Secure for Your Cryptocurrencies

Top 10 Hardware Wallets for Storing CryptoCurrencies

Hardware wallets let users store their private keys offline for added security. Some of the top hardware wallets available are products from Ledger, Trezor, SafePal, Ellipal, and KeepKey.

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Hardware wallets are offline crypto asset custody devices, and are usually designed to only connect to other devices via USB, Bluetooth, and other connectivity mediums instead of being constantly connected to the internet.

Hardware wallets are considered the best storage medium for crypto assets due to their offline storage of wallet keys, which reduces the chance of private key theft. 

Ledger and Trezor are two of the largest hardware wallet companies, although there are now other options like card-based cold wallets and hardware wallets with additional features like PIN ciphers.

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Ledger: The Popular Hardware Wallet Classic

Ledger launched the Ledger Nano S, its first hardware wallet in 2016 as a safe storage medium for Bitcoin. Since then, it has released about five cold wallets including the Ledger Nano X, Ledger Flex, and Ledger Nano S Plus, and has grown its support for crypto assets, including NFTs. Ledger wallets store your private keys offline and connect to smart devices for advanced operations like staking and purchasing assets through Ledger Live – the software interface for the Ledger wallet.

You can manage your assets either through the native Ledger Live app, which supports 500 coins and Ethereum and Polygon NFTs, or through 50 supported third-party wallets like MetaMask, which supports over 5,000 coins and multi-blockchain NFTs. 

Ledger Wallet also supports connection through third-party wallets like MetaMask. Through Ledger Live and third-party wallet connections, users can access DeFi platforms and dApps deployed on the supported networks. 

For all Ledger devices, you can recover access to your assets through a 24-word secret recovery phrase, or you may opt for the controversial Ledger Recover, which allows users to retrieve lost private keys. 

🔑 Secure & Portable Crypto Storage

Ledger Nano X

Ledger Nano X tops the Nano S Plus device with a wider body but retains the 1.09 inch screen size. It has a battery with up to five hours of normal use, and offers additional iOS compatibility.The Ledger Nano S has a security rating of EAL5+ and an ANSSI CSPN certification, with USB-C connection and Bluetooth connectivity. At time of writing, the Ledger Nano X retails for $149.

💼 Affordable Security with Enhanced Storage

Ledger Nano S Plus

Ledger Nano S Plus sells for as low as $79. It comes in a plastic body with a stainless steel swivel, a 1.09-inch screen display, and a USB-C connection. It has a security rating of EAL6+ and an ANSSI CSPN certification. The Ledger Nano S Plus is supported on the Ledger Live application and can connect to decentralized applications through third-party wallets. However, the Ledger Nano S Plus only works on desktop and Android.

Trezor: Open Source Hardware Wallets

Trezor launched one of the earliest forms of contemporary cold wallets – the Trezor Model One on July 19, 2014, and followed up with the Model T about four years later. Trezor is an open source cold wallet for storing cryptocurrencies, and it combines the seed phrase with a non-stored passphrase that makes hacks of the physical device unlikely. 

Trezor currently has three cold wallet options under its wing. Each wallet supports over 1,000 crypto assets and up to 80 blockchain networks. Trezor wallet mobile application, Trezor Suite, allows users to connect their devices to a smart device and perform advanced operations including trading assets and paying for daily essentials, where every transaction requires confirmation on the accompanying Trezor hardware wallet. Like other cold wallets, Trezor also supports DeFi transactions through third-party wallet connections.

However, note that Trezor only offers USB-C/USB-A connections, and is only compatible with MacOS, Windows, Linux, and Android, where iOS capabilities are limited to view-only.

📱 Touchscreen Wallet for Easy Navigation

Trezor Model T

Features a full-color touchscreen and open-source firmware for maximum transparency and security. Supports a wide range of cryptocurrencies and NFTs.

🔒 Simple, Secure & Budget-Friendly

Trezor Model One

Trezor Model One is the earliest Trezor wallet device, and was released on 29 July 2014. It is priced at $59, and comes with a 0.96 inch monochromatic display and two control buttons. Unlike the other two Trezor models, it enables USB connectivity via a micro USB connection port.

SafePal: Extensive Support for Tokens and Chains

SafePal S1 – the first SafePal hardware wallet – was launched in May 2019. Since then, the firm has added two more hardware wallet devices to its product list. Safepal wallets support over 100 blockchain networks and millions of NFTs and tokens – to check if your token is supported and on what device, you can check out SafePal’s Supported Assets page. 

SafePal’s hardware wallets are compatible with the SafePal hot wallet, allowing hardware wallet owners to perform advanced operations like interacting with decentralized applications with their wallets. The SafePal hot wallet is available as a native application for Android and iOS devices and as a browser extension for desktop devices. 

SafePal’s hardware wallets also feature a self-destruct mechanism that triggers if the secure element is tampered with, during which the secure element will erase all wallet data. 

