There is no better way to safeguard the best crypto wallets assets than with the appropriate wallet.
According to Brent Campbell, founder and managing director of Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based digital asset investment firm NXS Crypto Fund, a cryptocurrency wallet is “the key to the kingdom.” “I tell clients that a wallet is the first step for anyone who wishes to participate in the blockchain ecosystem; its purpose is to save, store, and receive [crypto] coins anywhere in the world, bankless.”
The 6 Best Crypto Wallets
Most mainstream exchanges allow you to store your cryptocurrency within your account, similar to how a 401(k) or IRA is stored within a Fidelity or Vanguard account. In contrast to the traditional stock market, crypto investors lack robust, federally mandated protections. Consequently, as the value of your cryptocurrency increases, you could benefit from the additional security provided by your wallet.
Depending on your investment strategy, you may choose between a hot wallet, a cold wallet, or a wallet provided by your preferred exchange. We asked four crypto experts what long-term investors should know about cryptocurrencies. Here are six of the best crypto wallets that long-term investors should consider, as determined by our research and expert input.
Coinbase Wallet — Best Crypto Wallet for Beginners
Experts advocate a simple hot wallet if you are new to the crypto industry. These wallets are typically accessible, user-friendly, and connected to an exchange, meaning they support various tokens and coins.
According to experts, the popular Coinbase exchange’s Coinbase Wallet is the most fantastic option for newbies. It is easy to use, supports thousands of cryptocurrencies, and is noncustodial, so you retain control of your private keys.
Chris Brooks, a creator of Crypto Asset Recovery, a company that specializes in assisting crypto investors to recover passwords and seed phrases for their wallets, claims that 95% of the customers he advises use a Coinbase wallet.
According to Campbell, most crypto investors currently use an exchange-hosted wallet like Coinbase Wallet, which functions as “an on- and off-ramp into crypto.”
Electrum — Best Bitcoin Wallet
If you’re primarily a Bitcoin investor, you may want to explore a Bitcoin-specific wallet.
As a result, Electrum may be an intelligent choice for you, as it is simple to use and has been around for over a decade – something that just a handful of other wallets can claim. Due to its exclusive focus on bitcoin, Electrum is worth a look if you’re looking for a bitcoin wallet.
Electrum has existed for almost a decade and was designed expressly to operate with the bitcoin blockchain, giving it speed and security advantages. For instance, Electrum’s Simple Payment Verification allows users to connect to the bitcoin blockchain simply. Because it was designed expressly for this function, Electrum can navigate the Bitcoin blockchain more effectively than other wallets.
It may not be as user-friendly for beginners, and the major disadvantage is that it only supports BTC; if you want to store other cryptocurrencies, you should look elsewhere.
Exodus — Best Crypto Wallet for Altcoins
An altcoin is the umbrella term for all cryptocurrencies other than bitcoin, and there are thousands of them. Consequently, a good cryptocurrency wallet for securely storing altcoins supports many and facilitates their trading and purchase.
Exodus supports more than 180 distinct cryptocurrencies, and you can transact directly from the wallet without visiting an external exchange. Departure may keep fewer coins than other wallets, but it offers the convenience of storing all your cryptocurrency in a single location and connecting to multiple exchanges. In addition, you can connect directly with other users via the wallet’s internal business. Consequently, it is slightly more advanced than Coinbase, but Exodus has the upper hand if you would benefit from the ability to navigate more coins and exchanges freely.
Depending on your security preferences, you can also choose from a desktop, mobile, or hardware wallet. The hardware option is a Trezor wallet integration, which consists of a Trezor wallet running an Exodus hot wallet.
Trezor Model T — Best Crypto Wallet for Security
If security is your top priority, experts concur that a cold storage hardware device cannot be beaten. “Move [your assets] to a hardware device if you don’t want to take any security risks,” says Campbell, who adds that he has some of his assets on a hardware device and locked in a bank vault.
Charlie Brooks, son of Chris and CPO and co-founder of Crypto Asset Recovery LLC, asserts that Trezor is among the best cold wallet options. A cold storage solution is the most secure location to store your funds.
According to experts, a Trezor hardware wallet, such as the Trezor Model T, is an excellent option for the best crypto wallets investors concerned with security. At $280, it is not a bargain. However, the Model T has features that make it stand out, including a large, full-color touchscreen display and add-ons. One of them is Shamir Backup, a Trezor-designed security standard that is exclusive to the Model T. Shamir Backup allows you to create 16 recovery phrases for use as backups. The security standard also protects if your wallet is lost or stolen by enabling you to recover it entirely using a recovery seed.
Similarly to Ledger wallets, Trezor products will be highly secure, albeit in a few slightly different ways, so it’s likely a matter of personal preference. The Model T is physically more substantial and durable, at least in appearance, which may appeal to some individuals. In addition, it is user-friendly, intuitive, and simple to set up.
Ledger Nano X — Best Cold Wallet That Costs Less
As we’ve discussed, cold wallets are the most secure way to store crypto assets, as they are not always connected to the internet and thus are much less susceptible to hacking. And hardware devices such as the Trezor Model T can go a long way toward ensuring the security of your assets. However, there are cold wallets that do not break the bank. We believe the Ledger Nano X is the best cold wallet for budget-conscious investors.
The Ledger Nano X is more affordable and can store thousands of coins than the Trezor Model T. The experts identified Ledger and Trezor wallets as the best for protecting assets. Although the Ledger Nano S is less expensive, the Nano X’s additional features and Bluetooth connectivity put it ahead of the competition. The Nano X supports a large number of tokens and coins, as well as up to 100 applications. It is a good option if you are an active investor interested in various cryptocurrencies.
