Which wallet to use?

[Misa Amane]

Hi,

I have been searching this for a while now, and I have many options to choose from when considering which wallet to use. My requirements are as follows:

Only want to hold BTC

Does not want the wallet to have a battery

In case the wallet company shuts down so that I still have access to my crypto, say after 20 years too

Want the wallet to be cold wallet.

My options are:

Tangem - there are some concerns though, e.g., the wallet has only one address, which means that basically anyone who has your transaction address has access to your entire portfolio, so no to this option too, what if their app stops functioning after the company stops functioning.

Trezor - again, has firmware updates, which I have read quite a lot about, so if something were to go wrong, then it is stuck there, or the battery problems too, which is above my budget.

So, could you please suggest some good ones to me, not too pricey, just something that stays there and stores my crypto?

If this post is not appropriate for this section, please move it to the correct one.

[OmegaStarScream]

Trezor is a great choice IMO. What's the concern about the firmware exactly?

For the battery, the Trezor Safe 7 is the only model that has one as far as I know.

If anything goes wrong, you could buy another device, or simply restore it using a mobile/desktop/hardware wallet, they all use the same standard. Besides, Trezor has everything open sourced.

[satscraper]

Hi,



Tangem - there are some concerns though, e.g., the wallet has only one address, which means that basically anyone who has your transaction address has access to your entire portfolio, so no to this option too,

The addition of multi‑address UTXO support is on their roadmap for March-April. March is almost over, so I hope that in April I’ll finally find this feature in my Tangem app.

, what if their app stops functioning after the company stops functioning.

I understand your concern on this matter, but if that ever happens, 1) you will still have the option to connect to 3rd parties services using WalletConnect, and2) someone can take over Tangem app since it’s open source.

Let me also remind you that Tangem hardware cards have firmware that is flashed during production and remains unchanged forever after release.

[Misa Amane]

The addition of multi‑address UTXO support is on their roadmap for March-April. March is almost over, so I hope that in April I’ll finally find this feature in my Tangem app.

Thank you I hadn’t noticed before that there’s a roadmap to add multi-address UTXO support in March–April. If this feature is added to the Tangem wallet in April, it will significantly reduce our concerns.

I understand your concern on this matter, but if that ever happens, 1) you will still have the option to connect to 3rd parties services using WalletConnect, and2) someone can take over Tangem app since it’s open source.

Let me also remind you that Tangem hardware cards have firmware that is flashed during production and remains unchanged forever after release.

Relying on third-party integrations often introduces additional trust assumptions and potential attack surfaces. While open source does increase transparency, it doesn’t guarantee that maintenance will always be fast or reliable. Community takeover is possible, but it’s not always quick or well-coordinated.

In my opinion, from a hardware perspective, Tangem card’s immutable firmware is a double-edged sword. It reduces update-related risks, but if there is an unknown vulnerability, it cannot be patched later.

Trezor is a great choice IMO. What's the concern about the firmware exactly?

For the battery, the Trezor Safe 7 is the only model that has one as far as I know.

If anything goes wrong, you could buy another device, or simply restore it using a mobile/desktop/hardware wallet, they all use the same standard. Besides, Trezor has everything open sourced.

I appreciate your clarification. My concern about firmware is mainly long-term reliability like if support stops or updates become unavailable after many years.

However, since Trezor is open source and uses standard recovery seeds, that risk is actually lower.

Good point about recovery too. Being able to restore funds on another wallet solves most of my worries. I’ll reconsider Trezor as a solid option.

[OmegaStarScream]

I appreciate your clarification. My concern about firmware is mainly long-term reliability like if support stops or updates become unavailable after many years.

However, since Trezor is open source and uses standard recovery seeds, that risk is actually lower.

Good point about recovery too. Being able to restore funds on another wallet solves most of my worries. I’ll reconsider Trezor as a solid option.

It's worth adding that Trezor is the oldest, and first hardware wallet ever, they have been running for over a decade so they're probably not going anywhere anytime soon.

You also said you're only interested in BTC only wallet. Trezor Safe 3 and 5 both come as bitcoin-only wallet (if you choose to), but it's probably better to get the ones that supports everything, just in case you decide to diversify your portfolio in the future (no difference in terms of price).