📷 Air-Gapped Wallet with QR Code Security

SafePal S1/S1 pro

The S1 series features fully air-gapped and 100% offline hardware wallets – the SafePal S1 and the newer S1 Pro. The S1 Pro offers an improvement in battery life (S1 – 400mAh, S1 Pro – 500mAh) and uses more premium housing materials for the cold wallet. The S1 retails at $49.99, while the S1 Pro is priced at $89.99. 
However, both wallets share many similarities. The S1 and S1 Pro have the same screen size and security features. Both wallets use a 100% air-gapped signing mechanism, with its secure chip having an EAL rating of 5+. These wallets also use QR codes for connection, although there is also a USB-C option.
SafePal X1
The SafePal X1 retails for $69.99, and comes with a 1.8 inch monochrome display screen, a 12-button control pad, and a 200mAh battery. It uses a high-speed Bluetooth 5.0 signing mechanism for improved efficiency, with its secure chip rated EAL5+. The SafePal X1 is also open source, with its code available on github for maximum trust and efficiency. 

🛡️ Rugged Security with Touchscreen Interface

Keystone Pro

A durable, air-gapped hardware wallet featuring a large display and QR code scanning. Built for users seeking enhanced physical and digital security.

Ellipal: The First 100% Air-Gapped Wallet

Ellipal claims to be the first cold wallet developer to produce a 100% air-gapped wallet. The Hong Kong-based wallet development firm was launched in 2018 and released their first cold wallet – Ellipal – the same year. This was followed by the Ellipal Titan about a year later. Ellipal wallets are EAL5+ rated and support over 10,000 crypto assets including tokens from over 80 blockchain networks and NFTs for Ethereum and other supported networks.

According to the team, the Ellipal wallet is completely disconnected from the internet and is equipped with an efficient QR Code scanner for connecting to third-party applications and running transactions. Ellipal wallet users can connect their wallet to the Ellipal App, a native mobile application that can be installed on Android and iOS devices to manage their assets and run advanced transactions like staking and swapping. Ellipal wallets are also compatible with hot wallets like the MetaMask Wallet. Through third-party connections, users can access decentralized applications. 

Ellipal has two flagship wallets; the Ellipal Titan Mini and Ellipal 2.0. Both wallets are tamper-proof and feature a self-destruct anti-hacking mechanism, and users can create up to 10 accounts and store NFTs on Ethereum and Polygon. The Titan Mini sells for $99 and features a 2.7 inch HD screen with a 600mAh battery. Ellipal 2.0 is Ellipal’s most advanced cold wallet yet, and retails at a significantly higher price of $169. It has a larger 4.0 inch screen and a 1400mAh battery. Like the Titan Mini, Ellipal 2.0 is compatible with the Ellipal App and third-party wallet. The Ellipal 2.0 also comes with a pattern PIN – a feature that is not available on the Titan Mini. 

🏗️ Metal-Body Wallet with Air-Gapped Security

Ellipal Titan

An anti-tamper device with a rugged metal design, fully air-gapped for offline transactions. Supports NFTs and crypto assets with ultimate protection.

🔑 Minimalist USB-C Crypto Wallet

BitBox02

A sleek and compact hardware wallet with touch controls and microSD backup. Available in Bitcoin-only or multi-asset versions.

👆 Biometric Security at Your Fingertips

D’Cent Biometric Wallet

Features a fingerprint sensor for quick access and secure transactions. Offers Bluetooth connectivity and supports various cryptocurrencies and NFTs.

🖥️ User-Friendly Wallet with Large Display

KeepKey Hardware Wallet

KeepKey is an open-source offline self-custody device for crypto assets. It supports over 7,000 crypto assets including tokens and NFTs from over 300 blockchain networks. KeepKey’s security and software resources are open source, where anyone can verify the security details independently. The KeepKey is protected with a PIN, where the number placement is scrambled at random each time the device is connected.
The KeepKey sells for $78 at the time of writing. It comes with a USB-C for connectivity, and is compatible with the KeepKey desktop, a native application for Windows, macOS, and Linux devices. Through the KeepKey desktop application users can connect to decentralized applications.

Final Conclusions

Storing your assets in hardware wallets is the recommended safety practice. Despite the convenience of software (hot) crypto wallets, they have been implicated in several cases of crypto hacks as they are constantly connected to the internet. Cold wallets tackle this risk by disconnecting your blockchain wallet from the internet. However, this is not to discount the convenience of hot wallets, as it’s recommended for users to use a hot wallet for regular transactions, while using cold wallets for long-term storage and holding of crypto assets.
If you are looking to improve the security of your crypto investments using cold wallets, this article reviews some of the best cold wallets. It is important to consider the features of a cold wallet as they apply to you and choose one that serves your needs. Also, note that this article reviews cold wallets for educational purposes only and should not be taken as financial advice. Featured projects are not endorsed.

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