Guide to the Best Crypto Cold Storage Wallets in 2025

Key Takeways
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• The Right Wallet for Every User:
  
  
  • Best for Beginners: Tangem provides unmatched simplicity with its card-based, tap-to-use NFC system and an optional seedless setup, making it the easiest cold wallet to use.
    
    
  • Best All-Rounder: The Trezor Safe 5 balances a user-friendly touchscreen, a comprehensive software suite, and a decade-long reputation for open-source security.
    
    
  • Best for Security Maximalists: The Keystone 3 Pro offers elite protection with its fully air-gapped, open-source design, making it immune to online threats.
    
    
  • Best for Bitcoin Purists: The Foundation Passport is a dedicated, Bitcoin-only wallet designed for users who prioritize air-gapped security and verifiable transparency.
    
    
• Core Security Principles to Look For: The top hardware wallets are built on three key pillars: certified Secure Element (SE) chips (like EAL6+) for physical defense, air-gapped functionality to isolate keys from the internet, and open-source code for community-verified trust.
  
  
• Your Backup Is Your Lifeline: Your 12 or 24-word recovery phrase is the ultimate key to your funds. A paper backup is highly vulnerable to physical damage like fire and water. Upgrading to a durable metal backup solution like Stamp Seed is a critical step for long-term security.
  
  
• How to Buy a Cold Wallet Safely: To avoid receiving a compromised or tampered device, always purchase hardware wallets directly from the official manufacturer's website or an officially authorized reseller.
  
  

This guide provides an exhaustive analysis of the top hardware wallets available today. It is designed to be the definitive resource for anyone looking to secure their digital wealth. We will explore different types of wallets tailored for various user needs, from beginners seeking simplicity to security experts demanding the most advanced protections. This report will also cover the most critical, yet often overlooked, aspect of security: safeguarding your backup recovery phrase. By the end of this guide, you will have the knowledge to select the right cold storage solution and take full control of your assets.
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What is Crypto Cold Storage and Why Is It Essential?

Understanding the difference between hot and cold storage is the first step toward securing digital assets. A "hot wallet" is any crypto wallet that is connected to the internet, such as a mobile app or a browser extension. Think of it like a checking account or the cash in your physical wallet—it's convenient for frequent, everyday transactions but not suitable for storing your life savings. Its constant online connection makes it a target for hackers.
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In contrast, cold storage refers to storing cryptocurrency private keys completely offline. A hardware wallet is the most common form of cold storage, acting like a deep-storage vault or a safe deposit box. It is designed for the long-term, secure holding of assets. This distinction is critical because of a fundamental principle in cryptocurrency: "Not your keys, not your coins." When you leave your crypto on an exchange, you do not actually control the private keys; the exchange does. You essentially have an IOU from the platform. While this is convenient, it exposes you to risks like exchange hacks, regulatory seizures, or platform insolvency.  

This leads to a common question: what crypto exchanges store cold storage? Major exchanges do, in fact, use cold storage to protect the vast majority of customer funds from online attacks. They maintain sophisticated, institutional-grade offline vaults. However, this is custodial storage. The exchange acts as the custodian, controlling the keys on your behalf. Personal cold storage, on the other hand, is non-custodial. You, and only you, hold the private keys, giving you complete sovereignty over your funds.

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Top 5 Best Crypto Cold Storages in 2025

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1. Tangem Wallet & Ring: The Easiest Cold Wallet to Use
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Tangem has carved out a unique niche in the hardware wallet market by prioritizing simplicity and accessibility above all else. Its products, the Tangem Wallet and Tangem Ring, abandon the traditional gadget-like form factor in favor of something more familiar: a credit cold storage card and a stylish wearable ring. This design philosophy aims to lower the barrier to entry for self-custody, making it less intimidating for newcomers.
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Security: Despite its simple appearance, Tangem’s security is robust. At the heart of each card or ring is an EAL6+ certified secure chip, developed in partnership with Samsung Semiconductors. This is the same high-security standard found in electronic passports. The firmware has been independently audited by top security firms Kudelski Security and Riscure, who confirmed it contains no backdoors or vulnerabilities. Tangem backs its hardware with an impressive 25-year warranty.
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Pricing: Tangem is one of the most affordable hardware wallets. The cold wallet price starts at just $54.90 for a two-card set and $69.90 for a three-card set. The newer Tangem Ring edition, which includes the ring and two backup cards, is priced at $160.  
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Ideal User: Tangem is the best cold wallet for beginners. It's incredibly simple setup, intuitive tap-to-use interface, and the security of the seedless option make it the perfect choice for those taking their first steps into self-custody. It is also ideal for travelers, digital nomads, or anyone who values hardware-level security in a portable, battery-free form factor.

