Fedi Review
Community-operated Bitcoin wallet combining federated ecash custody, Lightning payments, encrypted chat, and mini-apps in one superapp.
Some links may be affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Why We Recommend Fedi
Fedi solves a real problem: self-custody is too complex for many communities, but centralized exchanges require trusting distant corporations. The federated model lets you trust people you actually know—local leaders, community members, or organization heads—who jointly hold keys in a multisig arrangement. No single guardian can run off with funds, and the Chaumian ecash layer means even guardians can't see your balance or payment history. Intra-federation transfers are instant and essentially free, while Lightning connectivity keeps you plugged into the broader Bitcoin economy.
The app itself is thoughtfully designed around how communities actually communicate. Payments are integrated directly into chat conversations, making sending sats as natural as sending a message. The mini-app platform lets federations embed gift card purchasing, merchant maps, crowdfunding tools, and other Bitcoin-enabled services without leaving the app. This isn't just a wallet—it's a complete community financial operating system built on open protocols (Fedimint) rather than proprietary infrastructure.
Best For
Fedi shines for grassroots communities, cooperatives, churches, savings groups, and organizations in regions where local financial infrastructure is unreliable or surveilled. If your community already has trusted leaders and needs shared financial tools with strong privacy, Fedi offers a middle path that's more accessible than expecting everyone to manage their own keys while avoiding dependence on foreign corporations or KYC-heavy platforms.
NGOs, businesses, and event organizers benefit from the integrated payment and communication stack. Run internal stipend programs, manage conference payments, or coordinate local economies with low fees and built-in privacy. The mini-app ecosystem means you can customize functionality—add merchant directories, crowdfunding, or escrow services—without building from scratch.
Bitcoin communities and meetup groups looking to move beyond just chat into actual economic coordination will find Fedi's combination of messaging, payments, and extensible apps compelling. It's particularly powerful for pilots and experiments where social trust is high and participants want to explore community-scale Bitcoin adoption together.
Services & Features
Considerations
Security depends entirely on trusting your federation's guardians—there's no on-chain proof of reserves or protection against collusion. Users cannot unilaterally recover funds if a majority of guardians fail. The ecosystem is still maturing, with conservative transaction limits and evolving governance tools.
