IntroductionFor those users that has no hardware wallet yet or even have the knowledge on what it means, maybe a short explanation would do.
What is a HARDWARE WALLET?A hardware wallet is a special type of
bitcoin wallet which stores the user's private keys in a secure hardware device.
They have major advantages over standard software wallets:
- private keys are often stored in a protected area of a microcontroller, and cannot be transferred out of the device in plaintext
- immune to computer viruses that steal from software wallets
- can be used securely and interactively, private keys never need to touch potentially-vulnerable software
- much of the time, the software is open source, allowing a user to validate the entire operation of the device
How Hardware Wallets WorkHardware wallets are secure, offline devices. They store your private keys offline so they can't be hacked.
This means you can even use one on a malware infected computer.
Why A Hardware Wallet with a Screen is ImportantIn the table below, you'll notice we show which hardware wallets have screens.
Screens provide extra security by verifying and displaying important wallet details. Since the hardware wallet is nearly impossible to hack, its screen is more trustworthy than data displayed on your computer.
Bitcoin Hardware Wallet ComparisonLedger Nano SThe Ledger Nano S is the cheapest of the three hardware wallets with a screen; it costs about $95. Ledger, one of the most well-known Bitcoin security companies, released the device in August 2016.
TREZORTREZOR launched in August 2014 as the first Bitcoin hardware wallet, offering secure bitcoin storage plus the ability to spend with the convenience of a hot wallet. TREZOR is a small, thumb-sized device.
KeepKeyKeepKey was released in September 2015 and was the second hardware Bitcoin wallet to offer a screen. The KeepKey's larger screen gives it some extra security features that the Nano S and Trezor lack.
Ledger BlueLedger has 10,000 Ledger Nano Blue in stock! This will be the last batch of Ledger Nano Blues ever available for sale.