The most notable security feature of the Nano X is its Secure Element security chip, which functions similarly to the chips used to secure credit cards. The chips have received Common Criteria EAL5+ certification.
Read More: Digital Wallet App Development
MetaMask — Best Hot Wallet for Ethereum and Web3 Compatibility
A cold wallet is advantageous if you intend to buy and hold it. But if you want to trade your cryptocurrency, you must have a hot wallet, making transactions much simpler and faster. In light of this, MetaMask has become a favorite among crypto traders since it opens up new avenues in the Web3 world.
MetaMask is also the best Ethereum hot wallet. Campbell states, “MetaMask operates on the Ethereum blockchain, the largest blockchain, which can communicate with [NFT exchange] OpenSea.” MetaMask provides the highest level of blockchain access.
MetaMask can connect to multiple Ethereum-based blockchain networks (such as Binance), all Ethereum-based tokens, and non-fungible tokens. It is a popular, user-friendly wallet compatible with everything built on ethereum, a significant portion of the Web3 universe. These elements give it an advantage over competing wallets.
It is also simple for “Web2” users to transition to Web3 because the mobile app is compatible with iOS and Android smartphones, and the web extension is available for most popular browsers.
It can be used to store NFTs and other collectibles in conjunction with a hardware wallet (such as Trezor or Ledger) and to exchange or purchase tokens/cryptocurrencies. If you wish to investigate NFTs and the metaverse, MetaMask is a viable option.
Best Crypto Wallets: Compared
Do You Need a Crypto Wallet to Own Cryptocurrency?
You do not need a crypto wallet to own cryptocurrency, particularly if you have a small amount and are new to exchanges and the crypto world. But if your holdings are growing and you desire more security and control, now may be an excellent time to find the right wallet, especially if you are confident in your knowledge of private and public digital keys and other aspects of cryptographic security.
Bec Jones, CEO and co-founder of blockchain-app developer Clutch Wallet describes the wallet as a gateway into the crypto universe. It is the first thing you download and the first thing you require.
Jones explains that a digital wallet is similar to a physical wallet in some ways. In contrast, a physical wallet may contain cash, credit cards, and even photographs of loved ones. A digital wallet may have online equivalents, such as cryptocurrencies, NFTs, etc.
Digital wallets are not made of leather but rather strings of code — they are software or an application (sometimes physical hardware) installed on your computer or mobile device. The majority of best crypto wallets, according to Jones, have basic functionalities such as swap and send options and the ability to make purchases within the wallet. Many also permit users to link debit and credit cards.
However, like their physical counterparts, digital wallets come in various forms. One of the most distinguishing characteristics is custody.
Custodial Wallets vs. Noncustodial Wallets
The primary distinction between custodial and noncustodial wallets is that the private key of a custodial wallet is held by a custodian or third party. For instance, if you obtain your wallet via a cryptocurrency exchange, it is a custodial wallet, and the deal most likely holds the keys.
A noncustodial wallet is privately held by its owner, so you are solely responsible for managing your assets. Using a noncustodial wallet would be equivalent to storing cash in a home vault instead of a bank. The problem, however, is that if you lock yourself out of the vault, there is little chance that you will be able to retrieve your assets, as no third party can assist you.
New crypto investors face a steep learning curve and high stakes. For instance, your investments may be at risk if you do not know how to protect your sensitive information, according to crypto expert Wendy O.
So, if you are a novice crypto investor, Wendy O suggests using an exchange-issued custodial wallet.
Cold Wallets vs. Hot Wallets
The distinction between cold and hot wallets is another essential concept to comprehend.
The primary distinction between hot wallets and cold wallets is that hot wallets are connected to the internet or store assets in the cloud (i.e., “hot”). In contrast, cold wallets are not typically encased in hardware, such as a thumb drive. Therefore, a cold wallet is immune to hacking attempts and provides a nearly impenetrable layer of security for its contents, barring the theft of the hardware.
“A cold storage solution is the safest place to store your funds,” says Chris Brooks’ son and Crypto Asset Recovery’s CPO and co-founder, Charlie Brooks.
In contrast, a cold wallet risks losing both the physical device and the cryptocurrency it contains. Consequently, there is a trade-off for this additional security, which is why some investors keep their cold wallets locked away in safe deposit boxes or even a home safe.
How to Choose a Crypto Wallet
When deciding, you will need to know whether a crypto wallet is custodial or noncustodial, whether it is hot or cold, and what coins or tokens it can store.
You will also need to consider the price. Some cryptocurrency wallets can be purchased for a one-time fee, while others charge fees for transferring funds in and out.
Campbell suggests you could narrow your options by considering how long wallets have been available. “Consider how long each wallet has existed. Are they combat-tested?” he inquires. Verify that a wallet supports cryptocurrencies.
How to Protect Your Crypto Wallet
Regardless of the wallet you choose, you must prioritize security. You’ll need to securely store your seed phrase, a string of words generated by the cryptocurrency wallet that allows you to access your cryptocurrency. It is essentially a password that the wallet generates for you. Therefore, you should physically write it down and store it in a safe or vault instead of jotting it down on a scrap of paper next to your computer, where it could be lost or discarded, potentially preventing you from accessing your wallet ever again. Choosing the leading Crypto wallet app development company is always a great choice.