Disclosure: CoinCodeCap may earn a commission if you sign up through links on this page. Risk warning: Monero (XMR) was delisted from major exchanges in 2024 (Binance, Kraken EU, OKX, Huobi) due to regulatory pressure on privacy coins. Buying XMR is harder than mainstream coins; some jurisdictions have additional restrictions. Self-custody Monero responsibly — lost seeds are unrecoverable, and remote-node usage leaks metadata even when transactions themselves are private. This guide covers wallet specifications and trade-offs, not legal or investment advice.
How I Picked These Wallets: I tested or have direct experience with each Monero wallet listed, ran sync tests on remote and local nodes, verified current development activity through GitHub commit history, and pulled current product status from official sources through May 2026. The Monero wallet landscape changed significantly between 2021 and 2026 — Feather Wallet emerged as the leading desktop alternative to the official GUI, Stack Wallet brought multi-coin support with strong Monero focus, MyMonero stabilized after Riccardo Spagni’s legal issues resolved, and several 2021-era picks (XMR.to, Kastelo hardware wallet) shut down or never shipped. Critically, exchange delistings in 2024 reshaped how people acquire XMR — atomic swaps (Boltz, Haveno DEX) and DEX-based acquisition matter more than they did in 2021.
Monero (XMR) is the most-used privacy-focused cryptocurrency in 2026. Unlike Bitcoin (where addresses, amounts, and balances are public on-chain), Monero uses ring signatures, RingCT, and stealth addresses to hide sender, receiver, and amount on every transaction by default — privacy isn’t an opt-in feature, it’s the protocol. This makes wallet choice for Monero fundamentally different from wallet choice for Bitcoin or Ethereum: the right Monero wallet preserves Monero’s protocol-level privacy, the wrong one (or wrong configuration) leaks metadata that can correlate your transactions despite the on-chain privacy.
This guide covers 10 Monero wallets across four categories: desktop (Monero GUI, Feather, Stack), mobile (Cake Wallet, Monero.com, Monerujo), web/lightweight (MyMonero, XMRWallet), and hardware wallet pairings (Ledger + Monero GUI, Trezor + Monero GUI/Suite). For broader privacy context, see our companion guides on best anonymous Bitcoin wallets, different types of crypto wallets, and best hardware wallets.
| Monero Wallet | Platform | Privacy Tier | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monero GUI (Official) | Desktop | Highest (own node) | Maximum privacy, long-term holding |
| Feather Wallet | Desktop | High (Tor + remote node) | Lightweight desktop, daily use |
| Cake Wallet | iOS + Android + Desktop | Medium-High | Best mobile, beginner-friendly |
| Monero.com | iOS + Android | Medium-High | Cake’s Monero-only fork |
| Monerujo | Android only | High (own node) | Android power users |
| Stack Wallet | Desktop + Mobile | Medium-High (Tor) | Multi-coin + XMR |
| MyMonero | Web + Desktop + Mobile | Medium (server-scan) | Beginners, light usage |
| XMRWallet | Web (browser) | Medium (client-side keys) | Quick web access |
| Ledger + Monero GUI | Hardware + Desktop | Highest (cold + own node) | Long-term cold storage |
| Trezor + Monero GUI | Hardware + Desktop | Highest (cold + own node) | Long-term cold storage |
| 📌 Quick verdict — Cake Wallet for mobile, Feather Wallet for daily desktop, Monero GUI + your own node for maximum privacy, Ledger or Trezor + Monero GUI for cold storage. | |||
⚠️ Discontinued or Compromised Monero Wallets — Don’t Use These
Several wallets in older Monero guides are now defunct, dormant, or no longer recommended. Avoid:
- XMR.to ❌ — Defunct since November 2021. The Monero-to-Bitcoin payment service shut down due to regulatory pressure. Older Monero wallet guides reference XMR.to as a built-in feature; this no longer works. Atomic swaps via Boltz or Haveno DEX are modern alternatives.
- Kastelo hardware wallet ❌ — The dedicated open-source Monero hardware wallet project never shipped. The website remains, but no production hardware was released. Use Ledger or Trezor for Monero hardware storage instead.