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2. Trezor Safe 5: A Modern Wallet from a Trusted Pioneer
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Trezor is a true pioneer in the hardware wallet industry, having created the very first device back in 2013 and building a decade-long reputation for security and transparency. The Trezor Safe 5 is its latest flagship model, designed to combine this trusted legacy with a modern, user-friendly experience. It features a large, 1.54-inch vibrant color touchscreen with haptic feedback and is protected by scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass. 
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Security: Trezor’s security model is built on a foundation of open-source transparency. Both its firmware and the companion Trezor Suite software are publicly available on GitHub, allowing for continuous community auditing. The Safe 5 enhances this with top-tier physical security, incorporating an EAL6+ certified Secure Element to protect the device against physical tampering and brute-force attacks. Access is further secured with a PIN and an optional passphrase for advanced protection. Each device ships in a box with tamper-evident holographic seals to ensure its integrity has not been compromised during transit. 
 

Pricing: The cold wallet price for the Trezor Safe 5 is $169.
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Ideal User: The Trezor Safe 5 is built for the crypto power user who values a smooth, intuitive interface and a robust software ecosystem. It is also an excellent choice for anyone who prioritizes security and is swayed by Trezor's decade-long track record of open-source development and prompt security patching.
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3. OneKey Pro: The All-in-One, Feature-Rich Device
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The OneKey Pro can be described as the "Swiss Army knife" of hardware wallets. Resembling a sleek, modern smartphone, it boasts a large 3.5-inch color touchscreen and a premium build quality with a textured glass back and aluminum alloy frame. As the only hardware wallet on this list backed by both Coinbase Ventures and Binance's former venture arm, YZi Labs, it carries significant industry credibility.  
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Security: OneKey Pro's security architecture is formidable. It is equipped with four separate, internationally certified EAL6+ security chips, providing an exceptional level of hardware-level protection. Like other top-tier wallets, its firmware is fully open-source and has been audited by third-party security experts such as Slowmist. This combination of certified hardware and transparent software places it in the highest echelon of security.  
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Pricing: The cold wallet price for the OneKey Pro is $278.
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Ideal User: The OneKey Pro is designed for the serious investor with a substantial and diverse crypto portfolio for whom security and convenience are top priorities. It's for the user who wants maximum protection through multi-layer secure elements and open-source code, but also desires all the latest and greatest features like a large touchscreen, biometric access, and air-gapped operations in a single, premium device.

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4. Keystone 3 Pro: The Gold Standard for Air-Gapped Security

