Cold Wallet Best Practices
๐ 1. Choose the Right Type of Cold Wallet
Hardware Wallets (e.g., Ledger, Trezor)
Most recommended: portable, encrypted, user-friendly.
Paper Wallets
Only recommended for advanced users. Easy to lose or damage.
Air-Gapped Devices
Old laptops or phones with no internet connection, running wallet software.
๐ฆ 2. Purchase Only from Official Sources
Buy directly from the manufacturer’s website.
Avoid third-party sellers (e.g., Amazon, eBay) to prevent tampering.
Check the packaging for signs of tampering and verify authenticity with the manufacturer.
๐ 3. Backup and Protect Your Seed Phrase
Write it down on paper or engrave it on metal. Never store it digitally (e.g., photo, cloud, email).
Use multiple backups and store them in separate, secure locations (e.g., safe, safety deposit box).
Consider using a metal seed storage product to protect against fire and water damage.
๐️๐จ️ 4. Keep It Offline
Never connect your cold wallet to the internet except when signing transactions (and only via secure software).
Never expose your seed phrase to an online device.
๐งช 5. Test Before Large Transfers
Send a small amount first to test if everything is set up properly.
Practice restoring your wallet on a separate device to ensure your backups work.
๐ก️ 6. Enable Passphrases (Optional, Advanced)
Many wallets allow an extra “passphrase” that acts as a 25th word.
This creates a separate wallet and offers plausible deniability if you are forced to reveal your seed.
๐งผ 7. Use Clean, Dedicated Hardware for Initial Setup
If setting up a cold wallet from a computer:
Use a clean OS install, preferably on an air-gapped machine.
Wipe all traces of any seed phrase afterward.
๐จ๐ฉ๐ง๐ฆ 8. Have a Secure Inheritance Plan
Document how someone you trust can access the wallet in case of your death/incapacitation.
Include clear instructions without exposing private keys directly unless absolutely necessary.
๐ซ 9. Avoid These Common Mistakes
Taking screenshots of seed phrases
Storing seed phrases in password managers or cloud services
Connecting a cold wallet to unknown or infected computers
Reusing a compromised seed phrase
๐ ️ 10. Regularly Review and Update Security
Ensure your firmware is up-to-date (only from official sources).
Periodically review your backup locations and physical security.
Stay updated with the latest wallet vulnerabilities and patch instructions.
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