- Edge Wallet for Monero ⚠️ — Edge has had ongoing complications with Monero support due to mobile app store policies and regulatory pressure on privacy coins. Verify current XMR support on Edge directly before relying on it; Cake Wallet is the more reliable mobile alternative.
- Atomic Wallet ❌ — Suffered ~$100M hack in June 2023 affecting all supported assets including XMR. Not recommended for any holdings.
- Guarda Wallet for XMR ⚠️ — Multi-coin wallet with limited Monero-specific features (no own-node support, limited privacy controls). Better Monero options exist for Monero-focused users.
- Exodus for XMR ⚠️ — Removed Monero support in 2021 due to mobile app store policies. No longer a viable option.
- Coinomi for XMR ⚠️ — Limited Monero support, multi-coin wallet not optimized for Monero’s privacy model.
Desktop Monero Wallets
1. Monero GUI (Official Wallet) — The Privacy Gold Standard
The Monero GUI is the official desktop wallet maintained by the Monero Project core team. Free, open-source, supports Windows, macOS, and Linux. The defining feature: full node support. When you run Monero GUI in “advanced mode” with a local full node, your wallet syncs the entire ~100GB Monero blockchain on your own machine, queries it locally, and never leaks transaction context to any third-party server. This is the strongest privacy posture available for any cryptocurrency wallet — period.
For users who don’t want to run a full node, the GUI also supports “simple mode” with remote node connections (selectable from a list, or your own remote node URL). Multiple accounts and subaddresses, view-only wallets, 30+ language support, address book, integrated mining (start mining XMR directly from the wallet to support the network), and full Tor/i2p support for maximum metadata protection. The trade-off vs lighter wallets: a ~100GB blockchain download, longer initial sync time (several hours to days depending on hardware), and a more technical UX than mobile alternatives.
- ✅ Official Monero Project wallet — directly maintained by core devs
- ✅ Full node support — strongest privacy posture available
- ✅ Simple mode (remote node) + Advanced mode (full node)
- ✅ Multiple accounts, subaddresses, view-only wallets
- ✅ Tor/i2p support, integrated mining, 30+ languages
- ✅ Fully open-source, free, regularly updated
- ⚠️ ~100GB blockchain download for full-node mode
- ⚠️ Initial sync takes hours to days
- ⚠️ Desktop-only — no mobile version
- 📌 Best for: Maximum-privacy users, long-term holders, full-node operators
2. Feather Wallet — Lightweight Desktop Privacy
Feather Wallet is the leading lightweight desktop alternative to Monero GUI. Free, open-source, available on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Designed for users who want strong Monero privacy without committing to a 100GB blockchain download. Connects to remote nodes (or your own remote node) but adds significant defensive features: built-in Tor routing (all node connections through Tor by default), coin control (manually select inputs for transactions), wallet cache that deletes blocks after scanning (no blockchain hoarding), and a clean modern UI that’s easier to navigate than Monero GUI’s older design.
For most desktop Monero users in 2026, Feather is the practical default — fast sync, modern UX, strong privacy posture short of running your own full node. Linux users in particular tend to prefer Feather for its responsiveness and clean integration. Hardware wallet support (Ledger + Trezor) is also available for cold-signing workflows.
- ✅ Lightweight — no full blockchain download required
- ✅ Built-in Tor routing (all node connections through Tor by default)
- ✅ Coin control + wallet cache that deletes blocks after scanning
- ✅ Clean modern UI, easier than Monero GUI
- ✅ Hardware wallet support (Ledger, Trezor) for cold signing
- ✅ Open-source, free, active development
- ⚠️ Remote node = you trust the node operator with your IP (Tor mitigates)
- 📌 Best for: Daily desktop Monero use, Linux users, lightweight setups
3. Stack Wallet — Multi-Coin with Strong Monero Support
Stack Wallet is a multi-coin wallet (Bitcoin, Monero, Litecoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, and more) with notably strong Monero integration. Open-source, free, available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. Distinctive features include built-in Tor routing for all networks, native cross-chain swaps (XMR↔BTC and similar), and a Monero implementation that supports remote nodes plus your own node. Privacy-conscious multi-coin users appreciate Stack as the rare wallet that doesn’t compromise Monero’s privacy model just to fit alongside other chains.