The Keystone 3 Pro is the wallet of choice for the security maximalist. It has the look and feel of a small smartphone, complete with a large 4-inch touchscreen and a camera on the back. However, that camera serves a single purpose: to facilitate completely offline, air-gapped transactions by scanning QR codes, ensuring the device remains a fortress against online threats. 
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Security: Security is the Keystone 3 Pro's defining characteristic. It is a truly air-gapped device, meaning it has no USB data transfer capabilities, no Bluetooth, no Wi-Fi, and no NFC. Its only communication with the outside world is through its camera and a microSD card slot for firmware updates. The device is fortified with three independent Secure Element chips, providing secure and separate storage for private keys. It also features a built-in anti-tamper self-destruct mechanism; if a physical attack is detected where the device is opened, it will automatically wipe all sensitive wallet data.  
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Pricing: Considering its advanced security features, the Keystone 3 Pro is very competitively priced. The cold wallet price is $149.
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Ideal User: This device is built for the security purist with a significant crypto portfolio who values protection above all else. It is an excellent choice for active DeFi and NFT users who need to sign numerous transactions and want the peace of mind of doing so from a completely isolated environment. It is also the ideal wallet for those who believe deeply in the open-source ethos and will not settle for a "black box" solution to secure their wealth.
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5. Foundation Passport: A Bitcoin-Only Wallet for the Purist
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The Foundation Passport is a hardware wallet with a singular focus: securing Bitcoin. It deliberately eschews the modern smartphone aesthetic for a nostalgic, retro design reminiscent of an old Nokia phone, complete with a physical numeric keypad and a color screen. This design choice reflects its philosophy: to provide a robust, dedicated, and auditable tool for long-term Bitcoin holders.
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Security: The Passport is built for the security-conscious Bitcoiner. It is a fully air-gapped device, with no USB data port, Bluetooth, NFC, or any wireless connectivity whatsoever. All communication is handled by scanning QR codes with its camera or by transferring data via a microSD card. Following the principle of "don't trust, verify," both the Passport's firmware and its hardware schematics are open-source and publicly available for review. It uses a Microchip secure element to protect the private key and even performs a supply chain authenticity check upon its first boot to confirm the device has not been tampered with since leaving the factory.  
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Pricing: The Foundation Passport sits in the premium hardware wallet category. The cold wallet price for the Passport (Core edition) is $199.
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Ideal User: The Passport is for the Bitcoin maximalist or the long-term holder who plans to "stack sats" for years to come. If Bitcoin is the primary or only digital asset you care about, investing in a dedicated, high-security, open-source wallet like the Passport is a logical move. Its air-gapped design and transparent principles are ideal for the "ultra-paranoid (in a good way)" user who wants no compromises when it comes to securing their Bitcoin.

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Best Crypto Cold Storage FAQs
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This section addresses some of the most common questions users have when exploring cold storage solutions.
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What is the safest cold wallet?
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There is no single "safest" wallet, as the answer depends on an individual's specific security needs and threat model. However, for maximum protection against online, remote attacks, an air-gapped, open-source wallet like the Keystone 3 Pro or Foundation Passport is arguably the safest choice. For robust defense against physical attacks, wallets featuring top-tier EAL6+ certified Secure Elements, such as the Tangem Wallet, Trezor Safe 5, and OneKey Pro, provide excellent security. The truly safest setup combines a high-quality hardware wallet with an indestructible recovery phrase backup, like stamping the words onto a titanium plate with Stamp Seed.
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How much is a cold wallet?
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The cold wallet price can vary significantly based on features and security levels. Reputable, entry-level devices like the Trezor Model One cost around $49. The highly accessible Tangem card set starts at $54.90. The premium market, which includes most of the wallets in this guide, typically ranges from $150 to $200, with the Keystone 3 Pro at $149, the Trezor Safe 5 at $169, and the Foundation Passport at $199. High-end, feature-packed devices like the OneKey Pro represent the top of the market at $278.
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How to get a cold wallet?
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The single most important rule when purchasing a hardware wallet is to always buy directly from the official manufacturer's website or an officially listed authorized reseller. This is crucial for minimizing the risk of supply chain attacks, where a malicious actor could tamper with a device before it reaches you. Avoid purchasing from unverified third-party sellers on marketplaces like eBay or Amazon unless you can confirm it is the official brand storefront. All the wallets in our cold wallet reviews are linked to their official sources.

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Disclaimer: This content is presented to you on an “as is” basis for general information and educational purposes only, without representation or warranty of any kind. It should not be construed as financial, legal or other professional advice, nor is it intended to recommend the purchase of any specific product or service. You should seek your own advice from appropriate professional advisors. Where the article is contributed by a third party contributor, please note that those views expressed belong to the third party contributor, and do not necessarily reflect those of Backpack. Please read our full disclaimer for further details. Digital asset prices can be volatile. The value of your investment may go down or up and you may not get back the amount invested. You are solely responsible for your investment decisions and Backpack is not liable for any losses you may incur. This material should not be construed as financial, legal or other professional advice.

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