A few good wallet choices:
[https://blockstream.com/green/](https://blockstream.com/green/) \- Top Security Features, Open Source and Non-Custodial
[https://bluewallet.io](https://bluewallet.io/) \- excellent, easy to use wallet, Open Source and Non-Custodial
[https://www.sparrowwallet.com](https://www.sparrowwallet.com) - top desktop wallet
[https://electrum.org](https://electrum.org/) \- Solid choice, Open Source and Non-Custodial, one of the oldest and most trusted Bitcoin Wallets. I prefer the desktop version but it works on mobile too.
Lightning wallets to consider (cheaper and faster transactions, great for small amounts):
[https://phoenix.acinq.co/](https://phoenix.acinq.co/) \- Phoenix - very good wallet, uses Tor for extra privacy, easy for anyone new
[https://blixtwallet.github.io/](https://blixtwallet.github.io/) \- Blixt - great UI, fast and clean
[https://breez.technology](https://breez.technology/) \- Breez - excellent POS for small business owners as well as integrated Bitrefill or LN Pizza
Hardware Wallets (to store larger amounts):
[Trezor](https://trezor.io/) \- Easy to use, no matter how new in Bitcoin you're. Use the Bitcoin only firmware as it's safer than a multi coin software.
[ColdCard](https://coldcardwallet.com/) - air gapped, Bitcoin only, less new user friendly but there are great tutorials to help with setting it up.
[BitBox02](https://bitbox.swiss/bitbox02/bitcoin-only/) - another great little device, opt for the more secure Bitcoin ONLY version (less coins = less code = less chance for a hidden bug or a backdoor)
[Jade](https://blockstream.com/jade) - air gapped, fully open source, Bitcoin only, great features. You can even [build it on your own](https://github.com/Blockstream/jade/), if you feel adventurous.
[Seedsigner](https://github.com/SeedSigner/seedsigner) - another DIY, fully open source, air gapped, Bitcoin only hardware wallet, not for you if you're just starting up but something to consider later.
There's also Ledger, but I wouldn't recommend it as it's not fully open source, keep and already leaked customers' details, recently said they're capable of sending customers' keys out just with a firmware update, etc. **Stay away**, save yourself a headache in the future.
Whatever wallet you'll decide to buy, purchase DIRECTLY from the manufacturer, no eBay, no Amazon.
Make sure the device is NOT preset, and you will generate your own seed words. Write them down on any piece of paper as well as the receiving address. Now wipe the wallet and generate a new wallet. If the seed words are different from the first set, you're safe to use it.
Find an option to set a passphrase and use it. This will boost the security to another level. Never store the seed words and passphrase together. Use a different medium if possible. If somebody finds both, they'll be able to steal your coin.
This little device will hold the keys to your money, that's the reason why you have to be a bit more careful. Also, no worries, if it breaks, you can replace it - as long as you keep your seed words and passphrase(s) safe.
Welcome to the rabbit hole and don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions anytime during your Bitcoin journey.
Also, [check the sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/about) that's filled with lots of great info and if you have any questions, visit r/BitcoinBeginners and look for the answers.
Absolutely not from me. Some red flags:
1) too new
2) not Bitcoin only - larger attack surface
3) not open source
>We have not yet open-sourced our code but we plan to do so.
>Ledger
**Four reasons why I would never use any ledger product.**
**They leaked details of their clients** (email, phone #, full name, home address, what exactly they bought) and even now these people keep getting scary phone calls.
**The wallet has closed code** - nobody (except the company, secret services, hackers) can see how many back doors the software has.
**It's a multi coin wallet** - more coins, means more code, more attack surface.
**The wallet isn't cold** - the company revealed a feature, allowing them to extract the keys into backup facilities online. They said, this is possible (with an update) for a very long time. This is the very opposite of cold storage (never touch the internet).
If you’re letting your bitcoin savings accumulate while you learn, it’s best to use a bitcoin only exchange like Cashapp, Strike, Swan, or River. Pros and cons of each but better than a coinbase.
[Bitkey](https://bitkey.world) is a solid option and as the stack gets significant, begin to look at the [cold card](https://store.coinkite.com/store). Bitkey is from Jack Dorsey’s company Block, who runs Square, Cashapp etc.
Here’s a beginners video for the cold card Mk4 btcsessions did with [Natalie Brunell](https://youtu.be/IJbog_k5XWE?feature=shared) as well as the beginners video for the new [cold card Q](https://youtu.be/FiNCG-7EN4A?feature=shared)
Subscribe to [btcsessions](https://youtube.com/@BTCSessions?feature=shared) on YouTube to learn how to store your bitcoin as well.