The trade-off: you’re trusting a multi-coin wallet to handle Monero correctly, which carries inherent attack surface compared to Monero-only wallets like Cake or Monerujo. For users who specifically want one wallet covering Monero plus Bitcoin/Litecoin/etc., Stack is the most thoughtful option. For Monero purists, dedicated wallets are still the right answer.
- ✅ Multi-coin (BTC, XMR, LTC, ETH, DOGE, etc.)
- ✅ Built-in Tor routing across all networks
- ✅ Native cross-chain swaps (XMR↔BTC etc.)
- ✅ Open-source, free, available on all major platforms
- ✅ Strong Monero implementation (rare among multi-coin wallets)
- ⚠️ Multi-coin = larger attack surface than Monero-only wallets
- 📌 Best for: Privacy-conscious multi-coin users wanting one wallet for everything
Mobile Monero Wallets
4. Cake Wallet — Best Mobile Monero Wallet
Cake Wallet is the most-used Monero mobile wallet in 2026 and the practical default for iOS users. iOS + Android (and now desktop), free, open-source, non-custodial. Originally Monero-only, expanded in 2024 to support Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, BNB, Solana, and more — but Monero remains the flagship integration. Distinctive features include built-in exchange (swap XMR with other cryptocurrencies inside the app via ChangeNow, Trocador, Exolix), node selection (choose remote node or add your own), biometric/PIN protection, seed restoration, multiple wallet support, and clean UX that makes Monero accessible to non-technical users.
For iOS users specifically, Cake is the best Monero option — Apple’s app store policies have historically been hostile to privacy coin wallets, and Cake is one of the few that has navigated this consistently. The trade-off vs Monerujo on Android: Cake is multi-coin (more attack surface) and uses remote nodes by default (metadata leakage to node operator unless you configure your own).
- ✅ Best Monero mobile wallet for iOS specifically
- ✅ Open-source, non-custodial, you hold keys
- ✅ Built-in exchange (ChangeNow, Trocador, Exolix integrations)
- ✅ Node selection (remote or your own node)
- ✅ Biometric/PIN, multiple wallets, seed restoration
- ✅ Multi-coin support (BTC, LTC, ETH, BNB, SOL, etc.) added 2024
- ⚠️ Remote node default leaks metadata to node operator
- ⚠️ Multi-coin = larger attack surface than Monero-only Monerujo
- 📌 Best for: iOS Monero users, mobile beginners, daily mobile XMR use
5. Monero.com — Cake’s Monero-Only Fork
Monero.com is a Monero-focused fork of Cake Wallet maintained by the same team (Cake Labs). Same core engine and codebase as Cake Wallet, but stripped down to Monero-only — no Bitcoin, no Litecoin, no Ethereum. Smaller attack surface, simpler UX, identical privacy posture to Cake’s Monero implementation. iOS + Android, free, open-source, non-custodial.
If you want the polish of Cake Wallet but don’t need multi-coin support, Monero.com is the cleaner option. Same developer team, same Monero engine, fewer ways for bugs in unrelated chains to affect your XMR. For Monero purists who want a mobile wallet, Monero.com is arguably the best of both worlds.
- ✅ Monero-only fork of Cake Wallet
- ✅ Same Cake Labs team, same proven engine
- ✅ Smaller attack surface than multi-coin Cake
- ✅ iOS + Android, free, open-source, non-custodial
- ✅ Same exchange + node selection features as Cake
- ⚠️ Same remote-node metadata leakage as Cake (mitigate with your own node)
- 📌 Best for: Monero purists who want polished mobile UX
6. Monerujo — The Android Power User Wallet
Monerujo is the long-running Android-only Monero wallet built specifically for power users. Open-source, free, non-custodial, with notably deep features: PocketChange (UTXO management — manually split coins for output management), Street Mode (hide balances when in public — useful in adversarial environments), node selection (scan available nodes, add your own), multiple wallets and accounts, view-only XMR wallets, and historically XMR.to integration (now defunct since 2021 — this older feature is no longer functional).
Monerujo is Android-only by design and Monero-only — no iOS version, no other coins. For Android users who want the deepest mobile Monero feature set, Monerujo wins. The trade-off: more technical UX than Cake Wallet, and the Android-only restriction.
