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. See Kaavon's "Private Key" and "Cold Storage" glossary definitions for what it protects and the broader category it belongs to.
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.