How to Sign a Message Manually

If your wallet or device is not yet supported in Hoseki’s guided flows, you can still complete verification by signing a message manually. Our recommended tool for this is Sparrow Wallet.

Note: If you are having trouble finding your account identifier (XPUB) in Sparrow, please take a look at this guide for instructions.

Before you start

If you use a hardware device (e.g., Keystone, BitBox, or Passport), we recommend connecting it to Sparrow for signing.
If your keys are stored in software (not on a separate device), follow the separate guide for your specific wallet.
If your device is not already set up in Sparrow, you can import it — Sparrow supports a wide range of import methods.

Note: If you’re using a Jade, we recommend the Blockstream wallet for signing. See our Sign a Message Through Blockstream guide for instructions.

Step 1 — Connect or import your wallet in Sparrow

Open Sparrow Wallet.
Connect your hardware device or import your wallet using the method supported by your device.
Confirm that your account appears correct and everything is up to date.

Step 2 — Locate your first receive address

Go to the Addresses tab in Sparrow.
Locate the first receive address in the list.

Step 3 — Open “Sign Message”

On the first receive address row, click the pen icon to open the Sign Message dialog.
Sparrow will display a form where you can enter the message to be signed. Make sure the address matches the first “Receive” address.

Step 4 — Get your message from Hoseki

In your Prove portal, go to your claims and add a new claim using the “Advanced” option.
Name your claim for easy reference and input your account identifier (XPUB).
Copy the message provided by Hoseki — this is the message you’ll sign in Sparrow.

Step 5 — Sign the message

In Sparrow, paste the Hoseki-provided message into the Message field.
Verify that the Address shown in Sparrow matches the one Hoseki expects.
Click Sign. If you’re using a hardware device, follow the prompts on your device to generate the signature. You can choose the method that works best for you — QR signing is often the easiest, but you can also connect your device via USB or use an SD card to transfer the data.

Important: Signing a message is not the same as signing a transaction. Using your private key to sign a message does not expose or threaten its security, nor does it put your funds at risk. It simply proves ownership of the address — your Bitcoin cannot be moved or spent through this process. For more details, see our guide on message signing.

Step 6 — Return the signature to Hoseki

Once signed, Sparrow will display the Signature value.
You can verify the signature is correct first in Sparrow by selecting the “Verify” button.
Copy this signature and paste it into Hoseki’s manual flow where requested.
Select “Verify” to complete verification.