Quick Overview
| Company | Electrum Technologies GmbH |
|---|---|
| Category | Crypto Wallets |
| Headquarters | Berlin, Germany |
| Founded | 2013 |
| EU Presence | Yes - Germany (EU) |
| Data Location | Website hosted by Electrum Technologies GmbH; wallet files stay with the user |
| Open Source | MIT licence |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes (EU entity) |
| Self-Hosting | Yes - you can run your own Electrum server (Electrs, in Rust) |
| Main Features | Bitcoin wallet, reproducible executables, GPG-signed releases, Windows, macOS, Linux and Android builds, own-server option |
| Pricing | Free; the privacy policy states the service is provided at no cost |
| Best For | Bitcoin users who value open code, signed builds and control over the server |
| Replaces | Bitcoin use of MetaMask or Coinbase Wallet |
Detailed Review
Electrum Technologies GmbH, Paul-Lincke-Ufer 8d, 10999 Berlin, publishes the Electrum Bitcoin Wallet. The imprint says the company was founded by Thomas Voegtlin in 2013 and that Electrum is distributed under the MIT licence.
Electrum is the narrowest tool in this list. It handles Bitcoin only, which means it cannot replace MetaMask for Ethereum or dApps. For Bitcoin holders it offers published code and signed, reproducible builds.
How does Electrum protect downloads?
The Electrum site states that its executables are reproducible and signed independently by several builders. It publishes GPG signatures and a verification guide, and warns users not to download Electrum from any other source.
The latest release shown on the page we read was Electrum 4.8.3.
Which platforms does Electrum support?
Electrum offers a Linux AppImage, Windows installer and portable builds, a macOS executable and Android builds on Google Play and F-Droid. Installation from Python source (3.10 and higher) is documented.
The site notes that anti-virus software often flags Electrum binaries and tells users to verify signatures instead.
Can I run my own server?
The Electrum site links an installation guide for running your own Electrum server and an implementation in Rust called Electrs. A server list shows Bitcoin Electrum servers.
Running a server is optional, and it is the main privacy gain over relying on public servers.
Limitations to Consider
Electrum supports Bitcoin only, so users of Ethereum, tokens or dApps need another wallet. The interface and instructions assume some technical comfort, and the site says anti-virus tools flag its binaries. The pages we read gave no support channel details or hosting location beyond the company's own hosting. See Specter for another open-source Bitcoin option.
Who Should Use Electrum
Bitcoin holders who want a free, MIT-licensed wallet with verifiable builds.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- MIT-licensed code
- Reproducible, independently signed executables
- Free of charge according to the privacy policy
- Runs on desktop and Android
- Own-server option
Cons
- Bitcoin only
- Anti-virus tools flag the binaries
- Setup needs technical comfort
- No dApp access
Alternatives to Electrum
Other European crypto wallets worth comparing before you decide:
See all European crypto wallets or compare them directly against Bitcoin use of MetaMask or Coinbase Wallet on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Electrum Technologies GmbH is based at Paul-Lincke-Ufer 8d, 10999 Berlin, Germany, according to the imprint.
Yes. The imprint states that Electrum is distributed under the MIT licence.
No. The pages we read describe Electrum as a Bitcoin wallet, and the server list covers Bitcoin only.