Ashigaru
Ashigaru (progetto open-source)
Ashigaru is a self-custody, privacy-by-design Bitcoin wallet for mobile, the de-facto heir of the Samourai/Whirlpool ecosystem. It puts privacy at the centre: Whirlpool coinjoin (coordinated Zerolink coinjoins) and peer-to-peer coinjoin, connection to your own Dojo node with broadcast over the Tor network, Ricochet (which distances the origin of transactions with extra hops), stealth mode to hide the wallet from physical searches, full coin control (select, label, freeze/unfreeze UTXOs) and reusable PayNym payment codes (BIP47). It is released under the GNU GPL v3 licence and the code repository is reachable only via Tor. It requires no account, email or KYC. It is one of the most relevant wallets for the Sovereignty lens, but should be used with awareness of the regulatory context around coinjoin (see cons).
Data & conditions
| Fund custody | Self-custody (funds in your control) |
|---|---|
| Type | Software (hot wallet) |
| Source code | Open-source |
| Recovery | Seed phrase (BIP-39) |
| Bitcoin-only | Yes |
| Supported chains | Bitcoin |
| Built-in swap | No |
| Built-in staking | No |
| dApp browser | No |
| WalletConnect | No |
| Hardware wallet support | No |
| Segment | B2C |
| MiCA / License status | Nessuna (wallet self-custody non-custodial) |
Strengths
- Top-tier privacy: Whirlpool and P2P coinjoin, native Tor with a Dojo node, Ricochet, stealth mode, full coin control and BIP47 PayNyms; pure self-custody with no account or KYC; open-source GPL v3.
- Self-custody: funds stay in your wallet — the platform cannot touch them.
- No KYC: usable without identity verification.
- Open-source, verifiable code.
- Accessible over Tor (.onion).
- Self-hostable: you can run your own instance or node.
Weaknesses
- Heir of the Samourai ecosystem, whose founders faced legal proceedings in the United States in 2024: coinjoin and mixers remain in an uncertain regulatory area and in some jurisdictions may attract attention or restrictions; use it with awareness of the local legal framework. The repository is only accessible via Tor and the wallet is aimed at users already comfortable with privacy, running their own node and coin control, not the absolute beginner; the team behind the project is not publicly identified.
- No notable sovereignty drawback documented.
Verdict
Score 4.0/5, solid profile. In its favour: top-tier privacy: Whirlpool and P2P coinjoin, native Tor with a Dojo node, Ricochet, stealth mode, full coin control and BIP47 PayNyms; pure self-custody with no account or KYC; open-source GPL v3. The trade-off to weigh: heir of the Samourai ecosystem, whose founders faced legal proceedings in the United States in 2024: coinjoin and mixers remain in an uncertain regulatory area and in some jurisdictions may attract attention or restrictions; use it with awareness of the local legal framework. The repository is only accessible via Tor and the wallet is aimed at users already comfortable with privacy, running their own node and coin control, not the absolute beginner; the team behind the project is not publicly identified.
On the Sovereignty lens the score is 4.9/5 (outstanding): the strength is fund control (5.0/5), while censorship resistance (4.8/5) is the weak link.
Promp's editorial rating based on real fees and net annual cost. Promp reviews third-party products independently.
"Sovereignty" rating: score computed on privacy/anonymity (30%), fund control (20%), censorship resistance (20%), trustless/auditability (20%) and costs (10%). Same data, different weights.
FAQ
What is Ashigaru's relationship with Samourai Wallet?
Ashigaru is regarded as the de-facto heir of the Samourai/Whirlpool ecosystem and carries over its features and philosophy (Whirlpool coinjoin, Ricochet, stealth mode, Dojo node, PayNym). Samourai's founders faced legal proceedings in the United States in 2024: while this does not directly concern Ashigaru, it is context worth knowing before using coinjoin tools.
Is coinjoin legal?
Coinjoin is a legitimate privacy technique in itself in many jurisdictions, but the regulatory framework is evolving and not uniform: in some countries mixers and coinjoin may attract restrictions or scrutiny. Ashigaru applies no KYC and puts privacy first; it is up to the user to know and comply with local rules.
Does Ashigaru require an account or KYC?
No. It is a self-custody wallet that requires no account, email or KYC. It can connect to your own Dojo node and broadcasts transactions over the Tor network; the code repository is only reachable via Tor.
Sources
- Official service page Bitcoin only · Self custodial · Whirlpool · Coinjoin p2p · +7 Data verified on Aug 3, 2026