Popular Hardware Wallets

When it comes to storing your private keys, crypto hardware wallets are generally seen as the most secure, the two most popular and trusted hardware wallet providers include:

Ledger

Founded in 2014, Ledger develops security and infrastructure solutions for cryptocurrencies. They’re one of the most well-known names in the crypto industry, with their Ledger Nano S and Nano X wallets widely used to secure private keys.

Ledger Nano S

The Ledger Nano S was released in 2016. It remains one of the most popular hardware wallets and is known for its ease of use, competitive retail price and support of over 30 cryptocurrencies and all ERC-20 tokens, meaning you can manage multiple cryptocurrencies with the same hardware wallet.

On the Nano S, your private keys stay stored in a tamper-proof memory area never leaving your device. Access to your private keys on the device are protected by a PIN that needs to be physically entered on the device. The Nano S connects to your computer via a micro-USB connection. Upon setting up your device, you’ll receive a 24-word seed phrase which acts as your private key – it’s imperative that you store this 24-word seed phrase securely, as losing this could compromise the security or your access to your private keys.

The Nano S also supports the Ledger Live desktop client, which lets you manage and send your cryptocurrency relatively easily.

Ledger Nano X

The Nano X is the latest hardware wallet by Ledger. It’s based on the same security principles as the Nano S and comes with a more powerful chip, delivering greater mobility with integrated Bluetooth enabling it to be used via smartphones or tablets via the Ledger Live mobile app.

When the Nano X is using Bluetooth, Ledger optimises for privacy and security by leveraging end-to-end encryption. So, even if someone was to compromise your Bluetooth, they wouldn’t get your private keys or sign a transaction.

Also, compared to the Nano S, the Nano X has a larger screen which displays a higher resolution and comes with greater storage capacity. With the added functionality, the Nano X is normally double the price of the Nano S.

Trezor

Trezor is a line of hardware wallet devices made by SatoshiLabs. All Trezor devices are CE and RoHS certified. SatoshiLabs was founded in 2013. Trezor is SatoshiLabs’ flagship product.

Trezor One

Along with the Ledger Nano S, the Trezor One is one of the oldest and most reputable hardware wallets.

The Trezor One features PIN protection (similar to Ledger wallets), an in-built screen, USB connectivity and seed phrase recovery. These features are typical of most hardware wallets. It supports over 1,000 cryptocurrencies, has native support for ERC 20 tokens and uses push buttons to navigate and send transactions.

Relative to the Trezor Model T, the Trezor One is a cheaper option and comes with the same sophisticated security features, such as a password manager and U2F.

Trezor Model T

The Model T is Trezor’s premium hardware wallet. It builds on the Trezor One, supporting the same cryptocurrencies as the Trezor One as well as various other cryptocurrencies such as EOS, Cardano, Tezos and Monero.

It also comes with a colour touchscreen, further strengthening accessibility and security. For example, you can easily enter your recovery seed phrase through the device’s touchscreen. Like Ledger hardware wallets, your recovery seed phrase is never entered on your computer, only on the device itself, keeping you safe from anyone trying to access your cryptocurrencies.

The Model T has some additional compatibility with a USB-C connector and a MicroSD card slot.

KeepKey

First released in 2015, KeepKey is a hardware wallet which secures your private keys. Keepkey is owned by ShapeShift—a crypto platform for buying, selling, sending and receiving cryptocurrencies.

The wallet supports over 60 cryptocurrencies, including some ERC-20 tokens—far less than the 1,000-plus cryptocurrencies supported by Trezor and Ledger. You can access more cryptocurrencies thanks to the KeepKey–MyEtherWallet integration.

KeepKey stores your private keeps in a separate offline environment, helping ensure your private keys are safe from computer viruses.

It has the standard security features you will expect such as a PIN code and backed up with a recovery seed of 18–24 words in length. They also have a unique number randomisation feature, which scrambles the position of your PIN each time to protect against any malware.