[rdluffy]

In my opinion, you don’t need to overthink this, a Trezor is all you need to securely store your BTC

The Trezor Safe 3 has no battery, is secure, costs $59, and it doesn’t matter if you want to store only BTC or other coins
You can even install firmware specifically for BTC if you prefer

Just keep your seed safe, and you’ll be fine if Trezor stops manufacturing them, if your device breaks, or if anything else happens, as long as you have your seed, you can access your funds through another wallet

[DireWolfM14]

Only want to hold BTC

I don't own any of the new gen of Trezor wallets, but the older generation has Bitcoin Only firmware.  The other choices you should consider are Foundation Passport and ColdCard.  Both are dedicated bitcoin-only wallets.

Does not want the wallet to have a battery

I'm not sure why you place this restriction on yourself.  Even if the hardware wallet has a battery and the battery fails, it can be powered by USBC anyway, just like all the wallets that don't have a battery.

In case the wallet company shuts down so that I still have access to my crypto, say after 20 years too

As long as you back up your seed phrase, there's no concern here.  You can restore your seed to any future hardware wallet or software wallet that's compatible with Bip39 seeds.

Want the wallet to be cold wallet.

By definition hardware wallets are "off-line" but the same as cold wallets.  Neither of the models you mention below would meet the definition either, in my opinion.  Some may argue, but my definition of a cold wallet would be strictly off-line storage with no capability for electronic connectivity.  That would eliminate USB connectivity (Trezor,) and NFC connectivity (Tangem.)

In fact, the only wallets that would meet this requirement are the Foundation Passport and the ColdCard.  Out of those, the only model that meets all your criteria would be the ColdCard Mk4, because it lacks a battery.

Tangem - there are some concerns though, e.g., the wallet has only one address, which means that basically anyone who has your transaction address has access to your entire portfolio, so no to this option too, what if their app stops functioning after the company stops functioning.

I'm not fan for many reasons, not the least of which is NFC's unproven longevity.  Other reasons you've already mentioned, and that compromises privacy.  Yet another reason is I fail to see the value of caring around a credit care size hardware wallet.  I have hot wallets on my phone, and the wallets I use to store the bulk of my stash I won't load on my phone for security and privacy reasons.  All around the Tangem just seems like a silly gimmick to me.

Trezor - again, has firmware updates, which I have read quite a lot about, so if something were to go wrong, then it is stuck there, or the battery problems too, which is above my budget.

The Trezor is a good choice, but as I said above, you'll need to reevaluate some of your criteria.

[dkbit98]

Trezor - again, has firmware updates, which I have read quite a lot about, so if something were to go wrong, then it is stuck there, or the battery problems too, which is above my budget.

Any Trezor device is a solid choice for open source hardware wallet, and they are not that expensive for Safe 3 model.
Even oldest Trezor One is guaranteed to be supported until 2032, and newer devices will have even longer support.
If you want wallet in card format than I would suggest checking out Satochip cards.

[Pmalek]

If your criteria is a cold (airgapped) hardware wallet, then Trezor and Tangem don't fit in that category. You want a bitcoin-only hardware signer. A device that can't connect to the internet and broadcasts transactions using PSBTs. Popular hardware devices that fit into that category and are bitcoin only include Passport, Coldcard, Keystone, Jade, Krux, Seedsigner, and Specter. There are more. Some are really cheap, like Jade or Krux. Others are on the more expensive side, like Passport and Coldcard.

But if you have limited your search to either a Trezor or a Tangem, I would go for the Trezor with a bitcoin-only firmware.

You also said you're only interested in BTC only wallet. Trezor Safe 3 and 5 both come as bitcoin-only wallet (if you choose to), but it's probably better to get the ones that supports everything, just in case you decide to diversify your portfolio in the future (no difference in terms of price).

You can still install both firmware types on those two devices. Either the universal or bitcoin-only firmware. The bitcoin-only model has a different color and design but you can still load the universal firmware onto it. I think you need to use trezorctl to flash the universal firmware on a bitcoin-only Trezor. However, if you are doing it the other way around, you simply choose the other firmware type in the settings of Trezor Suite.

[BobbysTransactions]

Why not a Coldcard Q? You can remove the battery.

[satscraper]

Tangem don't fit in that category.

This statement is arguable.

 NFC embedded in Tangem card is the passive one as it can only be powered by smartphone when you tap the card directly against the phone’s case. This requires full surface‑to‑surface contact between the two entities, leaving no gap through which the malicious actor could interfere. In my view, this is even better than traditional air‑gapping via the optical channel because if Tangem card is not powered by smartphone it cannot do anything.

[Pmalek]

This statement is arguable.

 NFC embedded in Tangem card is the passive one as it can only be powered by smartphone when you tap the card directly against the phone’s case. This requires full surface‑to‑surface contact between the two entities, leaving no gap through which the malicious actor could interfere. In my view, this is even better than traditional air‑gapping via the optical channel because if Tangem card is not powered by smartphone it cannot do anything.

