CounterWallet is the official crypto wallet for Counterparty – a peer-to-peer financial services provider launched in January 2014. It is highly innovative and seeks to revolutionize how we store and interact with crypto wallets and private keys by providing an alternative to standard backup or recovery options. It is built on the bitcoin blockchain and is one of the few crypto wallets, and protocols by extension, that provides users with the tools required to create Bitcoin network tokens.
In this Counterparty wallet review, we will be expounding on these features. We will also vet the safety measures put in place by Counter wallet and tell you everything else you need to know about the Bitcoin focused crypto-storage vault.
Counter Wallet key features:
Light node: Unlike most crypto wallets that require you to download apps or desktop clients to store private keys, Counterwallet is a light wallet. It is web-based and accessible via any browser. You are, however, free to create personalized servers for hosting your Counterwallet.
Built-in exchange: Counterwallet integrates a crypto exchange within its platform that allows for the purchase, sale, and exchange of bitcoins and tokens. Unlike most other wallets with proprietary exchanges, however, Counterwallet integrates ShapeShift – a third-party fiat-to-crypto exchange.
Buy crypto with fiat: Counterwallet users can leverage Shapeshift to buy cryptocurrencies and tokens using fiat currencies via card or bank transfers. And though it isn’t as liquid as most proprietary crypto exchanges like Binance, it is highly convenient.
Custom build tokens: Counterwallet is one of the few Bitcoin-focused crypto vaults that provide you with the necessary app builder tools to build tokens for the bitcoin network.
Counter Wallet security features:
Passphrase: The Counterwallet passphrase is the single most important security feature for your wallet. It does not store your private keys in any device. Rather it calculates them every time you log in to your wallet. Anyone who has the password can, therefore, access and interact with the private keys.
Open sourced: Counterparty has open-sourced the technology used to create the Counterwallet. Crypto security experts can view and audit this code for vulnerabilities, while wallet users can use it to create personalized servers for holding their private keys.
Hierarchically deterministic: Counterparty is hierarchically deterministic. It automatically generates a new wallet address for every crypto transaction. This masks your real wallet address and makes it hard for crypto trackers to monitor your crypto activity.
Multi-signature: You can create a multi-signature Counterwallet that requires signatures from several Bitcoin private keys to spend the wallet’s funds. This increased safety feature comes in handy when setting a multiuser and institutional wallets.
Client-side encryption: The wallet data and all communications with Counterparty foundation servers or other third party systems are highly encrypted. Client-side encryption implies that information is encrypted before it leaves your wallet.
Anonymous user registration: Counterwallet encourages anonymous user registration and bitcoin trading. It does not ask for your personal information when creating a user account.
Integrates Bitcoin Armory: Not satisfied with Counterwallet’s no backup policy or worry about forgetting the passphrase and losing your Bitcoins forever? Take advantage of their collaboration with Bitcoin Armory – a cold storage Bitcoin wallet – that stores your private keys in ultra-safe, air-gapped, and distributed cold storages.
How to activate/setup the Counter Wallet
Step 1: Open the Couterwallet.io website and choose between Official Counterparty or CoinDaddy Counterwallet servers.
Step 2: Since you are creating a new wallet, click on the “Create a new wallet” icon
Step 3: The wallet will now provide you with a PASSPHRASE required to access your wallet and calculate your digital asset balances
Step 4: The wallet will then provide you with a choice of creating a Quick Access Code. You don’t need to create one.
Step 5: The wallet is active and ready to use. Login using the Counterwallet’s keypad to fund the account and start interacting with some of its features
How to add a wallet address on Counterwallet
Your Counterwallet will have one Bitcoin wallet address automatically generated during account creation. Here is how to create a new wallet address for XCP altcoin and supported tokens:
Step 1: Log in to the wallet and click on the “My Balances” tab.
Step 2: Click on the “Create New Address” icon on the top left corner of the user dashboard.
Step 3: Select the type of wallet address you want to create from the drop-down menu.
Step 4: On the popup menu, enter the name of the new address on the “Description” section and click on “Create New Address” to finish
How to add/receive Crypto into Counter Wallet:
Step 1: Log in to your Counterwallet and click on the “My Balances” tab.
Step 2: From the list of wallet addresses, select the wallet to which you would like to deposit funds
Step 3: A popup window will provide you with an address and QR code for the wallet.
Step 4: Send either to the party/individual sending you bitcoins.
How to send crypto from Counter Wallet:
Step 1: Log in to your Counterwallet and click on the “My Balances” tab.
Step 2: From the list of wallet addresses hosted on the wallet, select the crypto/token you want to send
Step 3: Click on the “Address Actions” tab on the far right of the wallet address section.
Step 4: From the drop-down menu, select send and both the wallet address and the number of cryptos to transfer
Step 5: Check the accuracy of the transaction details before hitting send
How to Backup and Restore Counterwallet
Step 1: Log in to your Counterwallet and click on the “My Balances” tab.
Step 2: Click on the “Address Actions” tab on the far right of the ‘My Address’ bar
Step 3: Select the “Show Private Key” option to reveal your wallet’s private key. Copy it and keep it safe offline
Step 4: To restore your digital assets, open a new account and click on the “Import Funds” tab on the user dashboard and select “From Old Wallet” on the drop-down menu
Step 5: Paste the private key.
Counter Wallet ease of use:
Cunterwallet is quite easy to use as it features one of the most intuitive user interfaces. Creating a user account on the Counterwallet and the processes of sending, receiving, and backing your account is straightforward.
Counter Wallet supported currencies:
Counterwallet supports Bitcoin cryptocurrency, Counterparty’s native token XCP, and 500+ tokens. You are also free to create customized Bitcoin network tokens and add them to the wallet.
Counter Wallet cost and fees:
Counterwallet is free to use. However, you will be charged the transaction processing fees that go to the Bitcoin network miners every time you send crypto from the crypto wallet to another wallet or exchange.
Counter Wallet customer support:
There are three primary ways of contacting Counterwallet’s customer support team. You can use the Live chat feature on the wallet and counterpart website, interact with both wallet developers and experienced users on the Counterparty Forums, or direct message them on such social media platforms as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
What are the pros and cons of using Counter Wallet?
Pros:
- It is highly intuitive and beginner-friendly
- It is feature-rich and makes it possible for users to custom-build Bitcoin-based tokens.
- Counterwallet is security-focused and integrates a wide range of advanced security features.
- It integrates the Bitcoin Armor cold storage.
Cons:
- It will only support Bitcoin-based cryptos and tokens.
Comparing Counter Wallet with other Bitcoin-only wallets
Counter Wallet vs. Mycelium wallet
Both Mycelium and Counterwallet are highly intuitive and beginner-friendly crypto wallets. They are Bitcoin focused, implying that they will only support cryptocurrencies and tokens built on the Bitcoin blockchain.
But while Mycelium will only support Bitcoin crypto, Counterwallet supports Bitcoin, XCP, and hundreds of tokens built on the Bitcoin network. Counterwallet also supports a wide range of features, including the custom token builder tools and the Bitcoin Armor cold storage integration.
Verdict: Is Counter Wallet safe?
Well, the open-sourced wallet embraces highly innovative privacy and security features. For instance, it doesn’t keep a copy of your private keys on either your device or the counterparty servers. Rather, it calculates the balances of your assets when entering the wallet passphrase. The process of generating crypto addresses is hierarchically deterministic and the Bitcoin armory cold storage.