Frequently Asked Questions

Can I join multiple federations?

Yes. There is no limit to how many federations you can join. Each federation is independent — they have no way of knowing which other federations you're a member of or how much you hold in each.

Do I need to go through KYC?

No. Fedimint promotes KYF (Know Your Friends / Know Your Family) rather than KYC. You should only join federations where you trust the guardians.

What happens if I lose my phone?

Your wallet app automatically backs up your data (encrypted and sharded) across the federation guardians. You can recover your funds by restoring your wallet — no seed phrase required. The specific recovery process depends on your wallet app and federation.

Can guardians see my balance or transactions?

No. Fedimint uses Chaumian eCash with blind signatures. Guardians cannot see individual balances, transaction details, or link notes to specific users.

What if a guardian goes offline?

Fedimint's consensus protocol is designed to tolerate a minority of guardians going offline. The federation continues operating normally. If a majority goes offline, the federation pauses until enough guardians come back online.

Can I move my Bitcoin out of a federation?

Yes. You can redeem your eCash notes for on-chain Bitcoin, or transfer your funds out via the Lightning Network at any time.

What is eCash?

eCash notes are digital bearer certificates — think of them as digital banknotes. They're stored on your phone, can be sent to others, and are redeemable for Bitcoin. Unlike account balances, they carry no identity information.