GlossaryBeginner
Hardware Wallet
A physical device built specifically to store private keys and sign transactions offline.
A hardware wallet is a dedicated physical device designed to generate and store private keys securely and to sign transactions without ever exposing those keys to an internet-connected computer.
A user typically connects the device to confirm a transaction's details on its own screen and approves it with a physical button, which helps protect against malware on the connected computer.
Examples
- A hardware wallet is a common way to implement cold storage for larger crypto holdings.
- Because the private key never leaves the device, a compromised computer generally can't steal funds from a properly used hardware wallet.