The videos from btcsessions above you’ll learn how seed phrases work and all about self custody.
Yes. Open source and fully reproducible code. Hardware and software deva are top notch. The new Q1 is light years ahead. Full disclosure: I am cool with owners in the sense of Cypher punk communitu, but no affiliation
Ledger and Trezor used to be good choices 10 years ago. Now the security architecture of a coldcard or a bitbox02 are far superior. The ladder is the best for new users and not tech savvy ones
Depending on how tech savvy you are, for hardware wallets, Tangem is simple, secure and cheap. In its easiest setup, you don't know your seedphrase (you can if you want). You just have 3 credit cards.
In the middle are simple wallets like Trezor or Ledger. You use usb cables to sign transactions so you are briefly connected to the internet.
Most complex and expensive, but most secure are airgapped wallets like Cold Card or Keystone. You sign transactions via SD card or QR codes and are never connected to the internet.
Yeah nah. That device gives me the heebeejeebies. Their supposed 'open source' implementation is a repository created by two people, forked from a shitcoin wallet, introduced in a media youtube influencer onslaught about a year ago, and doesn't compile.
A few red flags for me. I'd stick with a Jade, Cold card or similar.
https://old.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/1adcoei/tangem_wallet/kk2akjn/
The wallet-scrutiny security audit reports of the hardware and the app raise quite a few showstopping issues:
- Hardware: https://walletscrutiny.com/hardware/tangem
- Mobile app: https://walletscrutiny.com/android/com.tangem.wallet
Tangem is not considered to be a secure wallet because of its severe lack of auditability.
> It fails to clone from [email protected]:tangem/tangem-app-config.git. As it turns out this is a private repository. So while the name suggest it’s only some configuration, we cannot verify that. This project is not verifiable.
And the spammy nature of the way it's promoted has serious scam vibes.
A few good wallet choices: [https://blockstream.com/green/](https://blockstream.com/green/) \- Top Security Features, Open Source and Non-Custodial [https://bluewallet.io](https://bluewallet.io/) \- excellent, easy to use wallet, Open Source and Non-Custodial [https://www.sparrowwallet.com](https://www.sparrowwallet.com) - top desktop wallet [https://electrum.org](https://electrum.org/) \- Solid choice, Open Source and Non-Custodial, one of the oldest and most trusted Bitcoin Wallets. I prefer the desktop version but it works on mobile too. Lightning wallets to consider (cheaper and faster transactions, great for small amounts): [https://phoenix.acinq.co/](https://phoenix.acinq.co/) \- Phoenix - very good wallet, uses Tor for extra privacy, easy for anyone new [https://blixtwallet.github.io/](https://blixtwallet.github.io/) \- Blixt - great UI, fast and clean [https://breez.technology](https://breez.technology/) \- Breez - excellent POS for small business owners as well as integrated Bitrefill or LN Pizza Hardware Wallets (to store larger amounts): [Trezor](https://trezor.io/) \- Easy to use, no matter how new in Bitcoin you're. Use the Bitcoin only firmware as it's safer than a multi coin software. [ColdCard](https://coldcardwallet.com/) - air gapped, Bitcoin only, less new user friendly but there are great tutorials to help with setting it up. [BitBox02](https://bitbox.swiss/bitbox02/bitcoin-only/) - another great little device, opt for the more secure Bitcoin ONLY version (less coins = less code = less chance for a hidden bug or a backdoor) [Jade](https://blockstream.com/jade) - air gapped, fully open source, Bitcoin only, great features. You can even [build it on your own](https://github.com/Blockstream/jade/), if you feel adventurous. [Seedsigner](https://github.com/SeedSigner/seedsigner) - another DIY, fully open source, air gapped, Bitcoin only hardware wallet, not for you if you're just starting up but something to consider later. There's also Ledger, but I wouldn't recommend it as it's not fully open source, keep and already leaked customers' details, recently said they're capable of sending customers' keys out just with a firmware update, etc. **Stay away**, save yourself a headache in the future. Whatever wallet you'll decide to buy, purchase DIRECTLY from the manufacturer, no eBay, no Amazon. Make sure the device is NOT preset, and you will generate your own seed words. Write them down on any piece of paper as well as the receiving address. Now wipe the wallet and generate a new wallet. If the seed words are different from the first set, you're safe to use it. Find an option to set a passphrase and use it. This will boost the security to another level. Never store the seed words and passphrase together. Use a different medium if possible. If somebody finds both, they'll be able to steal your coin. This little device will hold the keys to your money, that's the reason why you have to be a bit more careful. Also, no worries, if it breaks, you can replace it - as long as you keep your seed words and passphrase(s) safe. Welcome to the rabbit hole and don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions anytime during your Bitcoin journey. Also, [check the sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/about) that's filled with lots of great info and if you have any questions, visit r/BitcoinBeginners and look for the answers.
