Bitcoin Wallet, Cryptocurrency Wallets & Bitcoin Hardware Wallet

Bitcoin wallet remains a software program where Bitcoins are stored. To be technically perfect, Bitcoins are not stored anyplace. The private key for each Bitcoin address remains kept in the Bitcoin wallet of the person who holds the balance. Bitcoin wallets help the sending and receiving of Bitcoins and give ownership of the Bitcoin balance to the user. The Bitcoin wallet is developed in several forms. The four main types of wallets are: Desktop, Mobile, Web, and Bitcoin hardware wallet.

What is a Bitcoin Wallet?

The bitcoin wallet is known as a digital wallet. Organizing such a wallet is an important move in the process of obtaining Bitcoins. Just as Bitcoins are the digital equivalent of money, a Bitcoin wallet is comparable to a physical wallet. But instead of saving Bitcoins literally, what is stored is a huge amount of relevant information, such as the secure private key used to locate addresses and conduct Bitcoin transactions.

How does a Bitcoin Wallet work?

Bitcoin wallets enable sending and receiving cryptocurrency by adhering to the Bitcoin protocol. These wallets are difficult software programs that enable people with limited or no technical knowledge to communicate with the Bitcoin blockchain and negotiate value globally, without barriers.

Bitcoin is not stored in a wallet in the same sense that money is kept in your physical wallet. All bitcoin exists on the blockchain and, to be quite technical, it doesn’t have the specific bitcoin it does. Rather, you have the key combination that allows you to access and move bitcoin. The bitcoin you buy is protected after securely storing your keys. Wallets contain at least one associated private key and a single public key. Easily put, it is the combination of the private key (s) and the public key that creates the concept of a Bitcoin wallet.

What is the difference between Public Key and Private Key?

The main difference between a public and a private key is its use. The public key, as its name implies, is public and is open to anyone in the system. The public key is used to encrypt data.

Though, the private key is private. It is stored only on the user’s device. The private key is used to decrypt data.

The public key is used to switch the message into an unreadable format. The private key is used to convert the accepted message back to the new message. Both keys help to guarantee the security of the data exchanged.

Are my Bitcoin in the Wallet secure?

Since in real life, your wallet must be guarded. Bitcoin executes it possible to transfer value anywhere in a very easy way and enables you to control your money. These excellent features also come with important security concerns. At the same time, Bitcoin can give very high levels of security if used correctly. Always recollect that it is your responsibility to embrace good practices to protect your money.

Different types of wallets

What is a Bitcoin wallet that can still be a question that worries you? Hence, in this section, we examine different types of wallets to help clear up the confusion. There are various factors to consider when deciding which Bitcoin wallet to use. Key considerations involve how much bitcoin you plan to keep, how frequently you plan to spend, and last but not least, the trade-off between greater security and convenience.

Cold storage

Cold storage wallets refer to a “cold storage” system for your bitcoin and come in the form of paper wallets, hardware or USB wallets. They are completely offline. Consequently, many also refer to them as offline wallets. In terms of security, offline wallets are more sophisticated than active or online wallets. This is because they were built offline and only need to be connected to the Internet when sending bitcoins. They are not hosted on servers and, as a result, are usually not the target of hacker attacks.

Bitcoin Hardware Wallet

A bitcoin hardware wallet wallet is a unique type of Bitcoin wallet that stores the user’s private keys in a safe hardware device. It is the most protected way of saving any amount of Bitcoin. There have been no incidents of money being stolen from a bitcoin hardware wallet. Unlike paper wallets, which must be imported to the software at some point, hardware wallets can be used securely and interactively. Besides, they are immune to computer viruses, the funds saved cannot be transferred out of the device in plaintext, and in most instances, their software is open source.

Some bitcoin hardware wallets even have screens, which add another layer of security, as they can be used to verify and display relevant wallet details. For example, a screen can be used to generate a restoration phrase and to confirm the amount and address of the payment you wish to make. So, as long as you invest in an authentic device made by a trustworthy and qualified manufacturer, your funds will be safe. Please bear in mind that you can only be absolutely sure that device is not compromised if you directly buy it at manufacturer’s shop. Therefore it is highly recommended to buy your hardware wallet not on a random marketplace.

