Feather Wallet, Cake Wallet, or Monero GUI. From download to receiving your first XMR in 5 minutes. Written for P2P traders who need a wallet that actually works.
| Wallet | Platform | Best For | Tor | Coin Control |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feather Wallet | Windows, macOS, Linux | P2P traders, power users | Built-in | Yes |
| Cake Wallet | iOS, Android | Mobile, beginners | Optional | No |
| Monero GUI | Windows, macOS, Linux | Full node operators | Manual | No |
Recommendation: If you're doing P2P trading, use Feather Wallet. It has built-in Tor, coin control (choose which outputs to spend), subaddress management, and is the most privacy-focused option. For quick trades on the go, Cake Wallet on your phone.
For a detailed feature comparison: Best Monero Wallets 2026 →
1 Download from featherwallet.org
Choose your OS (Windows/macOS/Linux/AppImage). The download is ~30 MB. Always verify the hash — compare the SHA256 of your download with the one on the website. This prevents tampered downloads.
2 Create a new wallet
Open Feather. Select Create new wallet. Choose a name and save location. The wallet generates your 25-word seed phrase (mnemonic).
3 Write down your seed phrase
This is the most important step. Write all 25 words on paper, in order. Double-check every word. Store the paper in a secure place (safe, lockbox, separate location from your computer).
Your seed phrase IS your money. Anyone who has these 25 words can access your Monero from any device, at any time, forever. Never: screenshot it, email it, save it in a text file, store it in a password manager, or tell it to anyone. If you lose both your device AND your seed phrase, your Monero is gone permanently.
4 Set a wallet password
Choose a strong password. This encrypts the wallet file on your disk. Even if someone steals your computer, they can't open the wallet without this password. Your seed phrase is still the ultimate backup.
5 Wait for sync
Feather connects to a remote node by default. Syncing a new wallet takes 1–5 minutes. The status bar shows progress. Once synced, your balance appears (0.000000000000 XMR for a new wallet).
For maximum privacy, switch to your own node: Settings → Node → Add custom node. Run your own node guide →
6 Get your receiving address
Click the Receive tab. Your primary address starts with 4 (95 characters). Click Create new subaddress for each trade — this prevents linking transactions to each other.
Share this address with the person sending you Monero. They paste it in their wallet and send. You'll see the incoming transaction within 2 minutes (1 confirmation).
1 Download from your app store
iOS App Store or Google Play. Also on F-Droid. Free, open-source.
2 Create wallet → Select Monero
Cake Wallet supports multiple currencies. Select Monero (XMR) as your wallet type. Tap Create.
3 Back up seed phrase
Same as desktop: write 25 words on paper. Tap "I've written it down" only when you actually have. Cake Wallet may ask you to verify by selecting words in order.
4 Set PIN / biometrics
Set a 4–6 digit PIN or enable Face ID / fingerprint. This protects the app on your phone.
5 Sync and receive
Cake Wallet syncs automatically via a remote node. Tap Receive to see your address and QR code. Share the address or show the QR to receive XMR.
The official wallet from the Monero project. Downloads the full blockchain (~130 GB). Best for running your own node. Not recommended as your first wallet due to the large download and slow initial sync.
After initial sync, the GUI wallet is solid. It's the reference implementation and supports all features. For a full node setup with Tor and systemd: Monero Node Guide →
Monero has a unique feature: subaddresses. Each wallet can generate unlimited subaddresses, all controlled by the same seed phrase. Each subaddress is cryptographically unlinkable to the others.
In Feather: Receive tab → "Create new subaddress" → add label → copy address.
In Cake Wallet: Receive → tap the address → "New subaddress" → label it.
Paper in a safe. Metal plate for fire/water resistance. Never digital. Consider splitting across 2 locations (13 + 12 words) for extreme security.
Always check SHA256 hash (Feather) or GPG signature (GUI). This prevents supply-chain attacks where the download is replaced with malware.
Feather has built-in Tor. This hides your IP from the node operator. Without Tor, the remote node learns your IP + wallet addresses. Or run your own node.
Feather lets you choose which outputs to spend. This prevents accidentally linking P2P trade funds with other sources. Advanced but important for large traders.
Ledger and Trezor support Monero. Keys never leave the device. Best for cold storage of large amounts. Not practical for frequent P2P trading.
Wallet updates often include security patches and protocol changes. Update before hard forks (like FCMP++). Check the wallet's official channels for update notices.
Yes. Restore from your 25-word seed in any Monero wallet. Your funds are on the blockchain, not on your device. The wallet is just a window into your account.
Your funds are safe as long as you have your 25-word seed phrase. Install a wallet on a new device, restore from seed, and your balance appears after sync.
Not remotely. Monero wallets are local software. The only attack vectors are: stealing your device + knowing your password, or obtaining your seed phrase. Use strong passwords and secure seed storage.
Monero has a built-in "prove payment" feature. In Feather: History → right-click transaction → "Prove payment". This generates a cryptographic proof that you sent XMR to a specific address. Sending guide →
Remote nodes can see your IP and which addresses you're scanning, but cannot steal your funds or see your seed. Using Tor (built into Feather) eliminates the IP concern. Running your own node is the best option.
Feather Wallet. Tor, coin control, subaddress management, prove-payment. Everything a P2P trader needs. Cake Wallet for quick mobile trades.
I sell Monero for cash — EU-wide via registered mail, or face-to-face in Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Mannheim, Heidelberg, Karlsruhe, Freiburg, Strasbourg. 10% over market price. 683 trades, 454 partners, 100% feedback. Escrow available.
Contact: Telegram @arnoldnakamura • Signal: +7578818677 • XMRBazaar