Stepping into the cosmos of cryptocurrency is both exciting and terrifying for investors. Pick the best cold wallet and take advantage of the endless opportunities offered by this space while keeping your assets secure.
Unlike a traditional wallet, which mostly carries physical items like cash, bank cards, and other items, crypto wallets act as the storage for your cryptocurrencies. Your digital assets are stored on the blockchain, and only a unique private key can help you access them. This private key is a representation of your ownership to the cryptocurrencies that are present in that digital wallet. Keeping your private keys safe is extremely important as losing access to it will cause you to lose your currencies present inside that wallet.
Crypto wallets come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from hardware wallets, like a Ledger which looks like a USB stick, or mobile apps, like the Coinbase wallet and MetaMask, that act as a virtual banking app for crypto users.
Join us in showcasing the cryptocurrency revolution, one newsletter at a time. Subscribe now to get daily news and market updates right to your inbox, along with our millions of other subscribers (that’s right, millions love us!) — what are you waiting for?
Importance of a Crypto Wallet
Cryptocurrency wallets are considered the safest option for crypto holders to store their assets in a digital (software wallet) or a physical (hardware wallet) storage location where they can easily manage their blockchain assets and cryptocurrency holdings. Users can purchase, acquire, and exchange cryptocurrencies using these wallets. Although some wallets only allow one cryptocurrency, most wallets offer multi-asset solutions that enable users to hold several cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Cardano, among many others, simultaneously.
By demanding complex passwords as well as employing other safety precautions, such as two-factor authentication (2FA), these systems make sure that the holder of cryptocurrencies and blockchain assets is the only individual with access to the funds.
Difference Between Cold Wallets and Hot Wallets
Hot wallets don't need to switch between offline and online modes to execute a cryptocurrency transaction because they are online all the time. Investors holding a large among of coins are not advised to retain their assets in hot wallets. Even though a hot mobile wallet isn't the same as a physical wallet that we use in the real world, there is one thing they have in common: the risk related to keeping a lot of money in them.
When your hot wallet's balance falls low, you can transfer more crypto to it, much like you may withdraw cash from an ATM to fulfill a temporary need and fill in more overtime on a recurring basis.
On the other hand, cold wallets are specially built devices used to store various cryptocurrencies in physical form. One of the most significant advantages of cold wallets is that you can carry your cryptos along with you (physically) at any time. These wallets are often tiny and compact, allowing for ease and discretion when transferring cryptos or simply carrying them around with you.
The Best Cold Wallets You Should Know About
1. Ledger Nano X
Current Price: $119
Ledger's 2nd generation cold storage wallet is known as the Nano X. More than 1,800 currencies and tokens, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Cardano, are supported via the integrated Ledger Live platform, which is simple to understand and use. Support for additional cryptocurrencies is added on the Ledger Live platform at the request of the crypto community each year. A USB cable connects the wallet to your computer, and the Bluetooth technology connects it to Android and iOS mobile devices, a unique feature not present in many cryptocurrency cold wallets.
The Ledger Live software is directly integrated into the Nano X cold hardware wallet, as it helps users manage all their cryptocurrencies through its easy-to-use user interface. It allows them to manage their holdings and add additional wallets for different cryptocurrencies to their gadgets. It includes a 1 USB-C to USB-A connection, which can be used to link it to a desktop computer or a smartphone instead of using Bluetooth.
2. Trezor Model T
Current Price: 159 EUR
Trezor Model T is the 2nd generation of hardware wallets, similar to the Ledger, but with an additional capability to allow its users access to third-party exchanges, such as Changelly and CoinSwitch, instantly from the Trezor internet interface. Trezor Model T has a touch screen, which makes it easier for newer cryptocurrency wallet users to operate than the previous model which had two push buttons. The Trezor also features a MicroSD card port, which allows you to encrypt the PIN and secure your device from cyberattacks.
Exclusive security features include the Shamir Backup, which can establish up to 16 shares that are used to recover coins if something goes wrong with your device.
The addition of in-wallet exchanges is another useful feature. You can use them to buy cryptocurrency with fiat currency and convert from one cryptocurrency to another, all within Trezor. The method of sending and receiving crypto is simple. To add an extra layer of protection, go to the Receive tab and establish a receive address in the app that you'll have to confirm on the Trezor Model T.