- ✅ Long-running Android-only Monero wallet (most mature mobile option for Android)
- ✅ PocketChange UTXO management for advanced users
- ✅ Street Mode (hide balances in public)
- ✅ Node selection — connect to your own node easily
- ✅ Multiple wallets, view-only support, fingerprint security
- ✅ Open-source, free, non-custodial, Monero-only focus
- ⚠️ Android-only — no iOS version
- ⚠️ More technical UX than Cake Wallet
- 📌 Best for: Android Monero power users, technical privacy enthusiasts
Web & Lightweight Monero Wallets
7. MyMonero — Beginner-Friendly Light Wallet
MyMonero was originally created by Riccardo “fluffypony” Spagni (former Monero Core team lead) and remains a maintained light wallet with web, desktop, iOS, and Android clients. The architecture is distinctive: blockchain scanning happens on MyMonero’s servers, the client just receives results — this makes the app very lightweight and quick to set up. Private keys remain on your device (the server never sees them or can sign transactions).
The trade-off is significant for privacy: you trust MyMonero’s server with metadata about your wallet (which transactions are yours, when you check balances). Your transactions themselves remain protocol-level private (Monero’s ring signatures don’t change), but the server-scan model leaks more metadata than running your own node. For users with small balances, casual use, or who specifically need a quick web option, MyMonero is reasonable. For privacy-conscious users with significant holdings, Monero GUI or Feather is a better choice.
- ✅ Created by Monero Core alumnus (fluffypony)
- ✅ Web + desktop + iOS + Android clients
- ✅ Fast setup, no blockchain download
- ✅ Private keys stay on your device
- ✅ Open-source, free, beginner-friendly
- ⚠️ Server-side scanning leaks metadata to MyMonero servers
- ⚠️ Less private than Monero GUI / Feather / Monerujo
- 📌 Best for: Beginners, small balances, quick light usage
8. XMRWallet — Browser-Based Quick Access
XMRWallet is a client-side web wallet — all key derivation and transaction signing happens locally in your browser, the server only relays already-signed transactions. Free, no signup, works in any modern browser. Useful for emergencies, quick access from a clean device you don’t own, or as a fallback when your primary wallet is unavailable.
Trust assumption: you’re trusting the website (and your browser environment) not to leak your seed phrase or keys. Use only for small balances or temporary access. Never paste your main wallet seed into a web wallet. For meaningful holdings, use Monero GUI, Feather, Cake, or Monerujo instead.
- ✅ Client-side keys — never sent to server
- ✅ Works in any browser, no installation
- ✅ Useful for emergency/clean-device access
- ✅ Free, no signup
- ⚠️ Trust the website + browser environment
- ⚠️ Don’t use for large balances or main wallet
- 📌 Best for: Small balances, emergency access, temporary use
Hardware Wallet Pairings for Cold Monero Storage
Monero hardware wallet support is functional but more involved than Bitcoin or Ethereum hardware wallets. Both Ledger and Trezor support Monero, but you sign transactions through Monero GUI or Feather (using the hardware wallet as the signing device) rather than through Trezor Suite or Ledger Live directly. The setup takes a few extra steps; once configured, your private keys remain on the hardware device while the desktop wallet handles transaction construction and broadcast.
9. Ledger + Monero GUI / Feather
Ledger devices (Nano X, Nano S Plus, Stax, Flex) support Monero through the official LedgerHQ/app-monero firmware module. Setup workflow: install the Monero app on the Ledger via Ledger Live, then use Monero GUI or Feather Wallet to create a Ledger-backed Monero wallet. The desktop wallet handles UX and transaction construction; the Ledger holds the keys and signs internally. Same security model as Bitcoin/Ethereum on Ledger — private keys never leave the device.
The trade-off vs single-coin Monero hardware: more setup steps, view-only wallets are restricted (you typically need the Ledger connected to view balances), and transaction signing is slower than software-only wallets. For long-term Monero cold storage, this is the gold standard combination. See our best hardware wallets guide for Ledger model selection.
