Sparrow Wallet and BIP 353: When PayNym Nostalgia Meets the Future of Privacy
❤️ A Journey to the Past That Still Beats
There was a time when Samourai Wallet was synonymous with privacy.
When we discovered PayNym, it felt like having a superpower: creating our own bot, connecting with other “nyms,” and sending Bitcoin without revealing our addresses.
When we discovered PayNym, it felt like having a superpower: creating our own bot, connecting with other “nyms,” and sending Bitcoin without revealing our addresses.
Every BIP 47 payment was a wink among privacy enthusiasts.
It felt like a secret club on the blockchain.
It felt like a secret club on the blockchain.
😢 But Time Waits for No One
As the years went by, limitations appeared:
- It only worked between Samourai users
- The ecosystem became fragmented
- Mass adoption never arrived
- And then... well, you know what happened to Samourai
The nostalgia stayed alive, but we knew Bitcoiners needed something better.
✨ Enter Sparrow Wallet 2.3.0 with BIP 353
When I saw Sparrow implementing Silent Payments, I thought:
“Ah, this feels like the old PayNyms!”
Wrong.
This isn’t nostalgia — it’s evolution.
This isn’t nostalgia — it’s evolution.
🧠 BIP 353: The New Way to Receive Bitcoin Silently
BIP 353, or Silent Payments, takes the PayNym concept to the next level:
| Feature | PayNym (BIP 47) | Silent Payments (BIP 353) |
|---|---|---|
| Prior interaction | Both users needed to “connect” | Zero interaction required |
| Ecosystem | Limited to Samourai | Open to any wallet |
| On-chain privacy | Good, but leaves a visible trace | Completely invisible |
| Ease of use | Requires setup | Just paste and send |
In short:
PayNym was the beginning. Silent Payments is the maturity.
PayNym was the beginning. Silent Payments is the maturity.
🎯 The Magic That Made Me Say “WOW”
Imagine placing your Silent Payment address or your readable BIP 353 name (for example
Anyone using Sparrow 2.3.0+ can send you Bitcoin — and each payment generates a unique, untraceable address.
villawolf@bitcoin.silent) on your public profile.Anyone using Sparrow 2.3.0+ can send you Bitcoin — and each payment generates a unique, untraceable address.
No coordination.
No middle server.
No UTXO exposure.
No middle server.
No UTXO exposure.
Just one transaction — silent and perfect.
🚀 Why This Is Bigger Than PayNym
- Scalable and universal – Not tied to any specific app or closed community.
- Permissionless – Anyone can pay you without asking for permission.
- True privacy – Transactions can’t easily be linked.
- Elegant integration – Sparrow makes it seamless: clear interface, no extra steps.
- Support for BIP 353 names (HRN) – Use readable, secure aliases backed by DNSSEC.
🧩 How to Get Started TODAY
- Update Sparrow Wallet to version 2.3.0 or later
- Generate your Silent Payment address or register your BIP 353 HRN
- Share it confidently — every payment will be private and unrepeatable
- Try sending yourself a payment from another compatible wallet and witness the magic
💭 Final Reflection
PayNyms were our first love in Bitcoin privacy.
They showed us that we could interact without losing sovereignty.
But BIP 353 marks the beginning of a new era —
one where privacy isn’t tied to a brand, but to the protocol itself.
They showed us that we could interact without losing sovereignty.
But BIP 353 marks the beginning of a new era —
one where privacy isn’t tied to a brand, but to the protocol itself.
Privacy is no longer a niche luxury — it’s part of Bitcoin’s DNA.
And thanks to Sparrow, anyone can use it now.