You can also use the Trezor's QR button to see the address's QR code, which your sender can scan to start the transfer. Payment will be listed under the Transaction page as soon as it is processed.
Trezor offers a comprehensive guide that includes a wealth of instructional content about Bitcoin as well as information about the Trezor devices. There's a FAQ section on its site as well to get people started with the hardware wallet. You can also use the troubleshooter tool to search the wiki for solutions to common problems and resolve them instantly.
3. CoolWallet Pro
Current Price: $149
CoolWallet Pro is a new DeFi-focused mobile hardware wallet released in May 2021. It has the form factor of a credit card, with enhanced security and encrypted Bluetooth communication that keep crypto-assets safe inside your actual wallet with full access to a wide range of decentralized finance features. It comes with an eye-catching e-ink screen to visually check data first, and a sunken button to physically confirm all transactions.
This cold storage device comes with enhanced, multi-layer cold storage security through its EAL6+ secure element (SE), various biometric in-app verifications, AES256 encrypted Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), and five processors to control its SE, MCU, e-Ink driver, Power Management and BLE.
The CoolWallet Pro's secure element (SE) supports the ECDSA transaction signing algorithm and uses a true random number generator (RNG) as well as a hardware crypto accelerator.
It utilizes BIP-32 (HD wallet), BIP-44 (multi-coin and address support), and BIP-39 (seed creation and wallet recovery mnemonic) and supports signing with multiple algorithms, including ECDSA (secp256k1), SHA256, ripemd160, RLP, Base32, Ed25519, Hmac, Ripemd, SHA1, SHA512, SHA3_256, SHA3_512, keccak_256, and keccak_512.
The CoolWallet's laminated exterior is bonded with thin flexible printed circuits, and components through a patented cold compression process to ensure it remains tamper-free and water-resistant. Its lithium-ion battery provides a single battery charge that lasts several weeks.
CoolWallet Pro, the third in the CoolWallet series dating back to 2016, caters to DeFi users who want to put their assets to work on the next generation of eco-friendly PoS (Proof-of-Stake) networks through staking protocols. In addition to its existing portfolio (BTC/ETH/USDT/LTC/XRP/ERC20/BNB and more), the Pro offers native support for Polkadot (DOT), Cosmos (ATOM), Tron (TRX) and TRC20 tokens, Binance Smart Chain's BEP-20 assets and in the near future, ETH 2.0, Cardano (ADA) and NFTs.
CoolWallet Pro's use case extends far beyond simple coin storage, such as earning attractive passive rewards by staking DOT, TRX, or ATOM or transacting on its streamlined integrated in-app marketplace that connects the user to several popular decentralized and centralized financial products. It's a perfect choice for crypto users on the go who are looking to keep their hardware wallet in their actual wallet.
4. KeepKey
Current Price: $49
KeepKey is a pen-drive form of a hardware wallet that uses the same offline, cold-storage technique for your public and private keys, as well as a backup seed phrase if your KeepKey is lost or damaged.
KeepKey was created to operate in tandem with the ShapeShift currency exchange platform, making it simple to safely trade multiple currencies. KeepKey's software is completely open-source, and you can also check it on GitHub to cross-verify it.
KeepKey is a hardware wallet with some impressive security features. It is protected by a personalized pin code of your choice, which makes it secure against physical theft.
The hardware wallet is significantly larger than other well-known crypto wallets, however, it doesn’t hinder the usage mechanism. It is simple to set it up and transact digital assets.
5. Ellipal Titan
Current Price: $139
Ellipal Titan is well-known for its air-gapped hardware wallet security. What’s unique about Ellipal hardware wallet is that it is isolated physically, electromagnetically, and electrically from all other networks when it is in an air-gapped state.
Ellipal Titan includes a 4-inch color touch screen that makes it simple to set up and monitor all the real-time transactions.
While other hardware wallets utilize USB or Bluetooth to sign transactions, Ellipal Titan's Ellipal app simply uses QR codes. In reality, the Ellipal Titan circuit board was designed to prevent all physical connections, including Wifi, Bluetooth, and cellular. It safeguards your device from both online and offline attacks, thanks to its anti-tamper self-destruct feature. It will destroy all information (private keys) contained in it within if it senses a forced intrusion. Of course, you always have the recovery seed to recover your coins if something goes wrong.
