> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.hifi.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# External Wallet

> Register and manage externally owned wallets used as destinations for onchain operations and onramps, and as the funding source for an offramp.

An External Wallet is an on-chain address outside HIFI's system - typically a user's own self-custody wallet, or a wallet belonging to a third party. Once registered, it can act as:

* The **destination** for a Crypto Transfer, Swap, or Bridge out of a [HIFI Wallet](/v3/core/wallets/hifi-wallet).
* The **destination** for an Onramp or a Virtual Account, when a client wants fiat converted straight to stablecoins in the user's own wallet instead of a HIFI Wallet.
* The **source** for an Offramp - e.g. a payout triggered by a deposit coming from the external wallet

<Info>
  Every external wallet is tied to a [**counterparty**](/v3/core/counter-party/counterparty) - the recipient entity it belongs to. The counterparty must be active before you can add a wallet for them.
</Info>

<Card title="Counterparty" icon="person">
  The person or entity on the other side of a transaction - the external wallet or bank account the funds are sent to or received from.
</Card>

## Add an external wallet

Registers an address as a whitelisted destination for a counterparty. Requires an `Idempotency-Key` header.

**Request**

```shell theme={null}
curl -X POST https://sandbox.hifi.com/v3/users/usr_x1y2z3/counter-parties/cpty_a1b2c3/external-wallets \
  -H "Idempotency-Key: <unique-key>" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -d '{
    "address": "0x94AFE8D964Af80086d81B1b0F67504eA864482de",
    "chain": "ETHEREUM",
    "name": "Jane External Wallet",
    "referenceId": "jane-external-1"
  }'
```

**Response**

```json theme={null}
{
    "id": "extwlt_QW1e2r3t4y",
    "userId": "usr_x1y2z3",
    "counterPartyId": "cpty_a1b2c3",
    "chain": "ETHEREUM",
    "name": "Jane's External Wallet",
    "address": "0x94AFE8D964Af80086d81B1b0F67504eA864482de",
    "referenceId": "jane-external-1",
    "active": true,
    "createdAt": "2026-07-24T22:10:00.000Z",
    "updatedAt": "2026-07-24T22:10:00.000Z"
}
```

<Info>
  HIFI runs address screenings on newly added external wallets, plus ongoing monitoring. Make sure the wallet is active before initiating a transaction against it.
</Info>

## Deactivate an external wallet

Revokes a previously-added address. A deactivated wallet can no longer be used as a transfer destination - attempts to send to it fail with `RESOURCE_NOT_USABLE` (422) - but its record and history are preserved.

**Request**

```shell theme={null}
curl -X DELETE https://sandbox.hifi.com/v3/users/usr_x1y2z3/counter-parties/cpty_a1b2c3/external-wallets/extwlt_QW1e2r3t4y \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
```

**Response**

```json theme={null}
{
    "id": "extwlt_QW1e2r3t4y",
    "userId": "usr_x1y2z3",
    "counterPartyId": "cpty_a1b2c3",
    "chain": "ETHEREUM",
    "name": "Jane's External Wallet",
    "address": "0x94AFE8D964Af80086d81B1b0F67504eA864482de",
    "referenceId": "jane-external-1",
    "active": false,
    "createdAt": "2026-07-24T22:10:00.000Z",
    "updatedAt": "2026-07-24T22:10:00.000Z"
}
```

## Getting Help

* 📧 **Email:** [support@hifi.com](mailto:support@hifi.com)
* 💬 **Slack:** Message us in our shared Slack channel

## Related Resources

* [Wallets Overview](/v3/core/wallets/overview) - Wallets resources
* [HIFI Wallet](/v3/core/wallets/hifi-wallet) - Provision wallets and read balances
* [Deposit Offers](/v3/core/wallets/deposit-offers) - Accept/reject Canton transfers