MyMonero Alternatives — A Desktop Replacement Path

MyMonero shut down January 6, 2026. The official handoff goes to Cake Wallet (mobile-only). For desktop users, here's a different answer.

MyMonero, the long-running web wallet for the Monero blockchain, ended service on January 6, 2026, with all server data destroyed by February 6, 2026. The official migration path directs users to Cake Wallet, which is mobile-only. Desktop-leaning MyMonero users seeking a desktop self-custody alternative often consider Zano Wallet, which is purpose-built for the Zano privacy blockchain — a CryptoNote-derived chain related to Monero.

What happened to MyMonero

MyMonero served the Monero ecosystem as a web/light wallet for over a decade. In late 2025, MyMonero announced it would sunset the service on January 6, 2026, with all server data destroyed by February 6, 2026.

The reason given (in MyMonero's own words): "Light wallets requiring view keys are increasingly at odds with Monero's privacy evolution." Light wallets work by sharing your view key with a server so the server can scan the blockchain on your behalf. The server can see your transactions; only the spending capability stays with you. This was a useful UX trade-off in 2014, but it's a privacy concession that doesn't fit how the privacy-coin ecosystem now thinks about wallet trust.

The MyMonero team directed users to migrate to Cake Wallet — a different wallet, different team, different design.

The handoff problem

Cake Wallet is the official MyMonero migration destination. Cake Wallet is a well-built, open-source mobile-first multi-chain wallet supporting Monero, Bitcoin, ZANO, and several other chains.

The catch: Cake Wallet has no desktop application. No Windows, no Mac, no Linux. It's mobile (iOS, Android) plus web wallet. For users who chose MyMonero specifically because they wanted to use a privacy wallet from a desktop browser, this isn't a like-for-like migration — it's a forced platform change to mobile.

What you have today

If you're a current MyMonero user, your options:

A. Migrate to Cake Wallet (the official path). Mobile-only. Open-source. Multi-chain including XMR. Works for users moving to a phone-first workflow.

B. Migrate to a Monero desktop wallet. Monero GUI is the official Monero desktop wallet. Feather Wallet is a community-favored alternative. Both are Monero-only and require running a Monero full node or trusting a remote node.

C. Reconsider the privacy-coin landscape. This is the option this page exists to discuss.

MyMonero's shutdown is a moment when many users are reassessing their privacy-coin choices anyway. If you're in that mode, Zano is worth considering.

Where Zano Wallet fits

Zano Wallet is a desktop self-custody privacy wallet for the Zano blockchain. The migration story:

Desktop-native (Windows, Mac, Linux) — what MyMonero gave you on the web, but locally on your machine
Self-custody — your seed phrase, your funds, no server holding view keys
Privacy by default — same CryptoNote-derived privacy primitives Monero uses (the original CryptoNote codebase author leads Zano development)
Open source — auditable code published with every release
No KYC — no signup, no email, no ID

Important honesty: MyMonero held Monero (XMR), not Zano (ZANO). Migrating from MyMonero to Zano Wallet means swapping XMR → ZANO, which is a chain-and-coin migration, not a like-for-like wallet swap. If you want to keep your XMR, the realistic options are Monero GUI or Feather Wallet (both Monero-only desktop). If you're open to switching chains as part of the move, Zano is a worth evaluating.

Why some MyMonero users choose Zano specifically

The MyMonero shutdown reasoning (light-wallet model deprecated as a privacy posture) is itself an argument for choosing a chain that's been thinking about privacy-stake architecture from the protocol level. Zano's distinguishing features:

Hidden-amount Proof-of-Stake (Zarcanum) — first PoS scheme that hides stake amounts. Monero is PoW-only, no staking option.
Confidential Assets — private tokens issued on Zano with the same privacy guarantees as native ZANO.
On-chain aliases — @username payment addresses on the chain itself.
Atomic swaps via Zano Trade — built-in P2P decentralized exchange.

Lead developer Andrey Sabelnikov originally wrote the CryptoNote reference implementation that Monero forked from. Continuity with the privacy-coin lineage MyMonero served, but with feature evolution Monero hasn't pursued.

How to migrate (high level)

Before MyMonero shuts down: make sure you have your full Monero seed phrase from MyMonero. Without it, your XMR is unrecoverable after the shutdown.
Restore your XMR somewhere desktop: Monero GUI or Feather Wallet, on the same machine you'll be running Zano Wallet on.
Decide whether to keep XMR, swap to ZANO, or split. All are valid choices. Swapping XMR → ZANO is supported by Flashift, Exolix, ChangeNow, atomic swaps via Zano Trade, and other no-KYC swap services.
Install Zano Wallet for ZANO holdings going forward.

download zano wallet · buy crypto without kyc (covers swap services)

Common questions

"Can I use my MyMonero seed in Zano Wallet?" No. MyMonero's seed encodes Monero (XMR) keys, not Zano keys. Different cryptographic schemes. Restore your XMR seed in a Monero wallet first; generate a new Zano seed in Zano Wallet for any ZANO you acquire.

"Will MyMonero refund or compensate users?" No refunds — MyMonero was a free service and you always controlled your own funds. If you have your seed phrase, your XMR is intact and recoverable.

"What if I miss the shutdown?" As long as you have your MyMonero seed phrase, you can restore your XMR in any Monero-compatible wallet at any time, before or after MyMonero's website goes offline. The seed phrase is the source of truth, not the website.

Get Zano Wallet for desktop

Open source. No signup. Full self-custody on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Download Zano Wallet