Ashigaru Open Source Wallet

Description

Ashigaru Wallet is a Bitcoin mobile wallet built from the Samourai Wallet’s code by the Ashigaru Open Source Project. It focuses heavily on privacy, security, and decentralization.

How Ashigaru Works

To maintain user privacy, downloading the Ashigaru Wallet requires using the Tor mobile or desktop browser. The mobile app works on Android devices running version 8 or higher, but it’s best to use the latest Android version for optimal security.

The wallet requires you to configure and connect your own Bitcoin nodes to decentralize wallet’s usage and minimize attack vectors. Unlike mainstream open source projects that host code on platforms like GitHub, Ashigaru’s code is stored on Tor servers, protecting the project from takedowns through court orders or centralized actions. The project does not maintain a social media presence. For communication, you must contact the team via encrypted email.

Currently, the wallet supports Legacy (P2PKH), Nested Segwit (P2SH), and Native Segwit (P2WPKH) address formats.

Ashigaru Features

We find Ashigaru Wallet to be one of the feature-rich Bitcoin wallets. Its features are extremely useful for privacy, security, and fee optimization.

Taproot

Ashigaru supports Taproot for sending only. Taproot enhances privacy by allowing multiple transaction types to appear identical on the blockchain. This makes complex transactions like multi-signature setups look the same as simple ones, reducing the data leaked to observers.

Coin Control

Coin Control lets you manually select which UTXOs (unspent transaction outputs) to spend in a transaction. This gives you greater control over both privacy and fee management. By carefully choosing which coins to use, you can avoid linking unrelated transactions, minimize the information you reveal on the blockchain, and optimize transaction fees by selecting smaller or lower-priority UTXOs when necessary. This feature is especially useful if you value financial sovereignty and want to fine-tune your Bitcoin transactions.

Replace by Fee (RBF)

Ashigaru Wallet supports Replace by Fee (RBF), a feature that allows you to replace an unconfirmed transaction with a new one that carries a higher fee. This can be particularly useful when network congestion causes delays, as it gives you the flexibility to speed up the processing of your transaction without having to wait for the initial one to either confirm or time out. RBF ensures you’re not stuck waiting if fee estimates change or if you initially set a lower priority for your transaction. It’s a powerful tool for those who want greater control over their Bitcoin transactions, especially in dynamic network conditions.

Fee Control and Child-pays-for-parent (CPFP)

Ashigaru Wallet provides fee control, allowing you to manually set transaction fees based on your priority and the current state of the Bitcoin network. This is particularly useful, whether you prefer lower fees and are willing to wait longer for confirmation or need your transaction processed quickly during periods of high network activity.

Additionally, Ashigaru supports Child-pays-for-parent (CPFP), a technique that can help speed up stuck transactions. If a transaction is taking too long due to a low fee, you can create a new “child” transaction that spends the unconfirmed “parent” transaction’s output and attaches a higher fee. Miners are incentivized to confirm both transactions together to collect the combined fees.

Ricochet

Ashigaru Wallet supports Ricochet, a feature designed to enhance privacy and reduce the risk of unjust transaction flagging when sending Bitcoin to certain services or exchanges. Ricochet works by adding extra “hops” or intermediary transactions between you and the final recipient, creating a longer transaction chain. This can help break the direct link between your wallet and the destination address, making it harder for surveillance tools or risk-scoring algorithms to associate your funds with potentially flagged addresses.

PayNyms

Ashigaru supports PayNyms, which utilize BIP47 reusable payment codes. This allows users to send and receive funds privately with a static address, as long as both parties have a wallet that supports this standard. By entering a PayNym or scanning its QR code, users can establish a private connection after a small on-chain transaction. Once connected, they can transact back and forth without needing to request fresh addresses each time, ensuring balances and transaction histories remain hidden. Additionally, claiming a PayNym provides you with a unique avatar, adding a personal touch to your privacy-focused transactions.

Transaction Alerts

Ashigaru offers alerts during transaction review to help users avoid privacy mistakes. Key alerts include:

• Reused Sending Address: Warns if an address has been used before, potentially exposing transaction history.
• Address Seen on Blockchain: Alerts if the destination address has been previously identified.
• Unnecessary Inputs: Points out when inputs could have been avoided, which can reduce privacy.
• Rounded Sending Amount Heuristic: Highlights when transaction amounts appear artificially rounded, making them easier to trace.
• Script Type Heuristic: Notifies when scripts follow patterns that may reveal wallet types or usage.
• Spending Dust Outputs: Alerts users if they are spending small “dust” amounts that can be linked to previous transactions.
• Consolidation Heuristic: Warns when consolidating UTXOs, which could degrade privacy.

