Top Picks for the Best Crypto Wallets of 2022
Buying, trading, and selling bitcoins all need the use of cryptocurrency wallets. Traders rely on them to securely store crypto, as well as to protect and validate transaction data. Custom crypto wallets, whether hardware or software, also known as hot and cold storage, provide traders with tailored solutions that are not available on crypto exchanges.
Continue reading to discover more about the various types of bitcoin wallets, how they function, and which one you should choose.
*We added Public.com in this comparison table since some users shopping for crypto wallets are also looking for a crypto exchange. If you'd like to learn more about where to buy and sell cryptocurrencies, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of centralized vs. decentralized exchanges, see our article on the Best Crypto Exchanges.
1. Coinbase
Coinbase is the best option for beginners.
PROS
* A user-friendly, easy-to-navigate interface
* More than 500 cryptocurrencies are supported.
* Support for multi-signature and two-factor authentication
* Supported by a reliable trading platform capable of recovering goods that have been lost or stolen
CONS
* Other hot storage options have similar security risks and flaws.
* Mobile and tablet devices are the only ones that have it (except for Chrome extension)
Why we selected it: We chose Coinbase Wallet as the best crypto wallet for beginners because it is a user-friendly and safe wallet supported by a well-known exchange.
Coinbase Wallet is a great wallet for people who are just getting started with cryptocurrency. The software can link to most major bank accounts and features a friendly, user-friendly design with a basic three-tab structure and easily distinguishable functionalities. Coinbase Wallet offers over 500 crypto assets, the most of any hot wallet on our list. It can store non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and digital collectibles.
It's crucial to understand the difference between Coinbase the exchange and Coinbase the wallet. It is possible to utilize the Coinbase wallet without first creating an account with one of the big bitcoin exchanges. It's also non-custodial, which means your private key is held on your device rather than on Coinbase's servers, so you don't have to worry about your funds being frozen or exposed to a website hack.
Other noteworthy features include:
- Provides biometric authentication using the Secure Enclave chip included in Android, iOS, iPad, and Mac devices (e.g. FaceID, TouchID)
- In-app access to decentralized exchanges that can convert tokens without the need for a third party
- Cloud backups are an option for safeguarding your digital keys.
2. Electrum
Electrum is the best Bitcoin wallet.
PROS
* Setup is quick and simple.
* Other hot wallets don't have the same level of security as this one.
* Transaction costs that can be customized
* Due to server arrangements, wallets do not experience any downtime.
CONS
* Only Bitcoin trading is supported.
* For newbies, the setup and interface are not optimal.
* There is no customer service available by chat, email, or phone.
Because of its comprehensive security features and high degree of customizability, we picked Electrum as the best Bitcoin wallet.
Electrum, which was founded in 2011, is one of the most well-known and widely used cryptocurrency wallets today. It's also one of the few surviving crypto wallets that solely accept Bitcoin, money for which Electrum is specifically designed. Users may modify their fees based on how long they're prepared to wait for a transaction to be processed, and the wallet has a range of powerful security measures that others lack: If you pay more in fees, your transaction will be completed sooner.
One of the wallet's best features is that it runs on a light client. Light clients are simple to set up and take up less space on your computer than regular wallet clients. The wallet only downloads sections of the blockchain when utilizing simple payment verification (SPV), which speeds up transactions without compromising security.
Other noteworthy features include:
- It is an open-source wallet, which means that its code can be scrutinized, which aids in the development of trust and security.
- Users may change transaction costs based on how long they're prepared to wait for a transaction to complete, and there are various different sorts of user accounts.
- Cold storage integration with hardware wallets (KeepKey, Ledger, Trezor).
- Support for two-factor authentication and multi-signature.
3- Mycelium
Mycelium is the best option for mobile.
PROS
* Compatible with a variety of common cold storage options (Ledger, Trezor, KeepKey)
* Single Address Savings Accounts and High-Definition Spending Accounts are also available.
* Cryptocurrency trade and instructional content within the app
* Offline transactions are available.
CONS
* Hardware wallets are inherently more secure.
* It might be perplexing for newcomers.
* Only Bitcoin, Ether, and ERC-20 tokens are supported.
Because of its great focus on security and advanced transaction history information, we picked Mycelium as the best crypto wallet for mobile devices.
Mycelium is another well-known cryptocurrency wallet that focuses heavily on Bitcoin. It has long been a mobile-only software, having been released in 2008.