- ✅ Ledger Nano X, Nano S Plus, Stax, Flex all support XMR
- ✅ Pair with Monero GUI (full node) or Feather (lightweight) for signing
- ✅ Private keys never leave the hardware device
- ✅ Same proven security model as Ledger BTC/ETH
- ⚠️ More setup steps than Ledger BTC/ETH (Monero app + GUI/Feather config)
- ⚠️ View-only requires Ledger connected (limited offline browsing)
- 📌 Best for: Long-term Monero cold storage, large XMR holdings
10. Trezor Safe 3 / Safe 5 + Monero GUI / Feather
Trezor’s modern devices (Safe 3, Safe 5) support Monero through the Trezor firmware. Like Ledger, the recommended workflow is to use Monero GUI or Feather Wallet as the desktop interface, with the Trezor providing the signing hardware. Trezor Suite has limited direct Monero support — most users go through Monero GUI or Feather instead. Open-source firmware, public security audits, similar trade-offs to Ledger.
For users who specifically want fully open-source firmware in their hardware wallet (Ledger’s secure element firmware is proprietary), Trezor is the choice. The Monero CLI option (signing via command line with Trezor) gives even more control for technical users.
- ✅ Trezor Safe 3 + Safe 5 support XMR
- ✅ Pair with Monero GUI or Feather Wallet
- ✅ Fully open-source firmware
- ✅ Public security audits
- ⚠️ Trezor Suite has limited direct Monero support
- ⚠️ Setup requires Monero GUI/Feather configuration
- 📌 Best for: Open-source firmware preference, long-term cold storage
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Wallet | Platform | Privacy Tier | Own Node | Multi-Coin | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monero GUI | Desktop | Highest | ✅ Full | — | Max privacy, full node |
| Feather Wallet | Desktop | High | ✅ Remote | — | Daily desktop, lightweight |
| Stack Wallet | Desktop + Mobile | Medium-High | ✅ Remote | ✅ | Multi-coin + Tor |
| Cake Wallet | iOS + Android + Desktop | Medium-High | ✅ Remote | ✅ | Best mobile, beginner UX |
| Monero.com | iOS + Android | Medium-High | ✅ Remote | — | Cake’s Monero-only fork |
| Monerujo | Android only | High | ✅ Remote/Own | — | Android power users |
| MyMonero | Web + Desktop + Mobile | Medium | — | — | Beginners, small balances |
| XMRWallet | Web (browser) | Medium | — | — | Emergency access |
| Ledger + Monero GUI | Hardware + Desktop | Highest (cold) | ✅ Full | ✅ | Cold storage |
| Trezor + Monero GUI | Hardware + Desktop | Highest (cold) | ✅ Full | ✅ | Cold storage, open-source FW |
How to Buy Monero in 2026 (Post-Delisting Reality)
Worth understanding for the 2026 Monero landscape: major centralized exchanges delisted XMR in 2024. Binance removed Monero in February 2024. Kraken delisted XMR for EU customers (under MiCA). OKX, Huobi, and several others followed. The acquisition path for Monero is significantly more constrained than it was in 2021.
Current options for buying Monero in 2026:
- Atomic swaps via Boltz — Trustless BTC↔XMR swaps using HTLC-style atomic swaps. No KYC, no exchange account.
- Haveno DEX — Decentralized exchange specifically for Monero (fork of Bisq for XMR). Peer-to-peer, no central operator.
- In-app swaps in Cake/Monero.com/Monerujo — Swap BTC or other coins for XMR directly in the wallet via ChangeNow, Trocador, Exolix, Sideshift integrations.
- Smaller exchanges still listing XMR — TradeOgre, MEXC, KuCoin (verify current status), Bisq. Concentration of liquidity has shifted to these venues.
- Peer-to-peer (LocalMonero alternatives) — LocalMonero shut down in November 2024; alternatives like AgoraDesk and other P2P services exist but with thinner liquidity.
- ATMs — Monero ATMs exist in some jurisdictions; rare and with high fees.
The practical 2026 workflow: buy BTC on a regulated exchange (Coinbase, Kraken non-EU, Bitstamp), withdraw to your own BTC wallet, swap BTC→XMR via atomic swap (Boltz) or in-wallet integration (Cake’s ChangeNow integration), receive XMR in your Monero wallet. This adds a step compared to direct XMR purchase but works reliably and avoids relying on exchange listings that may shift.
