what is a cryptocurrency wallet 
a crypto wallet is an application that functions as a wallet for your cryptocurrency it is called a wallet because it is used similarly to a wallet you put cash and cards in instead of holding these physical items it stores the passkeys you use to sign for your cryptocurrency transactions and provides the interface that lets you access your crypto modern cryptocurrency wallets make the blockchain accessible to everyone when cryptocurrency was first introduced sending cryptocurrency was a manual task that required entering long keys today the software does most of it for you the first wallet was that of bitcoin s developer satoshi nakamoto the second wallet belonged to hal finney who corresponded with nakamoto and reportedly was the first to run the bitcoin client software wallet nakamoto sent him 10 bitcoins as a test and the cryptocurrency craze began 12investopedia nez riazunderstanding cryptocurrency walletscryptocurrency wallets are software applications on computers or mobile devices such as phones or tablets they use an internet connection to access the blockchain network for the cryptocurrency you re using cryptocurrencies are not stored anywhere they are bits of data in a database scattered all over it the wallet finds all of the bits associated with your public address and sums up the amount for you in the app s interface sending and receiving cryptocurrency is very easy using these applications you can send or receive cryptocurrency from your wallet using various methods typically you enter the recipient s wallet address choose an amount to send sign the transaction using your private key add an amount to pay the transaction fee and send it many wallets have integrated qr codes and near field scanner technology that allows you to scan a code select an amount enter your key select the transaction fee and click send receiving is even easier the sender enters your address and goes through the same routine you accept the payment and the transaction is done cryptocurrency wallet typesthere are two main types of wallets custodial and noncustodial custodial wallets also called online wallets are hosted by a third party that stores your keys for you this could be a company that provides enterprise level data security systems businesses use to preserve and secure data some cryptocurrency exchanges offer custodial wallets for their customers noncustodial wallets are wallets in which you take responsibility for securing your keys this is the type that most cryptocurrency wallets on devices are there are two subcategories of wallets hot and cold a hot wallet has a connection to the internet or to a device that has a connection and a cold wallet has no connection lastly there are three subcategories of wallets software hardware and paper each of these types is considered either a hot or cold wallet so you can have a noncustodial software hot wallet a noncustodial hardware cold or hot wallet or a custodial hardware cold wallet these are the most common types but you may also encounter other combinations some wallets may be best for storing and managing your cryptocurrency such as one of investopedia s best bitcoin wallets research all crypto wallet options before deciding which is best for you software wallets include applications for desktops and mobile devices these wallets are installed on a desktop or laptop computer and can access your cryptocurrency make transactions display your balance and much more some software wallets also include additional functionality such as exchange integration if you re using a wallet designed by a cryptocurrency exchange many mobile wallets can facilitate quick payments in physical stores through near field communication nfc or by scanning a qr code mobile wallets tend to be compatible with ios or android devices trezor electrum and mycelium are examples of wallets that you can use software wallets are generally hot wallets you use private keys to access your cryptocurrency it s important to control access to your private keys because anyone who has them can access your coins hardware wallets are the most popular type of wallet because you can store your private keys and remove them from your device these devices might resemble a usb drive and modern hardware wallets have several features you can make a cryptocurrency transaction on your computer or device by plugging in the hardware wallet most of them can sign cryptocurrency transactions automatically without requiring you to enter the key circumventing a hacker s ability to log your keypresses or record your screen these devices often cost between 100 to 200 ledger and trezor are both well known hardware wallets hardware wallets are generally considered cold wallets because they don t have an active connection until they are plugged in some new hardware wallets come with the ability to connect to your device through bluetooth use these with caution because bluetooth is a wireless signal that can be accessed by unwanted parties when it is turned on early crypto users would write or type their keys on paper which they called paper wallets these evolved to include the keys and qr codes so wallets on mobile devices could scan them however paper wallets are easily damaged or lost so many crypto owners do not use them anymore however there is nothing wrong with using a paper wallet if you take measures to store it properly in a safe or deposit box and check on it once in a while to ensure it hasn t deteriorated crypto wallet securitywallet safety is essential as cryptocurrencies are high value targets for hackers some safeguards include encrypting the wallet with a strong password using two factor authentication for exchanges and storing any large amounts you have offline there have been many cases of malware disguised as wallets so it is advisable to research carefully before deciding which one to use most modern wallets generate a twelve word mnemonic seed phrase an example phrase could be airport bedroom impression sample reception protection road shirt which seems random but is created and linked to your keys by your wallet you can use the phrase to restore the wallet if the device is lost or damaged these words should be carefully stored in a safe place because anyone who finds them will be able to access your cryptocurrency cryptocurrency exchanges have started offering custodial key storage for their users however you should use this service cautiously cryptocurrency exchanges are highly prized targets for cybercriminals additionally if the cryptocurrency exchange goes out of business there may be no guarantees that you ll get your cryptocurrency back for example coinbase a popular exchange announced in its quarterly report to the securities and exchange commission in may 2022 that 3general unsecured creditors are lower in priority on the list of creditors in a bankruptcy proceeding therefore if there are not enough assets to liquidate and meet financial requirements for higher priority creditors it is possible to lose your crypto assets if your custodial wallet company declares bankruptcy the best cryptocurrency key security measures involve removing your keys from your wallet placing them in a form of cold storage and securing them in a vault safe or deposit box the more steps it takes for you to access your cryptocurrency keys the harder it is for a criminal to access them this way you ensure you don t lose your keys it also ensures that someone you have entrusted with your keys doesn t lose them or deny you access to them 