The Xaman (Xumm) Wallet Guide: Set Up Your XRP Wallet the Right Way

If you’re serious about XRP, at some point you need to get it off the exchange and into a wallet you control. For the XRP Ledger, the go-to self-custody wallet is Xaman — formerly known as Xumm, built by XRPL Labs. This guide walks you through what it is, how to set it up the right way, and the security rules that separate the people who keep their crypto from the people who lose it.

What is Xaman (formerly Xumm)?

Xaman is a non-custodial mobile wallet for the XRP Ledger. “Non-custodial” is the whole point: you hold the keys, on your own device — not an exchange, not a company. Xaman is the interface; your funds live on the ledger and are controlled only by your secret. That’s the difference between “your bank owes you XRP” (an exchange) and “you own XRP” (self-custody). We cover why that matters in our un-freezable money guide.

It was renamed from Xumm to Xaman but it’s the same lineage — the most widely used dedicated XRPL wallet, made by the same team behind the Xahau network. Beyond holding and sending XRP, it supports the XRPL’s features: trustlines (to hold other tokens), the built-in DEX, NFTs, and “xApps” — mini-apps that plug into your wallet.

How to set up Xaman the right way

Follow these steps carefully — especially the backup one, because that’s where people get hurt.

1. Download the real app. Get Xaman only from the official app store listing (iOS App Store or Google Play), and double-check the developer is XRPL Labs. Fake wallet apps exist and their only purpose is to steal your funds. When in doubt, follow the link from the official Xaman website — never from a random DM or ad.

2. Create your account. The app generates a brand-new XRPL wallet for you — a public address (starts with “r…”) and, behind it, a secret. This is created on your device; nobody else gets a copy.

3. Back up your secret — offline. This is the single most important step in all of self-custody. Xaman will have you secure your secret (a recovery secret / seed). Write it down on paper and store it somewhere safe and offline. Do not screenshot it, do not email it to yourself, do not put it in your notes app or cloud. Whoever has this secret controls the funds — forever. Treat it like the only key to a vault, because that’s exactly what it is.

4. Fund the account (mind the reserve). A brand-new XRPL account must hold a small minimum reserve of XRP to be activated (the ledger’s anti-spam design — see our trustline guide). So send a little XRP from your exchange to your new “r…” address to activate it. Send a tiny test amount first, confirm it arrives, then send the rest. Double-check the address every time.

5. You’re live. Now you can receive, send, add trustlines for other tokens, and use xApps — all while holding your own keys.

The security rules that actually keep your crypto

Self-custody gives you total control — and total responsibility. These rules aren’t optional:

• Never share your secret/seed with anyone. Not “support,” not a giveaway, not a friend, not a website. No legitimate person or app will ever ask for it. Anyone who does is trying to rob you.
• Xaman never asks for your seed to “verify” or “sync.” Any prompt like that is a scam. Real transactions are approved by signing in the app, not by typing your secret into a site.
• Read what you sign. When you approve a transaction, actually look at what it does. Malicious xApps or links can request transactions that drain you. If something’s unexpected, reject it.
• Back up offline, in more than one safe place. A lost seed with no backup = lost funds, permanently. There is no “forgot password.”
• Consider a hardware option for big holdings. Xaman supports hardware-key options (like Tangem cards) for extra security on larger amounts — keys never touch an internet-connected device.

The honest catch

We don’t sell fairy tales, so hear this plainly: self-custody means there is no safety net. No password reset, no support line that can recover your funds, no chargebacks. If you lose your seed, or get phished into signing a malicious transaction, or send to the wrong address, the money is gone and no one can get it back. That’s the flip side of true ownership — the same removal of a middleman that makes your XRP un-freezable also removes the middleman who could bail you out of a mistake. Millions of dollars of crypto are lost every year to lost keys and phishing. Take the backup step seriously and you’ll be fine; treat it casually and you’re the cautionary tale.

The Terminalcraft take

Xaman is the standard XRPL wallet for good reason — it’s non-custodial, made by a core XRP team, and it unlocks the full ledger (trustlines, DEX, NFTs, xApps) while keeping your keys in your hands. Getting your XRP off an exchange and into a wallet you control is one of the most important moves you can make in crypto: it’s the difference between owning your money and merely being owed it. Just respect the responsibility that comes with it — guard that seed like your life depends on it, verify every download and every transaction, and never type your secret into anything. Ready to explore the ledger with your own wallet? Check out the free tools on My Terminal.

FAQ

What is Xaman wallet?
Xaman (formerly Xumm) is a non-custodial mobile wallet for the XRP Ledger, built by XRPL Labs. You hold your own keys on your device, and it supports XRP plus XRPL features like trustlines, the DEX, NFTs, and xApps.

Is Xaman the same as Xumm?
Yes — Xaman is the rebranded name for Xumm. Same team (XRPL Labs), same wallet lineage, new name.

Is Xaman safe?
The wallet itself is a reputable, widely used non-custodial app. Your safety mainly depends on you: download only the official app, back up your secret offline, never share your seed, and carefully review every transaction you sign. Self-custody has no recovery safety net, so those habits matter.

How much XRP do I need to start using Xaman?
A new XRPL account requires a small minimum XRP reserve to be activated (the ledger’s anti-spam mechanism), so you’ll need to send a little XRP to your new address to activate it before using it fully. Send a small test amount first to confirm the address works.

What happens if I lose my Xaman seed?
If you lose your recovery secret and have no backup, your funds are permanently lost — there is no password reset or support line that can recover a self-custodied wallet. Always write your seed down and store it safely offline, ideally in more than one place.