CoinJoin Support

Ashigaru supports peer-to-peer CoinJoin transactions. There are no service fees for these, only the miner fee, which can be shared between sender and collaborator. There are two ways you can enhance the privacy of your transactions:

Stowaway

A Stowaway is a form of PayJoin that obscures transaction amounts on-chain. It involves two users combining inputs in a way that makes the transaction appear as a typical Bitcoin transfer while masking the amount.

STONEWALLx2

This feature enhances privacy by creating transactions that look identical to regular ones but involve two users contributing inputs. It produces four outputs: a spend, a decoy, and two change outputs, making it difficult for outsiders to interpret.

Onion Routing

Ashigaru Wallet supports Onion Routing, allowing you to connect your Dojo node and broadcast your transactions over the Tor network. This feature enhances your privacy by masking your IP address, ensuring that your Bitcoin transactions remain anonymous and difficult to trace. By using the Tor network, your connection is routed through multiple nodes, adding layers of encryption and obfuscating your internet traffic. This is especially valuable for privacy-conscious users who want to prevent third parties from monitoring their network activity.

Message Signing

Message signing allows you to cryptographically sign a message with your private key to prove ownership of a specific Bitcoin address without revealing your private key. This is useful for verifying identities, providing proof of funds, or authenticating communications. For example, you might sign a message to confirm your participation in a Bitcoin-related forum, prove that you control a certain address during an escrow service agreement, or authenticate a communication with a counterpart in a business deal.

Ashigaru Fees

Ashigaru offers several features to help manage transaction fees effectively. It supports batch spending, allowing you to save on fees by composing a single transaction to multiple recipients. Its smart mining fee algorithm determines optimal rates by analyzing unconfirmed transactions in the mempool and estimating fees for the next block. Additionally, Ashigaru supports SegWit, which reduces transaction fees, and provides coin control to help minimize costs. The Replace-By-Fee (RBF) feature and manual fee control give you greater flexibility in adjusting transaction fees to suit your needs.

Is Ashigaru Wallet Safe?

Yes, Ashigaru is non-custodial and open-source. It offers a PIN lock for added security, though it lacks duress PIN support. Additional safety features include:

• Countdown to Reset PIN: Adds a delay after multiple incorrect attempts.
• No Decoy Wallet or Fingerprint Lock: Security relies solely on PIN.
• Backup/Recovery: Uses BIP39 seed phrases to back up and restore wallets.
• Supports Bitcoin Testnet: Allows users to test transactions safely without using real funds.
• Dynamic Keypad: Randomizes the number positions on the PIN pad to prevent surveillance from detecting the PIN.
• Passphrase Support: Adds an extra layer of protection by requiring a secret phrase alongside the PIN.
• Stealth Mode: Hides the wallet app from the launcher and home screen. To access it, users must dial a secret code.

Ashigaru Wallet also takes privacy seriously with the support of Onion Routing, allowing you to connect your Dojo node and broadcast transactions over the Tor network. Tor adds an extra layer of security by anonymizing your IP address. To ensure complete privacy, you can only access the wallet via a Tor browser.

However, it lacks a decoy PIN feature, meaning there is no option to reveal a separate wallet under duress. Additionally, it does not offer a fingerprint lock, relying solely on the PIN for security. As a hot wallet, it is not as secure as a hardware wallet, particularly when storing large amounts. Morever, it lacks support for Silent Payments.

Ashigaru Wallet: Quick Feature Overview

Here’s a quick overview of Ashigaru Wallet’s key features:

Is Ashigaru a Good Choice for a Wallet?

Ashigaru is a Bitcoin-only wallet, staying true to the core ethos of Bitcoin maximalists. It is a great option for users are comfortable navigating advanced tools like Tor and PGP. Its advanced features for privacy, security, and fee management, offer more control than many other Bitcoin wallets. Whether it’s using Coin Control for privacy, Ricochet for transaction obfuscation, or customizing fees through Replace by Fee (RBF), Ashigaru provides a robust suite of tools to help you manage your Bitcoin experience securely.

However, it may not suit beginners due to its technical setup requirements. For example, contacting support involves encrypting emails with a public key and importing signed keys from Proton Certificate Authority. You also cannot download and install it from the Google Play Store.

The lack of Lightning Network support and fiat denomination display might be a drawback for some.

Other limitations include:

• No Multiple Wallet Support: You can’t create separate wallets for different purposes (e.g., savings vs. spending).
• No Multisig Support: Lacks support for multi-signature wallets.
• Android-Only: Not available for iOS or desktop.

In summary, Ashigaru is a robust privacy tool for Bitcoin users who prioritize self-sovereignty and don’t mind a steeper learning curve. While its newness (launched in 2024) means it has less history compared to other wallets, its strong foundations and Samourai’s legacy make it a compelling choice for experienced Bitcoiners.