Setup a Blockstream Jade Wallet
Blockstream Jade stands out from other hardware wallets Sparrow supports: it can connect over USB like any other device, or work in a genuinely air-gapped mode — exchanging data with Sparrow purely through QR codes on-screen, with no cable or Bluetooth connection at all.
Prerequisites
- A Blockstream Jade device
- Sparrow Wallet installed (Download)
- A working webcam if you plan to use QR mode
Step 1: Initialize Your Jade
Power on your Jade and follow the on-screen setup to create a new wallet.
Choose a 12 or 24-word recovery phrase length (24 words under the Advanced option), and write it down on paper — never digitally.
Use the wheel or touch controls on the Jade to verify the recovery phrase you just wrote down.
Set and confirm a 6-digit PIN, used each time you unlock the Jade.
Two Ways to Connect: USB or QR (Air-Gapped)
USB Mode
Simplest to set up — connect via cable, and Sparrow talks to the Jade directly, similar to Ledger or Trezor. Supports Bitcoin and Liquid assets.
QR Mode (Air-Gapped)
No physical connection at all. Sparrow’s webcam scans QR codes shown on the Jade’s screen, and the Jade’s camera scans codes back from your screen. Bitcoin-only, but the strongest security option since the device is never electronically connected to your computer.
Step 2: Connect Using USB
In Sparrow, go to File → New Wallet, name it, choose Single Signature and Native Segwit.
Under Keystore, choose Connected Hardware Wallet, then click Scan.
Unlock your Jade when prompted, then import the keystore. Click Apply, then Save.
Step 2 (Alternative): Connect Using QR / Air-Gapped Mode
In the same New Wallet flow, choose Airgapped Hardware Wallet instead of Connected Hardware Wallet.
On the Jade, navigate to its QR export option to display your wallet’s public key as a QR code.
In Sparrow, click Scan — this activates your webcam. Point it at the Jade’s screen to read the QR code.
Once imported, click Apply, then Save. From now on, signing transactions works the same way: Sparrow displays a QR code with the unsigned transaction, the Jade scans it, you review and approve on the device, and the Jade displays a QR code with the signed transaction for Sparrow to scan back.
If Sparrow struggles to read the QR code from your Jade’s screen, look for a “Use HD Capture” option in the scanning window — enabling it often fixes recognition issues caused by lower-resolution webcams.
Step 3: Receive Funds
Go to the Receive tab for a fresh address. As with any hardware wallet, verify the address on the Jade’s own screen before sharing it for any significant amount.
Step 4: Send and Sign a Transaction
The flow depends on how you connected. In USB mode, Sparrow prompts your Jade directly to sign, the same as Ledger or Trezor. In QR mode, Sparrow shows a QR code representing the unsigned transaction — scan it with the Jade, review the details on its screen, approve, then scan the resulting QR code back into Sparrow to broadcast. Either way, always check the destination address and amount on the Jade’s own screen before approving.