Sia WalletFeature · default behaviour in v2.12.0
Sia Wallet in 60 seconds.
A full Siacoin node means 256 GB of disk and days of syncing. Sia Wallet starts in lite mode by default — keys generated locally, balance queries over TLS, first send ready in under a minute.
- Keys generated locally on your machine
- Balance queries over authenticated TLS
- Full-node mode a single toggle away
What days of syncing cost
The classic Siacoin wallet setup asks you to download and validate the entire Sia blockchain — currently about 256 GB of data — before you can send a transaction. On a consumer laptop, that takes most of a weekend. Your fan never stops. Your disk fills up. And until it finishes, your wallet shows a synchronisation bar, not a balance.
For power users running hosts, miners, or independent full nodes, that cost is worth paying. For someone who just wants to hold or transact Siacoin, it's the reason the wallet never got opened a second time.
How lite mode works
Feature
On first run, Sia Wallet generates your 12-word BIP39 seed locally, derives your addresses, and connects to a pool of verified Sia consensus nodes over authenticated TLS for balance and transaction data.
Advantage
You don't download the blockchain. You don't pin 256 GB of your disk. You don't wait for initial block download. The wallet is functional in under 60 seconds from first launch.
Benefit
Non-custodial self-custody without the overhead. Your keys never leave your machine — only public address data is queried. Full-node mode is still there if you want it.
First run — step by step
- 1
Install (15 seconds)
Run the installer for your OS. No internet connection needed yet. The binary is small — approximately MB — and contains no blockchain data.
- 2
Pick language and create wallet (10 seconds)
First-run wizard asks for your language preference and whether you want to create a new wallet, restore from a 12-word seed, or migrate a legacy Sia-UI seed. Pick 'Create new'.
- 3
Back up your seed (25 seconds, plus your writing speed)
Sia Wallet generates a 12-word BIP39 seed. Write it down on paper. The wallet asks you to confirm three randomly-selected words back before continuing. The seed is never saved to your clipboard or shown a second time.
- 4
Set a password and you're live (10 seconds)
Pick a password — this encrypts the wallet file on your disk. The wallet connects to the consensus node pool, syncs your (empty) balance, and displays your first receiving address. You're ready to receive Siacoin.
Instant setup — questions
Is lite mode still non-custodial?
Yes. Your 12-word seed and all private key operations (transaction signing, seed derivation) happen on your device. Sia Wallet only queries public blockchain data keyed by your addresses — balance and transaction history. The consensus node pool cannot move your coins, see your seed, or learn your password. Non-custodial is about who holds the keys, not about whether you run a full node.
Which consensus nodes does lite mode query?
A pinned list of verified Sia consensus endpoints — a mix of Sia Foundation-operated nodes and reputable community-run nodes. The list is audited in the public repository and can be extended or overridden in Advanced Settings. All queries go over authenticated TLS. If every node in the pool is unreachable, the wallet falls back to full-node mode prompts.
Can I switch to full-node mode later?
Yes. Advanced Settings → Sync Mode → Full Node. The wallet begins downloading and validating the Sia blockchain in the background — about 256 GB and several hours on typical consumer hardware. Your balance and addresses remain available in lite mode while the full node syncs. When full-node sync completes, the wallet switches over automatically.
How big is the Sia Wallet download?
The installer itself is approximately MB. Lite-mode disk usage after a week of normal use is typically under 100 MB (mostly the encrypted wallet file and transaction history cache). Full-node mode adds the Sia blockchain on top — currently about 256 GB.
Does lite mode work offline?
Creating a wallet and backing up a seed can run offline. Seeing your balance, receiving transactions, and sending Siacoin require a connection — the wallet has to query the network to know your balance and broadcast your transactions. If your internet drops, Sia Wallet shows your last-known balance until reconnection.
Install Sia Wallet v2.12.0
Lite-mode default. Two-minute setup. Pick your OS on the download page.