There are many varieties of crypto-currency wallets. All of them feature functionality, security and ease of use. The safest are certainly hardware wallets. Here is a quick guide to the most popular models.
Ledger Nano S
Over the world, more than 1.32 million hardware wallets Ledger Nano S , so he is rightly considered the industry leader. This is quite natural, given the large number of supported crypto-currencies and the developers' close attention to security.
Ledger Nano S supports a variety of crypto-currencies, including bitcoin, ether, XRP, lightcoin and others (the full list is available under the link). The company is constantly expanding this series with its own applications and programs created by enthusiasts and tested by Ledger.
Ledger Nano S, which costs about $ 120, can simultaneously run from 5 to 18 programs. The purse comes with pre-installed applications for bitcoin, ether and two-factor authorization format FIDO U2F. However, they can be removed or replaced. New programs can be added via Ledger Manager – a kind of free application store.
Even if the device manager has been deleted, the secret keys to crypto assets remain intact. Access to them can be restored by reinstalling the manager on the Ledger device.
Secret keys are generated during the initialization process and stored in a special chip. Ledger can not copy them, and they are not visible from the computer. Even if the computer is controlled by hackers, they will never be able to access the contents of the chip.
After connecting the purse to the USB port, you must enter the PIN code. If you enter the wrong PIN three times in a row, Ledger will reboot, erasing all the contents. Attackers also can not remotely wipe the purse by sending three incorrect PIN-codes, because before each attempt of input it is necessary to get and re-insert the device into the USB port.
Nano S is controlled by two buttons; information about all operations is displayed. This helps users to monitor what is happening and safely check all transactions.
In the event of theft or loss of Ledger Nano S, accounts can be accessed using a 24-word backup phrase. It is created during device initialization.
Ledger Blue – another hardware purse from Ledger. It has the same functionality as the Nano S, but looks like an iPad. Instead of a pair of buttons, the device is equipped with a full-color touch screen.
Trezor
Trezor is the main competitor of Ledger. It came out in August 2014 and became the first hardware purse on the market.
The company offers two models :
Trezor One is an affordable model recommended for beginners in the world of crypto currency. The wallet is compatible with a computer and a smartphone and supports Windows 7 and higher operating systems, masOS 10.11 and higher, Linux and Android.
Trezor operates with more than 500 crypto-currencies and tokens, including Bitcoin, Lightcoin, Dash, Zcash, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin Gold, Ether (plus all ERC20 tokens), Ethereum Classic, Expanse, UBIQ, NEM and Bitcoin test network.
The purse can be bought at the company's online store for about $ 103.
Secret keys remain with users, so the entire wallet can be recovered using 24 words generated during the configuration. Words are created in standalone mode and displayed on the screen, never leaving the device.
You need to enter a PIN to set up and confirm the transaction. After each incorrect attempt, the waiting time is doubled. Thus, for 30 attempts it will take about 17 years.
Users can add a password to the backup phrase for added security. He acts as the 25th word. In the event of a theft or damage to the wallet, you can recover it using a password and a backup phrase.
KeepKey
Released in September 2015, KeepKey is the third most popular commercial hardware purse on the market. It works with software installed on the user's computer, responsible for generating, storing secret keys and signing transactions.
KeepKey is relatively large and in many respects repeats the functionality of Ledger Nano S and Trezor. Also it is more expensive than analogues. The high price (about $ 130) is due to the fact that the developers have equipped the device with a quality screen, a metal case and a high level of protection.
KeepKey supports a number of crypto-currencies, including bitcoin, ether, lightcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Dash, Dogecoin and many others (the full list is available under the link).
The wallet does not need an operating system and is protected from viruses, malware and keyloggers. It is powered by USB and must be connected to the computer during use.
In the event of theft or loss, KeepKey content can be recovered using a 12-word spare phrase that is generated during initialization.
Also, the wallet allows you to convert coins directly into your wallet. This function was added after the purchase of KeepKey by the ShapeShift exchange in August 2017. Thus, you can trade with the Crypto currency without creating an account on the exchange.
CoolWallet S
CoolWallet S manufactured by CoolBitX is a mobile purse for storage of bitcoins, lightcoins, ethers, Ripple, Bitcoin Cash and ERC-20 tokens. A durable, light purse the size of a plastic card is not afraid of water, it is resistant to burglary, unauthorized access, high and low temperatures. The cost of the device is $ 99.
CoolBitX has signed a partnership agreement with the decentralized exchange JOYSO, which allows you to trade crypto-currencies directly in your wallet.
To initialize the CoolWallet S, you need an application for Android or iOS. Users must download and install it, and then contact the wallet via Bluetooth using a one-time password. After that, they will be asked to create a new wallet.
When creating a purse, you can generate a backup phrase of 12, 18 or 24 words. In case of loss, it will help to restore its contents in the mobile application.
In addition, you can use any other standard deterministic purse that uses the same protocol.
Digital Bitbox
Digital Bitbox is a minimalist purse from a Swiss company. Particular attention is paid to security and confidentiality. Bitbox supports standalone and simplified redundancy, plausible denial, multi-signature. There is a full client for the PC and mobile applications for verification and two-factor verification.
BitBox is a hardware purse of the plug-and-play format, allowing you to store, receive and send crypto-currencies. Currently, it supports bitcoin, ether, lightcoin and ERC-20 tokens. In the future, developers are planning to expand the list of available coins.
The device comes with a micro-SD card. It greatly simplifies the protection, backup and recovery of data.
In the event of theft of BitBox, intruders will have to crack the password to gain access to the coins. If two-factor authentication is enabled, they will also need a second device (for example, a mobile phone). After 15 failed attempts to enter the BitBox password, the entire contents will be erased and rebooted.
