GlossaryAdvanced
Air-Gapped Wallet
A wallet whose private keys are kept on a device that never connects to the internet.
An air-gapped wallet keeps its private keys on a device that never connects to the internet or any network, transferring only the minimal signed transaction data needed (often via QR code or removable storage) to broadcast a transaction.
This significantly reduces exposure to remote hacking attempts, since the device holding the private key is never directly network-reachable.
Examples
- An air-gapped wallet might sign a transaction offline, then transfer only the signed result via QR code to a connected device.
- Being air-gapped protects against remote attacks, though it doesn't eliminate physical-security risks.