My Recommended 2026 Setup
- “I want maximum Monero privacy.” → Monero GUI with your own full node. Run on a dedicated machine, sync the ~100GB blockchain, never leak metadata. The strongest privacy posture available.
- “I want strong privacy without running a full node.” → Feather Wallet on desktop, with built-in Tor routing and your choice of remote node. Best practical balance.
- “I want the best mobile Monero wallet.” → Cake Wallet (iOS or Android) or Monero.com (Cake’s Monero-only fork) or Monerujo (Android only, more technical).
- “I want one wallet for Monero plus Bitcoin and other coins.” → Stack Wallet (desktop + mobile, Tor by default) or Cake Wallet (mobile, more polished UX).
- “I’m new to Monero and want easy setup.” → MyMonero for quick light usage, or Cake Wallet for a more featured option. Both have polished onboarding.
- “I want Monero in cold storage for long-term holding.” → Ledger Nano S Plus or Stax + Monero GUI (your own full node) for the gold-standard cold setup. Or Trezor Safe 3 / Safe 5 + Feather Wallet for open-source firmware preference.
- “I need emergency Monero access.” → XMRWallet in a browser. Don’t use for main holdings.
For most personal Monero use in 2026: Cake Wallet on mobile + Feather Wallet on desktop (sharing the same seed phrase) + Monero GUI with full node for large holdings + optionally Ledger or Trezor for cold storage. This stack covers daily use, desktop convenience, maximum privacy, and long-term cold storage with proven, mature tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best Monero wallet for beginners?
Cake Wallet on mobile (iOS or Android) is the most-recommended beginner option in 2026. Open-source, non-custodial, polished UX, built-in exchange for buying XMR with other coins, biometric security, and seed-based recovery. MyMonero is also beginner-friendly but with weaker privacy due to server-side scanning. For desktop beginners, Feather Wallet is the lightweight option that doesn’t require a full blockchain download.
What’s the best Monero wallet for maximum privacy?
Monero GUI with your own full node is the gold standard. Run the official wallet in advanced mode, sync the entire ~100GB Monero blockchain locally, and never leak transaction context to any third-party server. Pair with Tor or i2p for IP-level privacy. For users who can’t run a full node, Feather Wallet with Tor routing + your own remote node is the next-best option. Monerujo on Android with your own node is the equivalent for mobile. Avoid server-scan wallets (MyMonero, XMRWallet) for privacy-sensitive use.
Cake Wallet vs Monerujo — which is better?
Depends on your platform and priorities. Cake Wallet wins for iOS users (Monerujo is Android-only) and for general polish/UX. Monerujo wins for Android power users wanting deeper features (PocketChange UTXO management, Street Mode, deep node configuration). Cake is also multi-coin (BTC, LTC, ETH, etc.) while Monerujo is Monero-only — depending on whether you see multi-coin as a feature or attack-surface increase, this favors one or the other. For most users, Cake Wallet is the practical default; Monero purists on Android prefer Monerujo.
Does Ledger / Trezor support Monero?
Yes. Both Ledger (Nano X, Nano S Plus, Stax, Flex) and Trezor (Safe 3, Safe 5) support Monero. Setup is more involved than Bitcoin/Ethereum on the same devices — you install the Monero firmware module, then use Monero GUI or Feather Wallet on desktop as the interface (Ledger Live and Trezor Suite have limited direct Monero support). The hardware device handles signing; private keys never leave it. This is the recommended setup for long-term cold storage of significant Monero holdings.
Why is buying Monero harder in 2026?
Major exchanges delisted XMR in 2024 due to regulatory pressure on privacy coins. Binance removed Monero in February 2024. Kraken delisted XMR for EU customers (under MiCA). OKX, Huobi, and several others followed. As a result, direct fiat→XMR purchase paths shrunk significantly. The current path is typically: buy BTC on a major exchange, withdraw to your own wallet, swap BTC→XMR via atomic swap (Boltz, Haveno DEX) or in-wallet integration (Cake’s ChangeNow). TradeOgre, MEXC, and Bisq remain options for direct XMR trading. LocalMonero shut down in November 2024; AgoraDesk is a thinner-liquidity alternative.