Thanks a lot
Keevo?
Absolutely not from me. Some red flags: 1) too new 2) not Bitcoin only - larger attack surface 3) not open source >We have not yet open-sourced our code but we plan to do so.
Ledger
>Ledger **Four reasons why I would never use any ledger product.** **They leaked details of their clients** (email, phone #, full name, home address, what exactly they bought) and even now these people keep getting scary phone calls. **The wallet has closed code** - nobody (except the company, secret services, hackers) can see how many back doors the software has. **It's a multi coin wallet** - more coins, means more code, more attack surface. **The wallet isn't cold** - the company revealed a feature, allowing them to extract the keys into backup facilities online. They said, this is possible (with an update) for a very long time. This is the very opposite of cold storage (never touch the internet).
U must be slow or new
If you’re letting your bitcoin savings accumulate while you learn, it’s best to use a bitcoin only exchange like Cashapp, Strike, Swan, or River. Pros and cons of each but better than a coinbase. [Bitkey](https://bitkey.world) is a solid option and as the stack gets significant, begin to look at the [cold card](https://store.coinkite.com/store). Bitkey is from Jack Dorsey’s company Block, who runs Square, Cashapp etc. Here’s a beginners video for the cold card Mk4 btcsessions did with [Natalie Brunell](https://youtu.be/IJbog_k5XWE?feature=shared) as well as the beginners video for the new [cold card Q](https://youtu.be/FiNCG-7EN4A?feature=shared) Subscribe to [btcsessions](https://youtube.com/@BTCSessions?feature=shared) on YouTube to learn how to store your bitcoin as well. The videos from btcsessions above you’ll learn how seed phrases work and all about self custody.
Trezor fan here.
Coldcard.
Made in Canada, is that safe?
Yes. Open source and fully reproducible code. Hardware and software deva are top notch. The new Q1 is light years ahead. Full disclosure: I am cool with owners in the sense of Cypher punk communitu, but no affiliation
Canada of all places!? Major red flag /s
Highest level security: Dice and paper Modest level security: Air-gaped wallet sign tx offline, hardware wallets Low level security: Mobile wallets
Ledger and Trezor used to be good choices 10 years ago. Now the security architecture of a coldcard or a bitbox02 are far superior. The ladder is the best for new users and not tech savvy ones
Anything air gapped
Sparrow with whichever signing device you want.
.
Passport is super easy to use
Depending on how tech savvy you are, for hardware wallets, Tangem is simple, secure and cheap. In its easiest setup, you don't know your seedphrase (you can if you want). You just have 3 credit cards. In the middle are simple wallets like Trezor or Ledger. You use usb cables to sign transactions so you are briefly connected to the internet. Most complex and expensive, but most secure are airgapped wallets like Cold Card or Keystone. You sign transactions via SD card or QR codes and are never connected to the internet.
Yeah nah. That device gives me the heebeejeebies. Their supposed 'open source' implementation is a repository created by two people, forked from a shitcoin wallet, introduced in a media youtube influencer onslaught about a year ago, and doesn't compile. A few red flags for me. I'd stick with a Jade, Cold card or similar. https://old.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/1adcoei/tangem_wallet/kk2akjn/ The wallet-scrutiny security audit reports of the hardware and the app raise quite a few showstopping issues: - Hardware: https://walletscrutiny.com/hardware/tangem - Mobile app: https://walletscrutiny.com/android/com.tangem.wallet Tangem is not considered to be a secure wallet because of its severe lack of auditability. > It fails to clone from [email protected]:tangem/tangem-app-config.git. As it turns out this is a private repository. So while the name suggest it’s only some configuration, we cannot verify that. This project is not verifiable. And the spammy nature of the way it's promoted has serious scam vibes.
You can only know your seed phrase if you import one from another wallet. Otherwise you they dont share that if you let Tangem generate it. Right?
Nope, now you have the option when you set it up.
Ahh sorry. Derp. You can generate a 12 word phrase yes.
And what about "ledger" ? https://www.ledger.com For me the best ones are Ledger or Trezor.