-sig setups for enhanced security.
Watch-only wallets. Monitor balances and transactions without exposing private keys.
Detailed transaction logs. Clear details at each stage of the transaction.
Lightning Network support. Available for users who want faster, lower-cost BTC transfers.

What might turn off newcomers is the lack of built-in guidance. There’s no facial recognition or cloud backups, so you’ll need to store your seed phrase carefully and understand how Bitcoin transactions work.

Use Electrum’s seed control and offline setup for unmatched Bitcoin security

Most people don’t realize that Electrum gives you full control over your wallet’s seed phrase. You’re not stuck with whatever the app generates, you can use your own input or even an offline tool to craft it yourself. This means your recovery phrase isn’t just random, it’s something you fully understand and trust. That kind of control can help you avoid fake wallet traps or phishing links trying to steal your keys.

Here’s something even cooler: you don’t need to be online to use Electrum safely. You can run it from a USB drive on a computer that never connects to the internet, sign your transactions there, and then use a separate device to send them. That keeps your private keys completely off the grid. For anyone starting out, this setup sounds complicated, but once it’s done, you’re almost invisible to common crypto threats.

Conclusion

As of 2025, Electrum remains one of the most powerful and trustworthy Bitcoin wallets available, particularly for advanced users who want total control, zero custodial risk, and strong security with hardware wallet support. Its commitment to being a Bitcoin-only wallet ensures the app stays lean and secure, with no unnecessary bloat or distractions.

While it may not suit users looking to manage Ethereum, stablecoins, or NFTs, Electrum excels in what it’s built for, Bitcoin storage, privacy, and customization. If you're serious about Bitcoin and want full control over your transactions, Electrum Wallet is still one of the best choices in the crypto space.

FAQs

Can I recover my Electrum wallet without the original device?

Yes, as long as you’ve saved your 12-word seed phrase safely. You can restore your wallet on any compatible device by entering the phrase during setup. Just make sure you're using the official Electrum app to avoid phishing risks.

Does Electrum support Lightning Network payments out of the box?

Not by default. You'll need to set up a separate Lightning wallet inside Electrum manually. It requires a bit of technical effort, but once enabled, it can significantly lower BTC transaction fees.

Is there a browser extension version of Electrum?

No, Electrum doesn’t offer a browser extension like MetaMask. It’s intentionally desktop-focused to maintain higher security and control over private keys.

Can I use Electrum for anonymous Bitcoin transactions?

Electrum doesn’t hide your identity by default, but it does support privacy tools like coin control and connecting via Tor. With some configuration, you can enhance your anonymity, but it’s not plug-and-play.

Team that worked on the article

Oleg Tkachenko is an economic analyst and risk manager having more than 14 years of experience in working with systemically important banks, investment companies, and analytical platforms. He has been a Traders Union analyst since 2018. His primary specialties are analysis and prediction of price tendencies in the Forex, stock, commodity, and cryptocurrency markets, as well as the development of trading strategies and individual risk management systems. He also analyzes nonstandard investing markets and studies trading psychology.

Also, Oleg became a member of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (membership card No. 4575, international certificate UKR4494).

Learn about our editorial policies

Chinmay Soni is a financial analyst with more than 5 years of experience in working with stocks, Forex, derivatives, and other assets. As a founder of a boutique research firm and an active researcher, he covers various industries and fields, providing insights backed by statistical data. He is also an educator in the field of finance and technology.

As an author for Traders Union, he contributes his deep analytical insights on various topics, taking into account various aspects.

Mirjan Hipolito is a journalist and news editor at Traders Union. She is an expert crypto writer with five years of experience in the financial markets. Her specialties are daily market news, price predictions, and Initial Coin Offerings (ICO).

Risk Management

Risk management is a risk management model that involves controlling potential losses while maximizing profits. The main risk management tools are stop loss, take profit, calculation of position volume taking into account leverage and pip value.

Ethereum

Ethereum is a decentralized blockchain platform and cryptocurrency that was proposed by Vitalik Buterin in late 2013 and development began in early 2014. It was designed as a versatile platform for creating decentralized applications (DApps) and smart contracts.

Investor

An investor is an individual, who invests money in an asset with the expectation that its value would appreciate in the future. The asset can be anything, including a bond, debenture, mutual fund, equity, gold, silver, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and real-estate property.

Leverage

Forex leverage is a tool enabling traders to control larger positions with a relatively small amount of capital, amplifying potential profits and losses based on the chosen leverage ratio.

Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency is a type of digital or virtual currency that relies on cryptography for security. Unlike traditional currencies issued by governments (fiat currencies), cryptocurrencies operate on decentralized networks, typically based on blockchain technology.