# Cypher Box > Open-source Bitcoin wallet with progressive self-custody levels for beginners to advanced users. (iPhone/iPad app by Cypher Box LLC.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cypher-box/id6752903978 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Cypher Box LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1758226185) - Category: Finance, Utilities - Price: Free - Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 15.1 · 60 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2026-03-24 - Data updated: 2026-08-27 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cypher-box/id6752903978/reviews.md ## What is Cypher Box? Open-source Bitcoin wallet appropriate for beginners who want to gradually reach advanced self-custody. It features a progressive framework that strikes a balance between; security, fees, and UX. Your progression as a user takes four difficulty levels, reflecting your understanding of Bitcoin and the amount of balance you want to secure. The app can be ultra newbie-friendly since it comes with Lightning Network service providers, but as your balance grows, you can transfer your Bitcoin into a more secure environment by creating hot or cold storage vaults. Note: We do NOT custody your funds. Level 1 - absolute beginner: Lightning Account (e.g Strike) - Instant Lightning Network payments with low fees via a custodial or exchange service provider. - Receive small or medium amounts of bitcoin - Threshold-based withdrawals to minimize withdrawal fees and security/counterparty risk. - Seamless withdrawals to self-custodial vaults. (if created) Level 2 - newbie: Lightning Vault (Bark) - Instant noncustodial Lightning payments with low fees. - Receive small or medium amounts of bitcoin - Seamless swap to/from to a custodian(s) or exchange(s). - Lightning capsule refresh reminder to keep balance backed up and under the user’s full control. - Withdraw to hot or cold storage (if created) Level 3 - advanced: Hot or Cold Storage Vault - Generate a 12-word backup - Connect hardware wallet - Receive large to medium amounts of bitcoin (onchain) - Withdraw from Lightning wallets to cold or hot storage - Lightning wallet Top-ups for quick liquidation - Move coins between vaults - Batch, label, and manage coins (coincontrol) Level 4 - power user: Multi-Custodian multi-vault - Diversify funds across multiple Lightning custodians and your self-custodial vaults. - Swap between custodians and non-custodial Bark vault - Manage custodial thresholds to balance risks. Other features: - Interactive bar display to visualize balance in relation to your thresholds - Graphical representation of 'Capsules' or coins (UTXOs) that reflect their size (soon) - Total balance across all checking accounts and vaults Technical specs: - LNURL - SegWit-first - Bip39 - Watch-only vault - PSBT - Private keys never leave your device ## Key features - Progressive self-custody levels - Lightning Network integration - Hot and Cold storage vaults - 12-word backup for hot vault - Hardware wallet connectivity for cold vault - Interactive balance visualization ## Frequently asked questions about Cypher Box ### What is Cypher Box? Cypher Box is an open-source Bitcoin wallet designed to help users achieve self-custody of their funds. It offers a progressive framework with four difficulty levels, starting from beginner-friendly Lightning Network transactions and progressing to advanced hot and cold storage vaults. ### Is Cypher Box secure? Cypher Box prioritizes security with features like private keys never leaving the device, SegWit-first implementation, and BIP39 support. For enhanced security, it allows connection to hardware devices for cold storage vaults. ### Can I use Cypher Box for large amounts of Bitcoin? Yes, Cypher Box supports progressively larger amounts of Bitcoin as you advance through its levels. Level 2 allows for sizeable amounts in a self-custodial hot savings vault, and Level 3 enables deposits and withdrawals of large amounts using a hardware cold wallet. ### Does Cypher Box custody my funds? No, Cypher Box explicitly states that it does NOT custody user funds. The app is designed for self-custody, meaning you retain full control over your private keys and Bitcoin. ### What devices does Cypher Box support? Cypher Box is currently supported on iPhone and iPod devices. ### How often is Cypher Box updated? The latest version of Cypher Box is 0.9, which was last updated on April 24, 2026. This indicates a recent update, suggesting active development. ### What is the age rating for Cypher Box? Cypher Box has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users. ### What are the transaction fees like with Cypher Box? For Lightning Network transactions (Level 1), Cypher Box offers near-zero fees. For main Bitcoin Network transactions, users can assign a threshold for withdrawals to balance Bitcoin Network fees and counter-party risk. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 0.1.7 — 2026-08-22 - Hot vault: Add your own entropy with dice rolls and an optional passphrase when setting up your hot vault. - Upgraded the Bark engine (0.6.1) for reliability across capsule refresh and unilateral exit. Your capsules now renew themselves through the server without keeping the app open, and you keep full unilateral-exit control the entire time. - Automatic capsule maintenance: received capsules auto-refresh, and a background sweep renews capsules economically well before they expire. - One-tap dust consolidation: combine tiny leftover capsules into a single healthy one instead of leaving them stranded. - Emergency exit hardened: Clearer capsule status and expiry warnings, and recovery for stuck refreshes. - Custodial tokens now encrypted with a device key held in the secure keychain. ### 0.1.6 — 2026-08-04 - Bark Vault: Delegated refresh implemented. Smoother refresh, last minute server-side refresh before expiry (ASP may refresh on your behalf but relies on its availability, not trust) - Hardened password unlock throttling, custodial token storage, Lightning payment checks, and screen-capture protection. ### 0.1.4 — 2026-07-22 Bark wallet upgrade - Faster payment and swaps - Stuck refresh detection - Safer recovery: seedphrase + backup file (.cbark) ### 0.1.3 — 2026-07-14 Bark engine upgrade + smoother swaps. - Create a Bark vault, then delete and restore it from your backup file - Swap between Bark, Coinos, and Strike both ways (slow swaps now finish in the background, safe to leave the screen) Note: Bark Lightning payments can sometimes take a few minutes to land but mostly it's as fast as custodial wallet. Keep safe: seedphrase + backup file .cbark ### 0.1.2 — 2026-07-11 - New: Ark Vault: non-custodial lightning wallet - New: Buy Bitcoin with Strike and withdraw it straight into your own vaults. - Stability and reliability improvements. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-27.*