There’s no better way to protect your crypto investments than with the right wallet.
That’s because a crypto wallet amounts to “the keys to the kingdom,” says Brent Campbell, founder and managing director of Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based digital-asset investment firm NXS Crypto Fund. “I tell clients that a wallet is the first step for anyone who wants to participate in the blockchain ecosystem — its purpose is to save, store, and receive [crypto] coins anywhere in the world, without a bank.”
The 6 Best Crypto Wallets
Not all crypto investors technically need their own wallet, since most mainstream exchanges allow you to store your crypto within your account, much like how a 401(k) or IRA lives within a Fidelity or Vanguard account. But unlike the traditional stock market, there aren’t robust federally mandated protections in place for crypto investors. So as the value of your crypto becomes more significant, you could benefit from the added security that comes with your own wallet.
Depending on your investment strategy, you might consider a hot or a cold wallet, or a wallet offered by your go-to exchange. We asked four crypto experts what long-term investors should know. Based on our own research and input from the experts, here are six of the best crypto wallets long-term investors should consider.
Coinbase Wallet — Best Crypto Wallet for Beginners
If you’re new to the crypto space, experts recommend a simple hot wallet. These tend to be free, easier to use, and are often connected to an exchange, meaning they support a large number of tokens and coins.
Coinbase Wallet, from the popular Coinbase exchange, is probably the best bet for beginners, experts say. It’s simple, supports thousands of cryptos, and is also noncustodial, meaning you maintain control over your private keys.
“We’ll tell 95% of the people we talk to, just use a Coinbase wallet,” says Chris Brooks, founder of Crypto Asset Recovery, a company that specializes in helping crypto investors recover passwords and seed phrases to their wallets.
Most crypto investors already start with an exchange-hosted wallet like Coinbase Wallet, says Campbell, which is like using “an on-ramp and off-ramp into crypto.”
Electrum — Best Bitcoin Wallet
If security is your primary concern, experts agree a cold storage hardware device can’t be beat. “For somebody who wants to take no security risks, move [your assets] to a hardware device,” says Campbell, who adds that he has some assets on a hardware device and locked in a bank vault.
Trezor is among the best cold wallet options, says Charlie Brooks, Chris’ son and CPO and co-founder of Crypto Asset Recovery LLC. “A cold storage solution is the safest place to hold your funds.”
A physical hardware wallet from Trezor, such as the Trezor Model T, is a solid choice for the security-minded crypto investor, experts say. At $280, it’s not cheap. However, the Model T has numerous features that make it a standout, such as a large, full-color touchscreen display, and add-ons like Shamir Backup, a Trezor-designed security standard only available for the Model T. The Shamir backup lets you create 16 recovery phrases to use as backups. The security standard also offers protection if your wallet is stolen or destroyed by allowing you to recover the entire thing using a recovery seed.
Along with Ledger wallets, Trezor products are going to be very secure, albeit in a few slightly different ways, so it probably comes down to a user’s preference. The Model T is physically more robust and tough, at least in appearance, which some people might also like. Plus it’s user-friendly, intuitive, and easy to set up.
Ledger Nano X — Best Cold Wallet That Costs Less
Ledger Nano X
BEST COLD WALLET THAT COSTS LESS
Ledger Nano X
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Custody type:
Self
Storage type:
Cold
Supported coins:
5,500+
Cost:
$149
Overview:
The Ledger Nano X is another great cold wallet option for security-minded crypto investors, and costs less than the Trezor Model T.
As we’ve covered, cold wallets are the best for keeping crypto assets secure, since they’re not connected to the internet at all times and as such face much less risk of hacking. And hardware devices like the Trezor Model T can go a long way in ensuring your holdings remain safe. But you can find cold wallets that won’t break the bank. We think the Ledger Nano X is the best cold wallet for investors on a budget.
The Ledger Nano X supports thousands of coins and is more affordable than the Trezor Model T. The experts mentioned Ledger wallets along with Trezor as being the best for securing holdings. While the Ledger Nano S costs less, the Nano X’s extra features and the fact that it doesn’t need to be plugged in, because it has Bluetooth, put it over the top. The Nano X supports a lot of tokens and coins, and up to 100 apps. It’s a good choice if you’re an active investor with interest in a bunch of different cryptos.
In terms of security, the Nano X’s most notable feature is its Secure Element security chip, which is similar to what is used to secure credit cards. The chips have been certified by the Common Criteria EAL5+ process.
MetaMask — Best Hot Wallet for Ethereum and Web3 Compatibility
MetaMask
BEST HOT WALLET FOR ETHEREUM AND WEB3 COMPATIBILITY
MetaMask
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Custody type:
Self
Storage type:
Hot
Supported coins:
Any ethereum-based tokens
Cost:
Free, but transaction fees may apply
Overview:
MetaMask is a favorite free hot wallet that operates on the ethereum network, which gives investors easier access to the blockchain and Web3.
A cold wallet can be an asset if you’re looking to buy and hold. But if you want to trade your crypto, having a hot wallet is a must, as it’ll make it much easier and faster to transact. With that in mind, MetaMask has become a favorite of crypto traders because it opens up new avenues into the Web3 world, too.
MetaMask is also the best hot wallet for ethereum. “MetaMask operates on the ethereum blockchain, the biggest blockchain, which can talk to [NFT exchange] OpenSea,” says Campbell. “MetaMask gives you the most access to the blockchain.”
MetaMask can connect to multiple ethereum-based blockchain networks (such as Binance), NFTs, and all ethereum-based tokens. It’s a popular, easy-to-use wallet that can work with anything built on ethereum, which is a good percentage of the Web3 world. Combined, these factors give it an edge over competing wallets.
It’s also easy for “Web2” users to bridge the gap to Web3, as the mobile app can be downloaded to both iOS and Android smartphones, or you can use the web extension for most major browsers.
You can store NFTs and other collectibles on it, use it in conjunction with a hardware wallet (like Trezor or Ledger), and use it to exchange or buy tokens/cryptos. So if you’re looking to explore NFTs and the metaverse, MetaMask can be a solid choice.
Best Crypto Wallets: Compared
