Which Wallet Should I Use?
To hold, view, and trade Counterparty assets like Rare Pepes you need a Counterparty-aware wallet. Here are four good ones. Your keys never leave your wallet — see how CounterTools verifies ownership in our wallet security guide.
Not sure? Start here
- New to this, just want to receive a Pepe → RarePepeWallet (easiest).
- You live in browser extensions (MetaMask-style) → Horizon Wallet or XCP Wallet.
- You want a hardware wallet → XCP Wallet (Trezor) or RarePepeWallet (Ledger).
- You already have an old Counterparty wallet → import your 12-word seed into any of these.
At a glance
| Wallet | Type | Counterparty version | Address types | Hardware | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RarePepeWallet | Web app | Current (v10) | Legacy + UTXO | Ledger | Easiest first Pepe |
| Horizon Wallet | Chrome ext + web | Current (v10) | Segwit / UTXO | — | Browser-native + trading |
| XCP Wallet | Chrome ext | Current (v10) | Legacy + segwit | Trezor | Security/dev + Freewallet import |
| FreeWallet.io | Desktop / mobile / ext | Older branch (v9.61.3) | Legacy + segwit | — | Veterans, both formats |
The wallets
RarePepeWallet — rarepepewallet.wtf
The simplest way to receive and view your first Rare Pepe. Web-based, on the current Counterparty line. Imports legacy Counterwallet 12-word seed phrases and supports Ledger hardware. Gives you a regular address (for Pepes and BTC) plus a UTXO address for UTXO-attached Pepes. Best for newcomers and anyone who mainly wants to browse and manage a collection.
Horizon Wallet — horizon.market/wallet
A Chrome extension and web app on the current Counterparty line — and the one external wallet that supports the full Counterparty protocol (minting, trading, creating collections), with deep Horizon Market integration for swaps and DEX trades. If you’re comfortable in MetaMask-style extensions, this will feel familiar. Best for browser-native users and active traders.
XCP Wallet — Chrome Web Store (built by Dan Anderson)
A focused, security-minded Chrome extension (launched 2026): the full Counterparty DEX, UTXO atomic swaps, Trezor hardware support, BIP-322 message signing, and one-step import of Freewallet seed phrases across legacy and segwit paths. Open source. Best for security-conscious and developer users, Trezor owners, and anyone moving over from Freewallet. (Note: not yet independently audited.)
FreeWallet.io — freewallet.io
A long-standing, full-featured wallet (desktop, mobile, and extension) that holds both legacy (1…) and segwit (bc1…) addresses in one place, with the DEX, dispensers, and asset issuance. It runs an older Counterparty branch (v9.61.3) rather than the current v10 line, so for the newest protocol features prefer a v10 wallet above — but it remains a solid, capable choice. Make sure you use freewallet.io: “FreeWallet.org” is an unrelated custodial wallet, not this.
Address types
BTC or segwit? — don’t overthink it. Any of these wallets gives you the right address; just use what it generates. For receiving an asset, the format doesn’t matter. For Connecting to CounterTools, both legacy (1…) and segwit/taproot (bc1…) work — see below.
Connecting to CounterTools
When you Connect, you prove you own an address by signing a short message — your keys never leave your wallet. CounterTools accepts both BIP-137 (legacy) and BIP-322 (segwit and taproot) signatures, so all four wallets above work. Full detail in the wallet security guide.
Security
Never share your seed phrase or private key — no legitimate site, including CounterTools, will ever ask for them. A wallet is a “hot wallet” if it’s connected to the internet (extensions and web apps); keep only what you’re comfortable with in one. More on how Connect stays safe: /help/wallet-security.