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eToro
Gemini
Ledger Nano X Wallet
With the notable exception of MetaMask, all of our best crypto wallet selections can also help you safely store your Bitcoin.
The following are some of our other picks for the best Bitcoin wallets in the US.
| Wallet type | Asset support | |
|---|---|---|
| Electrum Bitcoin Wallet | Hot | Bitcoin only |
| Sparrow Bitcoin Wallet | Hot | Bitcoin only |
| Wasabi Bitcoin Wallet | Hot | Bitcoin only |
| Mycelium Bitcoin Wallet | Hot | Bitcoin only |
| Blockstream Jade | Cold | Bitcoin only* (Supports other assets that exist on Liquid Network — a Bitcoin Layer-2 network.) |
| Ledger wallets (Ledger Stax, Ledger Flex, Ledger Nano X, Ledger Nano S Plus) | Cold | Multi-asset |
| Trezor wallets (Trezor Safe 5, Trezor Safe 3, Trezor Model T, Trezor Model One) | Cold | Multi-asset |
| SafePal S1 | Cold | Multi-asset |
When deciding which Bitcoin wallet is best for you, you first need to decide whether you prefer a hot or cold wallet.
Hot wallets are crypto wallets that remain connected to the internet, so they are less secure than cold wallets, which store assets offline. Hot wallets can be used in conjunction with one of our picks for the best cold wallets for crypto, such as the COLDCARD Mk4.
Browse top crypto wallets by supported assets, price and more. Select Go to Site to learn more about a particular wallet. Remember: prices are subject to change and should be used as a general guide only.
A cryptocurrency wallet is a software program that allows you to store, send and receive digital currencies.
Because cryptocurrency does not exist in any physical form, your wallet does not actually hold any of your coins — instead, all transactions are recorded and stored on the blockchain.
Some cryptocurrencies have their own official wallets, while other products allow you to store multiple currencies within the same wallet.
Bear in mind that different digital currencies have different address types, and you are usually only able to send coins between like wallet addresses. This means you will need to send Bitcoin to a Bitcoin wallet address, Ethereum to an Ethereum wallet address and so on.
Instead of holding physical coins, a wallet has a public key and a private key.
As well as storing your public and private keys, crypto wallets interface with the blockchains of various cryptos so that you can check your balance and send and receive funds.
The blockchain of any cryptocurrency contains a public record of all transactions made since it began. Your wallet address keeps a record of all your transactions and tracks your crypto balance. By following the chain all the way to the present day, a wallet can figure out how many coins you have.
For example, let’s say Alice sends Bob 0.001 BTC. Once this transaction has been verified and added to the blockchain, the ledger records that the amount of Bitcoin at Alice’s wallet address has decreased by 0.001 and that the amount of Bitcoin at Bob’s wallet address has increased by 0.001 BTC.
The amounts sent and received, as well as the public wallet addresses, are all public information.
Watch real Bitcoin transactions happening in real-time.
Now that you know how crypto wallets work, let’s take a closer look at the different types of wallets available. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of security, ease of use, convenience and a range of other factors.
| Hardware | Software | Exchange | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security | Excellent | Good | Poor |
| Usability | Easy, but more complex than software | Easy | Easy |
| Convenience | Can’t access funds without the hardware device | Need access to the same device you set the wallet up on | Can access from any internet-connected device |
| Risks | Not having access to the device can be an issue if you need instant access | Vulnerable to malware, theft and hacking | Highly vulnerable to phishing and a popular target for hackers |
| Examples | Ledger Nano S Plus, Trezor One | MetaMask, Atomic Wallet | Kraken, Crypto.com |
| Cost | $50-$300 | Free to download | Free to download |
As you’re researching and comparing a range of wallets, you’ll probably come across the terms “hot wallet” and “cold wallet”, or perhaps the concept of “cold storage.”
So, what does temperature have to do with crypto storage?
Now that you know all about the different types of wallets available, it’s time to find a wallet that’s right for you. To do that, you’ll need to consider your needs and compare a range of wallets based on several key factors, including the following:
What’s your top priority when choosing a crypto wallet?
"A wallet should have an intuitive and easy-to-use interface, making it accessible to both beginners and experienced users. The ability to store and manage a variety of cryptocurrencies is crucial, as the crypto market consists of numerous digital assets. A good wallet should provide a reliable backup and recovery system to protect against data loss or theft of the wallet’s private keys. Access to transaction history and reporting features is essential for tracking your cryptocurrency holdings and activities."
"Interoperability with web3-enabled sites is probably the most important feature after security for crypto wallets today. WalletConnect makes it possible to use a wide range of wallets to interact with web3 sites. Cross-chain compatibility and the ability to do swaps inside the wallet can also make life a lot easier."
"The wallet should be easy to use and navigate. Users should be able to easily send, receive, and store their cryptocurrencies. The wallet should support the cryptocurrencies that users want to use. Multi-signature wallets require multiple signatures to authorize transactions. This makes them more secure than single-signature wallets.Cold storage wallets allow users to store their cryptocurrencies offline. This is the most secure way to store cryptocurrencies, as it protects them from hackers. Some crypto wallets offer additional features, such as staking, lending, and decentralized exchange (DEX) integration."
You have chosen your wallet and completed the setup process. Now it is time to use it with these step-by-step instructions.
To send funds from your wallet, you need a wallet address (the recipient’s public key). These addresses are given in one of three ways:
Once you have this address, you will need to do the following:
Please note that the exact process will vary, depending on the type and brand of wallet you choose. Hardware wallet users will typically need to connect their wallet device, enter a PIN or password and manually verify the transaction on the device itself.
