Glossary

Wallet

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A place where cryptocurrency users can store, send and receive digital assets.

What Is a Wallet?

A crypto wallet is a digital wallet that allows users to store, send and receive digital currencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. They are similar to traditional bank accounts in that they enable users to store and manage their money, but they differ in that they are not controlled by a centralized authority, such as a bank or government. Crypto wallets are secured with private keys and passwords, which are used to prove ownership of the digital assets within the wallet. The private keys and passwords must be kept safe and secure, as they are the only way to access the wallet and its contained funds.

Crypto wallets are used to store, receive and send digital currencies. As a result, they are an essential part of the cryptocurrency ecosystem. For example, users can use crypto wallets to purchase goods and services, as well as to store their funds securely.

Types of Crypto Wallets

Crypto wallets come in all shapes and sizes. Where some can only support one digital asset, such as Bitcoin, others allow you to store multiple coins.

Cold Wallets

Cold wallets are physical hardware wallets that are stored offline and are considered the most secure type of crypto wallet. Examples of cold storage wallets include Trezor and Ledger. 

Hot Wallets

Hot wallets are digital wallets connected to the internet, such as mobile or web wallets. They are considered less secure than cold wallets because they are connected to the internet and are vulnerable to hacking attacks. Examples of hot storage wallets include Coinbase Wallet and MetaMask.

Desktop Wallets

Desktop wallets are software applications installed on a computer that allows users to store and manage their cryptocurrencies. They are considered more secure than hot storage wallets but less secure than cold storage wallets. Examples of desktop wallets include Exodus and Electrum

Paper Wallets

Paper wallets are physical documents containing a public address and private key for a cryptocurrency. They are considered one of the most secure types of wallets as the private key is stored offline and is not vulnerable to online attacks. 

Mobile Wallets

Mobile wallets are digital wallets installed on mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets. They allow users to store, send and receive cryptocurrencies from any location.

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