6. Safepal S1
Current Price: $49.99
The SafePal S1 Hardware Wallet was launched back in 2019. It supports 19 different blockchains and over 10,000 different tokens, including non-fungible tokens (NFTs) which are taking over the crypto market right now.
SafePal is a cutting-edge wallet that aims to give crypto customers a safe, simple, and easy-to-use crypto management solution. To assist it to reach this objective, it has incorporated several operational and security elements, including recovery seed, two-factor authentication (2FA), pin code, key-deletion pool, that make it a relatively safer option than most hardware wallets out there.
The SafePal S1 hardware wallet features a minimalist appearance that resembles an MP3 player. It has a rather large color screen, a QR code scanner, and a D-pad controller for navigating the wallet.
The SafePal hardware wallet's creators have also created a SafePal wallet software, which you can use to monitor your cryptocurrency balance and perform cryptocurrency transactions.
SafePal S1 features a simple onboarding procedure, despite its size. It is easier to interact with the crypto vault and receive and send cryptos, thanks to the large display screen and the readily accessible mobile wallet app interface.
To protect the integrity of the SafePal S1 hardware wallet and the private keys stored on it, the creators have taken several effective security and privacy measures, some of which are two unique seals on tamper-proof packaging, in addition to two-factor authentication, offline wallet address creation, a six-digit passcode for the hardware device, and a password plus pattern for the SafePal S1 mobile wallet software.
7. SecuX V20
Current Price: $139
The SecuX V20 is one of SecuX's most popular hardware wallets. The gadget includes a big color touch screen display and a battery for offline/disconnected operation and connects to the host by USB or Bluetooth. It boasts a CC EAL5+ certified secure element chip from Infineon. The SecuX V20 can go totally wireless, thanks to its low-energy Bluetooth connection, which is built on AES-256 technology for optimum data protection. This gadget is safe to use on mobile phones.
You can also use the SecuX V20 as an online wallet. It comes with a USB data cable for this purpose. The wallet is cross-platform compatible, meaning it can be used on a desktop PC, laptop, iPhone, iPad, Android smartphone, tablet, or Chromebook.
The SecuX V20 wallet has a 6000mAH battery that lasts for about seven hours and can be fully recharged in under two hours. The QR code functionality in the SecuX V20 wallet allows for simple fund transfers and transactions from your mobile wallet. The SecuX V20 has a 2.8-inch touchscreen on which crypto users can manage their transactions in real-time. The device has a sleek diamond-shaped design with a brushed metal backside and rubber cushioning that makes it durable.
8. Keystone Pro
Current Price: $169
The Keystone Pro (previously known as Cobo Vault Pro) is a cryptocurrency hardware wallet that is completely air-gapped and comes with a four-inch touchscreen, open-source firmware with a fingerprint sensor, and PSBT Bitcoin multisig support to additional security from malicious attacks.
Keystone is a hierarchical deterministic HD hardware wallet that is BIP 32/39/44 compliant. By integrating QR codes to sign transactions, Keystone has decreased the risk of malware intrusion and enhanced visibility. Due to this feature, the Keystone Pro is completely air-gapped.
The Keystone Pro’s wallet batteries are detachable to avoid corrosion, and both the Essential and Pro versions are AAA battery compatible, so you won't have to worry about battery failure at all. Keystone Pro also comes with a rechargeable battery.
Note: The Keystone Pro hardware wallet is completely air-gapped which means that connecting to blockchain networks necessitates the use of additional software.
Which One Is the Best Cold Wallet?
This is a difficult question to answer as it boils down to the many features, including the level of protection offered by the device. In general, a good hardware wallet should be easy-to-use, compatible with different devices, driven by security measures like two-factor authentication. Some other factors include the support system and reliability of the manufacturer. It is a good practice to write down your preferences and do your own research before going for a cold wallet.
This article contains links to third-party websites or other content for information purposes only (“Third-Party Sites”). The Third-Party Sites are not under the control of CoinMarketCap, and CoinMarketCap is not responsible for the content of any Third-Party Site, including without limitation any link contained in a Third-Party Site, or any changes or updates to a Third-Party Site. CoinMarketCap is providing these links to you only as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by CoinMarketCap of the site or any association with its operators. This article is intended to be used and must be used for informational purposes only. It is important to do your own research and analysis before making any material decisions related to any of the products or services described. This article is not intended as, and shall not be construed as, financial advice. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s [company’s] own and do not necessarily reflect those of CoinMarketCap.
