Unchained vs Wasabi

Unchained is a Bitcoin financial services company focused on helping individuals and businesses secure their Bitcoin through collaborative custody. Their main product is a multisig vault that uses a 2-of-3 key setup, where the user holds two keys and Unchained holds the third. This setup allows users to maintain full control over their Bitcoin while enabling Unchained to assist in recovery if needed, without ever having unilateral access to the funds.

What makes Unchained unique is its emphasis on combining technical security with user support. Unlike standard hardware wallet setups that rely on a single point of failure, Unchained's model is resistant to user error and device loss. Even if you lose 75% of your devices or backups, you can still recover your funds with Unchained's help. Their system also facilitates inheritance by allowing next of kin to recover funds with proper documentation, making it especially appealing for those thinking about long-term wealth protection.

Unchained users appreciate the guided onboarding, live support, and optional concierge services that simplify the complex process of setting up multisig. The platform integrates with popular hardware wallets, and allows users to manage their funds through Unchained's dashboard or export and interact with their vault using open-source tools. The ability to spend from your vault without relying on the Unchained website gives users additional peace of mind.

The company's long-term vision is to build a robust financial ecosystem based on Bitcoin-native tools, including multisig-secured lending, inheritance planning, and business services. While the setup requires ID verification and Unchained knows the vault balances, many users view this trade-off as acceptable in exchange for improved recovery options and strong operational security.

Unchained is best suited for those seeking to remove single points of failure in their Bitcoin custody, want professional assistance when needed, and value redundancy and inheritance planning—all while retaining full self-custody.

Wasabi Wallet is a privacy-focused, open-source, non‑custodial Bitcoin desktop wallet launched by zkSNACKs. It routes all traffic through Tor and uses compact blockchain filters, keeping your IP and balance private. Its standout feature is built-in CoinJoin, a process that mixes your Bitcoin with others' to make it harder for anyone to trace your transactions, enhancing privacy without relying on third parties.

The user interface is straightforward but functional, with a dashboard showing your balance, privacy progress, and transaction history, though it may feel technical for complete beginners. Setup involves writing down a 12-word seed phrase and an optional passphrase, which adds security but requires careful storage.

What sets Wasabi apart is its strong focus on privacy through CoinJoin, which is seamlessly integrated and doesn't require manual setup, making it accessible for newcomers. It also allows advanced users to connect to custom coordinators via platforms like Nostr, ensuring privacy even if default services are unavailable.

Wasabi is for people who want to own their Bitcoin without having to trust big companies. It hides your transactions by mixing them with others, runs silently in the background over Tor, and gives you full control—all on your own computer. Its goal is to make privacy easy and powerful, while building toward a future where you don't rely on any single server.