Getting Started¶
This guide will help you set up Vigil and start monitoring your Bitcoin wallets in under 5 minutes.
Prerequisites¶
Before you begin, you'll need:
- A Bitcoin wallet you want to monitor (hardware wallet, software wallet, or addresses)
- One of the following for monitoring:
- An extended public key (xpub/ypub/zpub)
- An output descriptor
- Individual Bitcoin addresses
No Private Keys Required
Vigil is non-custodial. You only provide watch-only data (public keys or addresses). Your private keys never leave your devices.
Quick Start Steps¶
1. Create Your Account¶
Sign up using your preferred method:
- Email - Traditional email/password authentication
- Nostr - Sign in with your Nostr identity (NIP-07)
2. Add Your First Wallet¶
Import your wallet using one of the supported methods:
- Extended Public Key - Export from your hardware wallet or software wallet
- Descriptor - For multisig or complex script setups
- Static Addresses - Monitor up to 20 individual addresses
3. Set Up Notifications¶
Configure how you want to be alerted:
- Choose notification channels (Email, Webhook, Nostr)
- Set confirmation thresholds
- Enable/disable specific event types
What Happens Next¶
Once your wallet is set up:
- Scanning - Vigil performs an initial scan to discover existing addresses and UTXOs
- Monitoring - Your wallet is added to our mempool monitoring system
- Alerting - When any transaction involving your addresses enters the mempool, you'll be notified
Optional: Enable Theft Shield¶
For maximum protection, consider enabling Theft Shield on your mainnet wallets. This advanced feature provides automated RBF protection against theft attempts.
Next: Creating an Account →