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Separate crypto wallets

Keep everyday spending, savings, and sensitive flows in wallets that do not link on-chain.

1–2 hoursCrypto users who need spending, savings, and sensitive flows isolated on-chain 1 starting tool

Target outcome

Spending, savings, and sensitive crypto activity use separate seeds and addresses

Do this first · quick win

If you only do one thing today: move sensitive funds to a new wallet whose seed phrase has never touched a KYC exchange.

Setup queue

Start with verified tools

Compare the fit, keep the ones you want in My Stack, then open the verified setup guidance.

Wasabi Wallet

applications

Choose Wasabi when you need Bitcoin CoinJoin workflows and can accept longer settlement times.

applicationsOpen sourcePrivacy by default
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More compatible tools (2)

Monero

defi

Choose Monero when default transaction privacy matters more than Bitcoin compatibility.

defiOpen sourcePrivacy by default
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Zcash

defi

Choose Zcash when shielded pools fit your compliance context and counterparties support them.

transaction3 audit references
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Understand · act · verify

Your path

Nothing is detected automatically. You decide when a step is done or needs another review.

  1. 1

    Never deposit KYC-exchange withdrawals directly into a wallet you use for sensitive activity — treat exchange outputs as tainted for linking purposes.

    Step 1 · Not started

    • Exchange withdrawals isolated: No sensitive wallet has ever received a direct withdrawal from a KYC exchange.
  2. 2

    Label three roles — daily spending, savings, and sensitive flows — and assign each a separate wallet.

    Step 2 · Not started

    • Wallet roles assigned: You can name which seed controls spending, savings, and sensitive flows.
  3. 3

    Generate new seeds for sensitive wallets on an offline or hardened device; write seeds on paper, not cloud notes.

    Step 3 · Not started

  4. 4

    Route exchange withdrawals through an intermediate wallet or privacy tool before they touch sensitive addresses.

    Step 4 · Not started

  5. 5

    Test a small send between your own wallets and confirm explorers show no obvious link before moving real value.

    Step 5 · Not started

    • On-chain link test passed: A test transfer between roles does not create an obvious cluster on a block explorer.
  6. 6

    Schedule periodic reviews to ensure apps, browser extensions, and address books did not merge identities.

    Step 6 · Not started

How you know it worked

  • Spending, savings, and sensitive crypto activity use separate seeds and addresses
  • Exchange KYC history does not directly touch sensitive wallets
  • You have a review cadence to catch accidental merges

Watch out

Reusing addresses across roles collapses separation instantly on transparent chains.

Wallet apps that sync labels to the cloud can leak account structure.

Direct exchange-to-sensitive transfers permanently link your KYC identity to that wallet cluster.

Key terms
CoinJoin
A Bitcoin technique that combines inputs from multiple users to obscure which output belongs to whom.
Address reuse
Using the same receive address twice — it collapses wallet separation on transparent chains instantly.
Tainted UTXO
Coins whose history links them to KYC exchanges or known surveillance — risky to mix with sensitive wallets.