I don't think you will find many people who will agree with you that Tangem should be considered an airgapped signer.

Personally, I don't like them. The seed exposure incident that happened recently is one reason. Their system is closed-source. They still don't even have coin control, and it's 2026. It's only on their to-do-list for the future. Also, I don't think they support many (or perhaps any) third-party wallets, so you are stuck with their Tangem app and nothing else. 

[bitmover]

Trezor is a great choice IMO. What's the concern about the firmware exactly?

For the battery, the Trezor Safe 7 is the only model that has one as far as I know.

If anything goes wrong, you could buy another device, or simply restore it using a mobile/desktop/hardware wallet, they all use the same standard. Besides, Trezor has everything open sourced.

When talking about wallets, I think the best wallet is the one everyone should be using.

I have zero interest in the second best wallet.

Just get a trezor model. Any of them. The best wallet.

Ledger was a good option ,  but they made many bad decisions and now trezor is the best.

[satscraper]

I don't think you will find many people who will agree with you that Tangem should be considered an airgapped signer.

Agreed, far too many people have trouble understanding things.

 The seed exposure incident that happened recently is one reason. Their system is closed-source

This incident was related to their mobile app ^{which is open‑source, BTW} rather than hardware wallet and its air‑gapped design. We are discussing Tangem card air‑gapping, right?

I don't think they support many (or perhaps any) third-party wallets, so you are stuck with their Tangem app and nothing else.  

It has the ability to connect to any third‑party wallet that supports WalletConnect protocol. There are hundreds available.

Personally, I don't like them. 

This is understandable since you don’t use them. If you had experience with them, you might appreciate them.

[Pmalek]

When talking about wallets, I think the best wallet is the one everyone should be using.

I have zero interest in the second best wallet.

Just get a trezor model. Any of them. The best wallet.

If the crypto community did that, many small companies and projects would go out of business and fail pretty soon or ever begin producing in the first plae. That would be a shame. If everyone bought Trezors, Passport Devices wouldn't need to exist and sell anything. We wouldn't have Satochip because there would be no one interested in their products. Bitbox and Keystone would be dead. No one would be looking at airgapped signers like Seedsigner, Krux, or Specter. Healthy competition is a good thing.

[bitmover]

When talking about wallets, I think the best wallet is the one everyone should be using.

I have zero interest in the second best wallet.

Just get a trezor model. Any of them. The best wallet.

If the crypto community did that, many small companies and projects would go out of business and fail pretty soon or ever begin producing in the first plae. That would be a shame. If everyone bought Trezors, Passport Devices wouldn't need to exist and sell anything. We wouldn't have Satochip because there would be no one interested in their products. Bitbox and Keystone would be dead. No one would be looking at airgapped signers like Seedsigner, Krux, or Specter. Healthy competition is a good thing.

Yeah, understand this is a downside. But this is how internet is evolving. Nobody wants the second best app.

While competition is a good thing, losing your life funds to help competition is a bad idea. You might not lose funds, but lack functionality and features using the second/third best wallet.

Few days ago I heard an interesting idea from Naval in a podcast, which I will quote here:

“As you all know first prize is a Cadillac El Dorado. Anyone wanna see second prize? Second prize is a set of steak knives. Third prize is you're fired.” ― David Mamet, Glengarry Glen Ross

[Tibu]

Hi,

I have been searching this for a while now, and I have many options to choose from when considering which wallet to use. My requirements are as follows:

Only want to hold BTC

Does not want the wallet to have a battery

In case the wallet company shuts down so that I still have access to my crypto, say after 20 years too

Want the wallet to be cold wallet.

My options are:

Tangem - there are some concerns though, e.g., the wallet has only one address, which means that basically anyone who has your transaction address has access to your entire portfolio, so no to this option too, what if their app stops functioning after the company stops functioning.

Trezor - again, has firmware updates, which I have read quite a lot about, so if something were to go wrong, then it is stuck there, or the battery problems too, which is above my budget.

So, could you please suggest some good ones to me, not too pricey, just something that stays there and stores my crypto?

If this post is not appropriate for this section, please move it to the correct one.

Satochip might be a good candidate:
- 100% open-source - so even if the company fails, you still can access your Bitcoin
- desktop & mobile ready
- natively supported by the bests: Sparrow Wallet (desktop) and BitcoinKeeper (mobile) or even Seedsigner with the smartcard support
- no battery
- affordable: 25€ + shipping. Allowing you to buy a few and have hardware redundancy.