Wallets on Aztec
Wallets on Aztec do more than just store your keys. This page covers what wallets are available, what makes them different, and the future of hardware wallet support.
Available Wallets
Aztec CLI Wallet
The Aztec CLI wallet is the reference wallet packaged and maintained by the Aztec team. It is a command-line tool that handles account creation, transaction signing, and private state management.
This is the wallet shipped as part of the Aztec tooling suite. Third-party wallets may become available as the ecosystem grows.
Developer Wallets
For testing and development, the Aztec sandbox includes built-in wallet functionality that developers can use to test their applications.
What Makes Aztec Wallets Different
Aztec wallets have additional responsibilities compared to traditional crypto wallets:
Private State Management
Unlike public blockchains where anyone can see your balance, Aztec keeps your private data encrypted. Your wallet must:
- Track your private notes (like UTXOs)
- Decrypt incoming transfers
- Maintain a local database of your private state
Client-Side Proving
On Aztec, transactions are proven on your device before being sent to the network. This means:
- Your wallet generates zero-knowledge proofs
- Proof generation happens locally
- Only the proof (not your private data) is shared with the network
Key Management
Aztec accounts use multiple key types for different purposes:
- Nullifier keys - Spend your private notes by creating nullifiers that mark notes as consumed
- Incoming viewing keys - Decrypt notes that others send to you
- Outgoing viewing keys - Decrypt records of notes you've sent to others
- Tagging keys - Help your wallet efficiently find and index your private notes
Your wallet derives all of these from your master seed and manages them securely. For transaction authorization, Aztec uses its native account abstraction—your account contract defines its own authentication logic, which may use one of these keys or a separate signing mechanism.
Hardware Wallet Support
Current Status
Hardware wallet support for Aztec is planned but not yet available. This is a high priority for the ecosystem.
How It Would Work
When hardware wallets are supported, they would:
- Store authentication keys securely - Keys used for transaction authorization never leave the hardware device
- Authorize transactions - Approve transactions with physical confirmation
- Work with viewing keys - Some viewing functionality may need to remain on software wallets for practicality
Challenges
Supporting hardware wallets with Aztec's privacy model presents unique challenges:
- Proof generation - Zero-knowledge proofs require significant computation, which hardware wallets can't perform
- Key types - Aztec uses multiple key types that need different handling
- Privacy trade-offs - Balancing hardware security with the need to view private state
Expected Support
The Aztec team is working on hardware wallet integration. Ledger and Trezor support is planned for future releases. Check the Aztec forum for updates.
Choosing a Wallet
When selecting an Aztec wallet, consider:
| Factor | What to Look For |
|---|---|
| Security | Open source, audited code |
| Backup | Seed phrase or key export options |
| Compatibility | Support for the applications you use |
| Device support | Browser extension, mobile, or desktop |
Security Best Practices
- Back up your keys - Write down your recovery phrase and store it securely
- Use separate accounts - Keep large holdings in accounts you don't use for daily transactions
- Verify addresses - Always double-check addresses before sending
- Keep software updated - Use the latest wallet versions for security fixes
Learn about building wallet integrations in the Wallets documentation.