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NuFi wallet supports the SLIP39 wallet backup standard, including SLIP39 Recovery Shares created using a Trezor device in Trezor Suite.
This article explains how SLIP39 works, and how to restore a wallet into NuFi’s non-custodial interface using SLIP39 Recovery Shares.
IN THIS ARTICLE:
Part 1: What is SLIP39?
SLIP39 is a standard for securely backing up and restoring a crypto wallet. In a nutshell:
SLIP39 enhances wallet security by allowing a wallet’s backup phrase to be represented by multiple different phrases, known as Recovery Shares.
Each Share represents just part of a backup phrase, meaning multiple Shares *must* be combined in order to restore a wallet – one Share on its own *cannot* restore a wallet.
When you create a SLIP39 backup, you decide how many Shares to create in total (maximum 16) and how many Shares are required to restore your wallet, which is known as the ‘threshold’.
For example, you might create a “2-of-3” threshold, where 3 Shares are created in total, and 2 Shares are required to restore your wallet.
In this way, SLIP39 helps mitigate the risk associated with having a single backup phrase and a single point of failure.
Why use SLIP39?
With SLIP39, you can store your wallet backup in several parts and with different people – each with their own unique Share – without granting access to any one person. You can also store Shares in different locations to achieve the same goal (i.e. no single point of failure).
SLIP39 wallet backup doesn’t just provide superior security – it’s more flexible too. Unlike other security standards, SLIP39 allows you to create new Shares or adjust your setup over time without needing to move your crypto assets to a new wallet.
How do I create a SLIP39 wallet backup?
You can create a SLIP39 wallet backup using Trezor Suite. The how-to guide here explains how to do this for brand new Trezor devices. Advanced users can also use this tool (but be aware: it's experimental, and you should only use this if you know what you're doing).
When creating a SLIP39 backup, you decide how many Shares to create in total, and how many Shares are required in order to restore your wallet (the threshold). From then on, you will be able to restore your wallet’s Recovery Shares directly onto a compatible hardware wallet (like a Trezor Model T, Safe3 or Safe5 device) or into a non-custodial wallet such as NuFi wallet.
Part 2: How to restore a wallet into NuFi using SLIP39 Recovery Shares
Required: enough Recovery Shares to meet your threshold requirements
Download NuFi wallet’s browser extension here or open NuFi’s web wallet here.
Both versions of NuFi wallet support SLIP39; NuFi’s browser extension connects to all DApps whereas the web wallet connects only to DApps that support WalletConnect.
Open NuFi wallet’s browser extension (or navigate to wallet.nu.fi); click the third option, ‘Restore Wallet’
Select ‘SLIP39’ and then enter as many Recovery Shares as you need to satisfy the threshold (in any order). For reference, NuFi wallet will indicate how many Recovery Shares are needed.
Click Continue; choose a wallet profile name and set a password. This enables you to log in quickly next time.
Click ‘Go to wallet’; your wallet’s accounts and assets will be restored into NuFi wallet’s interface:
Important: you may need to add or enable a blockchain before its accounts are visible inside NuFi’s interface. Do this by clicking the gear icon next to the blockchain selector.
You can double-check your Recovery Shares in wallet Settings, as shown below:
FAQs
Is SLIP39 safe?
Yes, SLIP39 is a more-secure alternative to using a single backup phrase for your wallet. Using SLIP39 backup with multiple Recovery Shares, you can restore your wallet even if one Share becomes unavailable, as long as you have enough Shares to satisfy the threshold.
Likewise, if one Share is stolen or somehow compromised, that person cannot restore your wallet unless they also steal the other Shares needed to satisfy the threshold.
Important: make sure you only enter Recovery Shares into a non-custodial wallet interface that you trust, or directly onto a hardware wallet device.
SLIP39 vs. BIP39
SLIP39 and BIP39 are both wordlists that contain the words used to represent a wallet’s private keys in an easy-to-read format. While both SLIP39 and BIP39 work in this way, SLIP39 has its unique advantages:
Unlike BIP39, SLIP39 allows you to split a backup phrase into multiple Shares, and specify the number of Shares needed to restore a wallet.
SLIP39 allows for setup changes over time, e.g. creating new Shares with a different threshold, which BIP39 doesn’t allow for.
SLIP39 uses an upgraded wordlist with carefully selected words that are more easily distinguishable than BIP39’s wordlist.
Which blockchains are supported by SLIP39?
SLIP39 is blockchain agnostic; entering the required number of Recovery Shares will restore accounts for whichever blockchains are supported by the wallet interface you’re using. NuFi’s non-custodial wallet, for example, supports all major chains (Bitcoin, Solana, Ethereum, Cardano, BNB Chain, Base and all other EVM chains too, as well as SVM chains like Sonic SVM and Eclipse, as well as Flow). Restoring a wallet into NuFi using SLIP39 will restore accounts on all of these chains.
Which wallets are compatible with SLIP39?
NuFi wallet supports SLIP39 wallet recovery and will soon support SLIP39 backup creation too. Trezor Suite supports the creation and restoration of SLIP39 Recovery Shares for hardware wallet devices.