Self-custody · April 2026
The short answer: in a non-custodial wallet you control. The longer answer is below — Sia Wallet for desktop hot storage, Ledger for long-term cold storage, and what to avoid.
Siacoin is a self-sovereign asset. The whole point of holding SC outside the exchange you bought it from is that nobody — not the Sia Foundation, not Sia Wallet, not Ledger, not us — can access your funds without your seed phrase. That property is only true if you store your coins in a non-custodial wallet where the keys live on your device.
Custodial storage (exchanges, brokerage accounts, lending platforms) is the opposite trade-off: convenience now, dependence forever. Exchanges have frozen withdrawals, been hacked, and gone bankrupt. If your Siacoin matters to you for more than a few days of trading, it should not live on an exchange.
For coins you transact with regularly. Sia Wallet generates and stores your 12-word BIP39 seed locally on your computer. Non-custodial, open source, native on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Install in 60 seconds.
Download Sia Wallet →For long-term holdings. Ledger Nano S or Nano X stores keys on a tamper-resistant secure element. Sia Wallet talks to Ledger natively — sign on-device, no browser flags. The keys never touch your computer.
Hardware wallet support →Sia Wallet supports multi-signature wallets up to 11-of-15. For organisations, DAOs, or family treasuries that should not depend on a single key holder. Built on the standard Sia consensus rules.
Advanced security →ProseBlock
Avoid leaving Siacoin on exchanges (Binance, Kraken, MEXC, Gate.io, etc.) for any longer than your active trading window. Exchanges are custodial — you have an IOU, not the coins. The 2022 collapses (FTX, Celsius, BlockFi) and the OKX SG Siacoin delisting in September 2025 are recent reminders that exchange custody is a temporary arrangement.
Avoid wallets with no public source code unless you have a specific reason. The whole security model of self-custody depends on being able to verify that the wallet doesn't quietly send your seed to a server. Open source is the floor — Sia Wallet, walletd, and SiaCentral all publish their code; Atomic Wallet does not.
Never store your seed phrase in a screenshot, photo, cloud-synced note, password manager, or email. Cameras, screenshots, and cloud backups are how seeds leak. Pen and paper, in two physically separate locations. For larger amounts, a steel seed-backup plate that survives fire and water.
Get Sia Wallet v2.12.0 from siawallet.tech/download for Windows, macOS, or Linux. Verify the file before opening — checksums on the download page.
Run Sia Wallet, choose 'Create new wallet,' and the app generates a 12-word BIP39 seed phrase locally. Nothing is sent to a server.
Write the 12 words on paper, in order, twice. Store the two copies in physically separate locations (e.g., home safe + safe-deposit box). Never digitise the seed.
Generate a receive address in Sia Wallet, copy it, and send a small test amount first. Once confirmed, withdraw the rest.
For long-term holdings, install the Sia app on a Ledger Nano S or X and create a hardware-backed wallet in Sia Wallet. Move funds from the hot wallet to the Ledger-backed address.
In a non-custodial wallet you control. Sia Wallet is the official desktop wallet for Windows, macOS, and Linux — your seed and keys are generated and stored locally. For long-term storage, pair Sia Wallet with a Ledger Nano S or X.
Yes. Ledger Nano S and Nano X support Siacoin via the Sia app on Ledger Live. Sia Wallet integrates with Ledger natively — sign on-device over USB or Bluetooth, no experimental browser flags.
Only for active trading. Exchanges are custodial — they hold your keys, can freeze accounts, and have been hacked or shut down. For coins you don't plan to trade soon, withdraw to a non-custodial wallet.
A Ledger hardware wallet paired with Sia Wallet, with the 24-word Ledger recovery phrase written on paper and stored in two physically separate locations. Never photograph or digitise the seed.
No. Your Siacoin lives on the Sia blockchain, not in any wallet app. Your 12-word BIP39 seed phrase derives the same addresses in any compatible wallet (walletd, SiaCentral, etc.). Sia Wallet disappearing tomorrow has no effect on your funds — you import the seed elsewhere.
Install Sia Wallet v2.12.0 — non-custodial, open source, install in 60 seconds.
Sia Wallet