Cold Wallets

Cold wallets keep private keys offline, providing stronger protection than hot wallets that operate on internet‑connected devices.

Overview#

A cold wallet is a cryptocurrency wallet that remains disconnected from the Internet while not in use. This isolation reduces exposure to hacking, phishing, and malware. The trade‑off is reduced convenience for everyday transactions, which are better suited to hot wallets.

Hardware Cold Wallets#

Hardware wallets generate and store keys on a dedicated device using a random number generator. They are considered the most secure type of wallet because the private keys never leave the device.

Ledger

Ledger offers the Nano S Plus and Nano X models. Both look like flash drives, feature an OLED screen (128 × 64 pixels), and connect via USB‑C. They run on a Secure Element chip and Ledger’s proprietary BOLOS operating system. Ledger Live software is required for device management on macOS, Windows, Ubuntu LTS, and Android.

** The upcoming Ledger Stax (planned) will add a curved E‑Ink display (400 × 672 px), Qi wireless charging, Bluetooth 5.2, and USB‑C connectivity.

SafePal

SafePal provides three models:

SafePal X1 – Bluetooth 5.0, 1.8‑inch monochrome display.
SafePal S1 – 1.3‑inch IPS screen, QR‑code scanner, no network access.
SafePal S1 Pro – Enhanced S1 with larger battery.

All models incorporate a CC EAL5+ Secure Element chip, a self‑liquidation mechanism that wipes keys after unauthorized attempts, PIN protection, and USB‑C ports. They are compatible with iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. SafePal integrates with Binance, streamlining asset transfers.

Tangem

Tangem’s solution is a card‑shaped wallet that stores multiple currencies. Private keys are generated inside the Tangem chip, eliminating the need for a seed phrase. Users can keep two or three identical cards as backups.

Key features:

NFC‑only access – works with NFC‑enabled smartphones, no USB or Bluetooth.
Biometric authentication via the Tangem app.
IP68 rating and electromagnetic shielding.
Samsung S3D350A chip and antenna.
25‑year warranty.

TON Support#

All three vendors list TON (The Open Network) among the supported assets. Ledger devices can manage TON through the Ledger Live app. SafePal and Tangem also allow TON transactions via their respective companion applications.