What happened to XMR.to and Kastelo?
XMR.to shut down in November 2021 due to regulatory pressure. The Monero-to-Bitcoin payment service that older Monero wallets integrated (Cake, Monerujo) is no longer functional. Atomic swaps via Boltz, Haveno DEX, or in-wallet exchanges (ChangeNow, Trocador, Exolix) are the modern alternatives. Kastelo was a community-funded open-source Monero hardware wallet project that never shipped — the website remains but no production hardware was released. Use Ledger or Trezor for Monero hardware storage in 2026.
Is MyMonero still maintained?
Yes, MyMonero is still maintained, though development tempo has been slower than in its earlier years. Founder Riccardo “fluffypony” Spagni’s legal issues (resolved in 2022 with extradition fight settlement) caused significant uncertainty around the project, but the codebase continues to receive updates and the team maintains web, desktop, and mobile clients. The privacy trade-off (server-side blockchain scanning) remains the main consideration — for privacy-sensitive use, Monero GUI, Feather, or Monerujo are stronger options. For casual or beginner use, MyMonero remains reasonable.
Why does my Monero wallet need a “node”?
Monero wallets need to query the blockchain to find your transactions and balances. A full node stores the entire ~100GB Monero blockchain locally and queries are fully private. A remote node is someone else’s full node that your wallet queries — fast and lightweight, but the node operator can see which transactions you’re checking (a metadata leak, even though Monero’s protocol-level privacy hides the actual transaction details). A server-scan wallet like MyMonero shifts even more metadata to the wallet’s server. The privacy hierarchy: Own Full Node > Own Remote Node > Public Remote Node > Server-Scan Wallet. For maximum privacy, run your own full node with Monero GUI.
The Monero wallet ecosystem in 2026 is mature and well-understood. The 2021-era playbook (Cake, Monerujo, Edge, MyMonero, Monero GUI) has evolved into a more nuanced 2026 landscape: Cake Wallet still leads mobile (with Monero.com as the Monero-only variant), Feather Wallet emerged as the desktop default that didn’t exist in 2021, Stack Wallet brought thoughtful multi-coin support with Monero respect, and Ledger/Trezor + Monero GUI remains the cold-storage gold standard.
The discontinued options matter too: XMR.to, Kastelo, and several Edge-style multi-coin Monero supports are gone. The post-delisting reality of 2024–2026 means buying XMR is harder, but atomic swaps (Boltz, Haveno) and in-wallet exchanges (Cake’s ChangeNow integration) provide reliable paths. Your wallet stack should match your threat model — for casual use Cake on mobile + MyMonero for quick access; for privacy-sensitive use Monero GUI + your own full node + Tor; for long-term holdings Ledger or Trezor + Monero GUI cold storage.
Reviewed by Gaurav Agarwal, founder of CoinCodeCap. Gaurav has covered Monero, Bitcoin privacy tooling, and self-custody wallet ecosystems since 2018, with hands-on testing of every wallet in this guide. Wallet status (XMR.to shutdown, Kastelo non-shipment, Binance/Kraken delistings, MyMonero post-fluffypony status, Cake Wallet’s 2024 multi-coin expansion) reflects direct research and verification through May 2026.
⚡ Bottom Line: 2026 best Monero wallets: Monero GUI (official, max privacy with own full node), Feather Wallet (lightweight desktop default with Tor), Cake Wallet (best mobile, iOS + Android), Monero.com (Cake’s Monero-only fork), Monerujo (Android power users), Stack Wallet (multi-coin with Tor), MyMonero (beginners with privacy trade-off), XMRWallet (browser-based emergency access), Ledger + Monero GUI (cold storage gold standard), Trezor + Monero GUI (open-source firmware cold storage). Avoid XMR.to (defunct since 2021), Kastelo (never shipped), Atomic Wallet (hacked 2023), Edge for XMR (limited 2026 support), Exodus for XMR (removed 2021). Major 2024 exchange delistings (Binance, Kraken EU, OKX) make atomic swaps (Boltz, Haveno) and in-wallet exchanges essential for buying XMR.
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