Trezor One
Popular

Ledger Nano X

Hardware Wallets	Trezor One	Popular Ledger Nano X
Hardware Wallets	Hardware Wallets	€5900	€11900

Supported coins	10 coins and more than 1000 ERC20 token	24 coins and more than 1250 ERC20 tokens
Connectivity	USB 2.0	USB 2.0 Bluetooth®
Dimensions & Weight	Size: 60mm x 30mm x 6mm Weight: 12 g	Size: 72mm x 18mm x 12mm Weight: 34g
Compatibility	Windows, Linux and macOS (10.8 or higher)	64-bits desktop computer (Windows 8+, macOS 10.10+, Linux) Also compatible with smartphones (iOS 9+ or Android 7+)
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Paper wallets

A paper wallet is known as an important document that contains a public address to receive Bitcoin and a private key, which allows you to spend or transfer Bitcoin stored at that address. Paper wallets are usually printed in the form of QR codes, so you can scan them and add keys to a software wallet to make a transaction. A paper wallet can be generated using services like BitAddress or Bitcoinpaperwallet, which acknowledge users to create a random Bitcoin address with their private key. The generated keys can be printed, with some services offering a tamper-resistant design or even an option to order holographic labels.

The main benefit of a paper wallet is that keys are stored offline, making them completely immune to hacker attacks, including malware that can record user keystrokes. Before creating a paper wallet, you need to ensure that no one is watching you do this. To rule out the risk of spyware monitoring your activities, we recommend using a clean operating system, such as Ubuntu, that runs from a USB flash drive or DVD. Also, after the paper wallet is set up, the website code must be executed offline, enabling you to disconnect from the Internet before generating the keys. Finally, use a printer that is not connected to a network.

Besides, it’s important to realize that you are printing valuable, private information on a piece of paper. So, you need to consider certain measures to protect that piece of paper. For example, it is suggested to keep it in a sealed plastic bag and to store it in a dry, safe place to avoid water damage and general wear and tear. Some people prefer laminating it and storing it in a safety deposit box.

Hot wallets

In contrast to cold wallets, hot wallets are regularly connected to the Internet. Therefore, people choose hot wallets for comfort rather than security. They’re beneficial for holding smaller sums of bitcoin to negotiate regularly. Different types include web, desktop, and mobile wallets.

Web wallets

Web wallets are attached to exchanges, markets, or other online service providers also enable instant Bitcoin transactions through a web browser. Using a web wallet, you can deposit your coins into the service providers’ online wallet. They are granted one of the least secure wallet options and should not be used to store large sums of bitcoin. They deliver easy-to-use, comfortable solutions for sending, receiving, and storing small sums of bitcoin and are available anywhere with an Internet connection. However, some web wallet clients implement multi-signature solutions enabling you to retain total control over your coins and bringing with them heightened security.

Desktop wallet

For the administration of Bitcoins and cryptocurrencies, a separate Bitcoin client can be installed on the desktop. It is basically the simplest form of a wallet. It allows to generate Bitcoin addresses and manage transactions in the network. With a desktop wallet, the environment is very important, i.e. whether your computer is free of malware.

In addition to the sometimes very compact clients, more extensive software features are available today. Depending on the provider, different priorities are set, such as the security of the wallet or the anonymity of the user.

However, desktop wallets have a decisive disadvantage: They are extremely impractical in everyday trading with Bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies.

Conclusion

Storing your Bitcoin wallet safe is essential as Bitcoin wallets represent high-value targets for hackers. Protection includes the encrypting of the wallet with a powerful password, and choosing the cold storage, offline option. If you want to get your own hardware wallet, please bear in mind that bitcoin hardware wallets should always and only bought directly by the manufacturer. If you buy your hardware wallet on a random marketplace you take the risk to get a compromised device. It is advisable to constantly backup your desktop and mobile wallets, as problems with the wallet software on your computer or mobile device could erase your holdings.

What means "Not your key, not your coins"?

If you bought genuine coins or token you have to be the owner of the private key. To ensure the highest level of security a hardware wallet is obligatory.