Sunsetting the Custodial Primal Wallet

TLDR: The custodial wallet service will be discontinued on April 30, 2026. All Primal users should upgrade to the new Spark-based wallet, which was released two weeks ago as a part of Primal 3.0.

Nearly three years ago, we built the first Nostr app with a deeply integrated bitcoin wallet. We wanted a simple, zero-config wallet that just works out of the box. At the time, the only way to deliver that experience was with a custodial setup. We partnered with the legends at Strike and built what became the most widely used wallet in the Nostr ecosystem.

Over the past year, bitcoin payment technology has taken a meaningful step forward. New layer 2 protocols like Spark and Ark make it possible to build non-custodial wallets that are just as simple and seamless as custodial ones. With Primal 3.0, we were able to ship a Spark-based wallet that “just works” without relying on a custodian, without KYC, and without compromising on user experience.

Migrating from a custodial service can be a daunting task for some users, so we worked hard to make the upgrade process as quick and easy as possible. The Primal 3.0 app prompts the user to upgrade, and the migration is done in less than a minute. With one click, we are able to migrate the balance & full transaction history, and point the existing Primal lightning address to the new Spark-based wallet.

Since we shipped Primal 3.0 two weeks ago, nearly 14,000 users have migrated to the new Spark-based wallet. The migration process has worked well, and we feel that we are now ready to set the sunset date for the old wallet: the custodial wallet service will be discontinued on April 30, 2026.

As always, our team is here if you need any help with wallet migration or Primal in general. Below are some frequently asked questions:

Can I keep using my existing custodial Primal Wallet?

Yes, but not for long. The custodial wallet will continue to be operational until April 30, 2026. Please ensure that you move your funds or upgrade to the new wallet prior to that date. After that date you will no longer be able to use the old custodial wallet.

What happens if I don’t move my funds before the custodial wallet sunset date?

After April 30, 2026 the old custodial wallet will no longer be operational. If you don’t upgrade and still have some funds in that wallet, you will be able to recover them by contacting us at support@primal.net. Please make sure you include your Nostr npub in your email.

How do I upgrade to the new Primal Wallet?

Upgrading is quick and easy:

1. Install the latest version of the Primal mobile app

2. Click “Start Wallet Upgrade”

That’s it! The upgrade process will transfer your wallet balance and the entire transaction history to your new non-custodial wallet. Once the wallet migration is complete, don’t forget to backup your new wallet. Simply go to Settings / Wallet / Backup Wallet Now.

Can I keep my existing Primal lightning address after the upgrade?

Yes. Your Primal lightning address won’t change after the upgrade.

Can I transfer my funds to a different wallet before I upgrade?

Yes. The old custodial wallet remains fully functional until April 30, 2026. You can send your funds to any other bitcoin wallet before upgrading.

Does the new Primal wallet support both lightning and on-chain transactions?

Yes. Just like the old custodial wallet, the new Primal wallet enables users to send and receive lightning and on-chain bitcoin transactions.

Will I be able to revert to the old custodial wallet after the upgrade?

No. After the wallet upgrade is completed, you will not be able to revert to the old custodial wallet, however your full transaction history will be transferred to the new wallet.

Which technology is the new Primal wallet built on?

The new Primal wallet is built on the Spark network technology. For more information, you can visit: https://spark.money.

Are there any transaction fees that I need to pay to upgrade?

No. Primal will cover all transaction fees required to upgrade all our users to their new non-custodial wallets.

Does the new wallet support Nostr Wallet Connect?

Yes. The new Primal Wallet supports Nostr Wallet Connect, but it works a bit differently than the custodial wallet. Because it’s non-custodial, the Primal mobile app must be running to sign NWC requests. For the best experience, we recommend using NWC together with the Primal Remote Signer.

I have existing NWC connections to the old Primal wallet. Will I have to re-create those with the new wallet?

Yes. Old NWC connections will stop working when the old wallet is deprecated on April 30, 2026. You will have to recreate NWC connections to point to the new wallet.