The wallet's security and transaction choices are two of its biggest selling points. The software is completely repeatable, which means its code can be reproduced and compared to the original to identify any possible security flaws, and it has many pin protection levels. Custom transaction fees with four recommended levels — low priority, regular, economy, and priority — as well as various other types of user accounts, are available in the wallet app.
Other noteworthy features include:
- Block height, which is a specified place in the blockchain; miner fees, which are paid to miners in the blockchain network; and inputs/outputs, which show addresses in a transaction.
- The FIO network, which includes top crypto wallets, exchanges, and payment processors, allows for inter-wallet functionality.
- Users can employ a watch-only mode to block outbound transactions while still keeping track of their stocks and trades.
Ledger Nano X is the best cryptocurrency wallet for offline use.
PROS
* It can handle a vast amount of digital materials.
* Built with unique hardware to keep your secret keys safe.
* Trading via the Ledger Live mobile app is possible thanks to Bluetooth.
* A built-in battery with 8-hour battery life is included.
CONS
* Unlike other cold wallets, this one is a lot more pricey.
* For others, the usage of Bluetooth technology may be a source of privacy concern.
* There is no touchscreen available.
Because of the number of supported currencies, excellent security requirements, and mobile trading features, we picked Ledger Nano X as the best offline crypto wallet.
Ledger is one of the most well-known hardware wallet brands on the market today. The Ledger Nano S, a feature-rich and extremely secure cold wallet, spurred the company's early success. The Ledger Nano X builds on the success of the Nano S by including a built-in battery as well as features like Bluetooth connection and enhanced asset management.
The Ledger Nano By is presently $119, has a 128 x 64-pixel screen for cycling between apps, and comes in a matte black finish. The wallet supports over 1,800 currencies and tokens, the most of any wallet on our list, and can handle up to 100 of them at once using the device's applications. The Nano X can be used with the Ledger Live software on Android or iOS smartphones to swap crypto on the go. Its Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity may be switched off at any time.
Other noteworthy features include:
The Secure Element chip from Ledger is a specialized chip that protects against numerous forms of assaults and is also utilized in high-end security solutions like credit cards and passports.
The Ledger Live app may be used to lend and stake crypto to make money in addition to purchasing and selling it.
5- Exodus
Exodus is the best desktop game.
PROS
* Over 145 crypto assets are supported.
* Trezor One and Trezor T hardware wallets are compatible.
* Allows Apple Pay users to purchase Bitcoin.
* Customer service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days
CONS
* The in-wallet crypto exchange has high transaction costs.
* Some users may be bothered by the lack of native two-factor authentication.
* There is no support for multiple signatures.
Exodus was chosen as the best crypto wallet for desktops due to the speed of its transactions, ease of use, and wide range of client features.
Exodus is one of the most graphically stunning and user-friendly wallets available. Exodus was originally a desktop-only wallet, but it now offers iOS and Android apps and is compatible with Trezor hardware wallets. Despite this, the wallet's fundamental feature remains the desktop wallet program, which is updated every two weeks.
The amount of currencies supported by Exodus is one of its most appealing features. Higher than 145 bitcoin assets are supported by the wallet, which is more than many other hot wallets. This includes famous meme coins like Dogecoin and Shiba Inu, as well as established altcoins like Ether, Litecoin, XRP, and Bitcoin Cash.
Other noteworthy features include:
- Fees can be customized, but only for Bitcoin transactions as of September 2021.
- A increasing variety of apps, including live charting, crypto staking, and crypto deposits, have been created to expand the wallet's capabilities.
- To speed up transactions, it runs on a light client, which means it employs SPV and doesn't download whole blockchains.
6- Crypto.com
Crypto.com is the best DeFi wallet.
PROS
* Select your chosen trading cost and timeliness of confirmation.
* BTC, ETH, CRO, ATOM, DOT, and LTC are among the more than 100 currencies available.
* On more than 35 tokens, you can earn interest.
CONS
* If you lose your private key and recovery phrase, you will be unable to access your funds.
* Some geo-restrictions apply to the built-in token swap.
Because to its range of decentralized financial capabilities, good onboarding procedure, and robust security architecture, we picked Crypto.com as the best defi crypto wallet.
Crypto.com is a website dedicated to cryptocurrency. DeFi Wallet is a great option for those who are just getting started with decentralized finance. Defi wallets allow customers complete control over their digital assets as well as their private key, which they must keep secure. They also allow users to exchange cryptos 1:1 and access a variety of tools for earning passive income on the cryptos they currently hold, both of which are inaccessible in traditional custodial wallets.