Receiving coins is even easier than sending them. However, wallets vary greatly in the way this is done: some will provide you with a fixed public address, some will give you a new address for every transaction and others will provide a combination of the two.
If you want to hold onto your crypto, there is typically not much you need to do once the funds have arrived in your wallet. You can log in to your wallet at any time to check your balances. Some currencies may allow you to earn interest on your coins by staking your holdings, although you may need to follow specific instructions in your wallet to do this.
Other than that, the main thing you need to focus on is maintaining a high level of security at all times.
"Learning to use a crypto wallet is an essential part of your journey, but many people find them difficult to use at first. Go slow, read plenty about how they work and remember that each blockchain is different. Test out transactions with small amounts to prevent big mistakes. If you’ve got a sizeable investment, consider using a hardware wallet for the best security."
Wallet security is a crucial consideration for any crypto owner, so keep these tips in mind to ensure you keep your funds as safe as possible:
When you use a non-custodial crypto wallet, you reduce the risk of a third-party custodian like a crypto exchange going under and taking your funds with it. However, there are still risks to using both software and hardware crypto wallets.
Software wallets are always connected to the internet, and, for that reason, can more easily be hacked. Also, if the code for a software wallet is closed-source, you are placing trust in the creator of that wallet to not extract your private keys and, therefore, gain access to the digital assets you manage via the wallet.
Hardware wallets are generally more secure than software wallets in that they remain disconnected from the internet when they aren’t in use, while some never have to be connected to the internet. However, if you use a hardware wallet that has native software—like a Ledger or Trezor wallet—there is always the risk that your private keys can be extracted through an issue with the underlying software.
For extra safety, it’s best to create a multisignature (or “multisig”) set up in which you use two or more wallets to sign transactions and protect your crypto.
There is no such thing as one-size-fits-all when it comes to the best wallet for crypto. The right wallet for you will match your needs, so if security is your top concern, you will probably end up choosing a different wallet than someone who wants fast and easy access to their coins.
The key thing to remember is to do your research and compare a range of wallets first. Start with our range of crypto wallet reviews to get an idea of what is available and the key features you need to consider.
To evaluate our 2025 picks for the best crypto wallets, we compared 50+ wallets on a range of criteria, including the following:
There is no simple answer, as the best wallet for you depends on your personal needs. To help narrow down the choices, ask yourself a few key questions:
This should help you decide on the type of wallet that is right for you. You can also explore some of our top picks.
There is a broad consensus that hardware wallets are the most secure. They are a form of cold storage, meaning that the private keys are kept offline and never connected directly to the internet. Transactions are sent to the wallet, which signs them using the private keys stored on the device and then sends the authorized transaction back to your computer and onto the blockchain. The private key itself never gets moved onto your internet-connected device.
This is different from software wallets, which store your private keys on your computer or smartphone and leave them vulnerable anytime your device is connected to the internet.
Not really. While most wallets are not linked to your identity, cryptocurrency transactions are stored permanently on the blockchain and can potentially be traced back to you.
If anonymity is important to you, you may want to consider transacting with a privacy-focused coin, such as Monero.
Many wallets do not charge any fees, but some do, so check the fine print closely.
Sending a crypto transaction from your wallet usually attracts a small network fee, which varies depending on the asset being sent.
This fee is not charged or received by the wallet provider and instead applies to all transactions that take place on a coin’s network.
This depends on the cryptocurrencies you own and the wallet you choose. Some wallets only allow you to store one particular asset, while multi-currency wallets can support any number of digital currencies.
Check your wallet provider’s list of supported coins and tokens for more information.
No, you cannot send Bitcoin to an Ethereum wallet or Ethereum to a Bitcoin wallet. Different cryptocurrencies have different address types, so it is important to double-check that you are sending funds to the correct address before submitting a transaction. Funds sent to the wrong address generally cannot be recovered.
No, a hardware wallet is not essential. You can leave the private keys for your crypto in the hands of a centralized exchange. However, you risk losing access to your assets if the exchange becomes insolvent or is hacked.
You can also custody the private keys to your digital assets with a non-custodial wallet like Exodus or MetaMask.
No, different hardware wallets support different cryptocurrencies. For example, Ledger wallets can store the private keys to over 5,500 crypto assets, while the COLDCARD Mk4 can only store the private keys to your Bitcoin.
Of the hardware wallets we reviewed, Ledger’s support for more than 5,500 coins, tokens and NFTs nosed ahead of the competition.
The Ledger Nano Gen5 builds on the legacy of the Nano S and Nano X, offering enhanced security and a bigger screen, with a slightly smaller storage capacity than the Nano X.
Best Wallet is a secure crypto wallet supporting 1,000+ assets with enhanced security. Find out how to deposit crypto and avoid fees today.
Learn about the capabilities, benefits and pitfalls of the NGRAVE ZERO hardware wallet.
We compared Trezor and Ledger hardware wallets to see which has the most to offer.
Learn how the Ledger Stax stands out compared to previous Ledger hardware wallets.
Our round-up of the best non-custodial crypto wallets and why they’re so important.
Zengo is an innovative mobile crypto wallet that allows users to retain custody while offering easy access.
All you need to know about MetaMask – the browser extension digital wallet and a user-friendly bridge to the world of Ethereum decentralised applications.
Compare the security, features and capabilities of some of the best crypto hardware wallets on the market.
See how the Trezor Model T measures up as a crypto hardware wallet.