It's vital to distinguish between the two, as it is with other exchanges that provide both a custodial and non-custodial wallet. Without creating an account on Crypto.com's exchange, customers may download and utilize the Crypto.com DeFi Wallet for their day-to-day crypto operations.
We'd also want to warn customers that decentralized financial products and services come with considerable dangers, therefore they should be used with caution.
Other noteworthy features include:
- On iOS devices, there are many levels of security, including biometric authentication, two-factor authentication, and Secure Enclave technology.
- The ability to build and import several digital wallets
- WalletConnect allows you to connect to other decentralized apps.
Guide to Crypto Wallets
Digital money transactions have become more useful, practical, and accessible thanks to blockchain technology. However, as the number of crypto users has grown, so has the rate of cryptocurrency-related cyber theft. That's why having a highly secure crypto wallet, whether digital or physical, is more crucial than ever.
What is a crypto wallet?
Traders keep the secure digital codes needed to connect with a blockchain in cryptocurrency wallets, or simply crypto wallets. Despite what their name suggests, they do not actively store your bitcoins.
Crypto wallets must connect with the blockchain in order to locate the cryptocurrency linked with your address. In truth, crypto wallets are more like ledgers than wallets: They serve as the owner's identification and account on a blockchain network, as well as providing transaction history.
What are crypto wallets and how do they work?
You are not actually transferring any coins when someone gives bitcoin, ether, dogecoin, or any other sort of digital money to your crypto wallet. They're transferring ownership of the cryptocurrency to your wallet's address, which means they're certifying that the crypto on the blockchain no longer belongs to their address, but to yours. To do so, you'll need two digital codes: a public key as well as.
A public key is a string of letters and numbers that the crypto wallet provider generates automatically. A public key may look something like this: B1fpARq39i7L822ywJ55xgV614.
A private key is a string of numbers and letters that should only be known by the wallet's owner.
Consider a crypto wallet to be similar to an email account. You must give someone your email address in order to receive an email. In the case of crypto wallets, this is your public key, which you must disclose with others in order to participate in any blockchain transaction. However, you would never give out your email account password to anyone. That password is the equivalent of your private key in crypto wallets.
Crypto wallet users can participate in transactions utilizing these two keys without jeopardizing the integrity of the money being traded or the transaction itself. To authenticate any cash transmitted or received by your digital wallet, the public key issued to it must match your private key. The balance in your crypto wallet will grow or decrease as soon as both keys are validated.
Types of crypto wallet
There are two types of cryptocurrency wallets: hot wallets and cold wallets. The major distinction is that hot wallets are always linked to the internet, whereas cold wallets are stored offline.
Hot Wallets
Hot wallets are internet-connected digital instruments that cannot be disconnected. They are bits of software that may be used to track and trade currencies from your phone or desktop computer. Some hot wallets may be accessed directly from your browser, allowing you to utilize them on a number of devices.
The most significant benefit of hot wallets is their portability. Your public and private keys are kept and encrypted on your wallet's app or website, so you can access them from anywhere with an internet connection unless they're tied to a specific device. This accessibility makes them excellent for folks who trade frequently and plan to spend bitcoins.
Hot wallets are more vulnerable to intrusions since they are always available online. Hackers can employ malware or attack hidden weaknesses in the software that supports your wallet to get access to your account. This is especially problematic for online wallets hosted by cryptocurrency exchanges, which are more common targets for cybercriminals.
What should you look for in a crypto wallet?
When looking for a crypto wallet, it's critical to ask yourself the following questions:
How frequently do I trade? Will you be trading cryptocurrencies on a regular basis or only on occasion? Due of their quickness and convenience, hot wallets are excellent for active traders. Active traders, on the other hand, may benefit from a cold wallet by utilizing it as a form of savings account in which they store the majority of their currency.
What am I looking for in a trade? Do you want to buy and store Bitcoin, or are you more interested in other cryptocurrencies such as altcoins and stablecoins? The crypto wallet you choose should support the currencies you want to trade, as well as any other cryptocurrencies you might want to store.
What is the maximum amount I am willing to spend? Do you intend to amass big sums of cryptocurrency at some time in the future? Hardware wallets are perfect for this type of activity, however unlike hot wallets (which are typically free), they demand a one-time payment to possess the wallet. Some hot wallets charge higher crypto trading fees in exchange for faster transactions or more features.
What features do I require in a wallet? Do you intend to do anything with cryptocurrency other than trade it? Traders who want to make money with their crypto in a passive manner, for example, should seek for wallets that support crypto lending, staking, and deposits.