Independent reviews of hardware and software crypto wallets — custody model, security architecture and supported chains, checked against each maker's current documentation. No invented specs or ratings.
Ledger is a France-based hardware wallet maker, founded in 2014, whose devices keep private keys inside a certified secure element that never touches an internet-connected computer. It is a self-custody, cold-storage device — the most common choice for long-term holders. We have not completed a hands-on test and publish no current price until confirmed on Ledger's own site.
type:
Hardware (cold storage)
custody:
Self-custody
secure-element:
Yes (CC EAL5+ certified chip)
open-source:
Partial (Ledger Live app open-source; secure-element firmware closed)
supported-chains:
—
staking-support:
Yes, via Ledger Live
mobile:
Yes (Ledger Live app, Bluetooth on Nano X/Stax/Flex)
Trezor, made by Czech firm SatoshiLabs, is one of the oldest hardware wallet brands, founded in 2013. Its defining pitch is a fully open-source firmware and hardware design, auditable by anyone, in contrast to closed-firmware competitors. It is a self-custody, cold-storage device. We have not completed a hands-on test and publish no current price until confirmed on Trezor's own site.
type:
Hardware (cold storage)
custody:
Self-custody
secure-element:
Model One/T: no dedicated secure element; Safe 3/5: yes (EAL6+ chip)
open-source:
Yes (firmware and hardware design fully open-source)
supported-chains:
—
staking-support:
Limited, depends on model and connected app
mobile:
Yes (Trezor Suite Lite / companion apps, USB-C on newer models)
desktop:
Yes (Trezor Suite)
browser-extension:
No (bridge/Suite connects to browser dApps)
price-usd:
—
backup-method:
12–24 word recovery phrase; optional Shamir Backup on newer models
MetaMask is a free, self-custody software wallet built by Consensys, launched in 2016, and the most widely used browser extension for Ethereum and EVM-compatible chains. It is a hot wallet: private keys are encrypted and stored on the device, not in a dedicated secure-element chip, so device hygiene matters more than with a hardware wallet. It can pair with a Ledger or Trezor for cold-storage signing. We have not completed a hands-on test and publish no rating until confirmed against current facts.
type:
Software (hot wallet)
custody:
Self-custody
secure-element:
No (software-only key storage, encrypted on-device)
open-source:
Yes
supported-chains:
Ethereum and EVM-compatible chains (adds custom networks manually)
Trust Wallet is a free, mobile-first self-custody wallet, launched in 2017 and acquired by Binance later that year, supporting a broad range of blockchains from a single app. It is a hot wallet — keys are encrypted on-device rather than held in a secure-element chip. We have not completed a hands-on test and publish no exact supported-chain count until confirmed against Trust Wallet's own current documentation.
type:
Software (hot wallet)
custody:
Self-custody
secure-element:
No (software-only key storage; device-level biometric/PIN lock)
Coinbase Wallet is a free, self-custody software wallet from Coinbase, distinct from the custodial balances held on the Coinbase exchange itself — a distinction worth understanding before choosing between them. Launched in 2018, it works as a standalone app and browser extension across multiple chains. We have not completed a hands-on test and publish no exact supported-chain count until confirmed on Coinbase's own current pages.
type:
Software (hot wallet)
custody:
Self-custody (separate product from the Coinbase exchange's custodial balances)
secure-element:
No (software key storage; mobile devices can use device-level secure enclave for biometric unlock)
Phantom launched in 2021 as a Solana-first wallet and has since expanded to Ethereum, Polygon, Bitcoin and Base, becoming a popular multi-chain hot wallet especially among Solana NFT and DeFi users. It is self-custody, with keys encrypted on-device rather than in a dedicated secure-element chip. We have not completed a hands-on test and publish no rating until confirmed against current facts.
type:
Software (hot wallet)
custody:
Self-custody
secure-element:
No (software key storage)
open-source:
No
supported-chains:
Solana, Ethereum, Polygon, Bitcoin, Base (multi-chain)
Exodus, launched in 2015, is a design-focused multi-asset software wallet available on desktop, mobile and as a browser extension, with a built-in exchange feature and optional Trezor hardware pairing. It is a self-custody hot wallet — keys are encrypted on-device, not held in a secure-element chip. We have not completed a hands-on test and publish no exact supported-asset count until confirmed on Exodus's own current pages.
type:
Software (hot wallet, with optional Trezor pairing)
custody:
Self-custody
secure-element:
No (software key storage; can pair with a Trezor for hardware-backed signing)
Rabby, built by DeBank and launched in 2022, is an open-source EVM wallet aimed at active DeFi users, with a pre-transaction simulation feature that previews a transaction's effect before signing and automatic chain-switching across EVM networks. It is a self-custody hot wallet — keys are encrypted on-device. We have not completed a hands-on test and publish no rating until confirmed against current facts.
type:
Software (hot wallet)
custody:
Self-custody
secure-element:
No (software key storage)
open-source:
Yes
supported-chains:
EVM chains (auto-detects the correct chain per dApp)
Zengo, launched in 2018, is a mobile-only wallet built around multi-party computation (MPC) rather than a traditional single seed phrase, splitting key material across the device, Zengo's servers and a recovery file so no single point holds the whole key. It is still self-custody in the sense that Zengo alone cannot move funds without the user's device share. We have not completed a hands-on test and publish no exact supported-asset count until confirmed on Zengo's own current pages.
type:
Software (hot wallet, MPC key architecture)
custody:
Self-custody (no single seed phrase; MPC key-share model)
secure-element:
No dedicated hardware secure element; relies on multi-party computation (MPC) instead of a seed phrase
open-source:
No
supported-chains:
—
staking-support:
Yes, for select assets
mobile:
Yes (iOS/Android; the app's primary platform)
desktop:
No native desktop app
browser-extension:
No
price-usd:
Free, with paid legacy/recovery add-ons
backup-method:
3-factor MPC recovery (no seed phrase to write down)
Tangem, founded in 2017, makes a battery-free, screenless hardware wallet in a bank-card (and newer ring) form factor that signs transactions via NFC tap against a companion phone app, with a certified secure-element chip inside the card. It uses a multi-card backup scheme rather than a written seed phrase. It is self-custody, cold storage. We have not completed a hands-on test and publish no current price until confirmed on Tangem's own site.
type:
Hardware (cold storage, card form factor)
custody:
Self-custody
secure-element:
Yes (EAL6+ certified chip, in a tap-to-connect card/ring, no battery or screen)
open-source:
No (card firmware closed; companion app has open-source components)
supported-chains:
—
staking-support:
Yes, via the Tangem app for select assets
mobile:
Yes (NFC tap via Tangem app, iOS/Android)
desktop:
Limited (primarily NFC/mobile-driven)
browser-extension:
No
price-usd:
—
backup-method:
Backup cards (2–3 card set) instead of a written seed phrase
Keystone, launched in 2020, is a fully air-gapped hardware wallet that transfers signed transactions only via QR code — it has no USB, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi data connection at all, which removes an entire class of remote-attack surface that USB/Bluetooth hardware wallets must otherwise mitigate. Its firmware is open-source. It is self-custody, cold storage, typically paired with a software wallet like MetaMask or Rabby for the interface. We have not completed a hands-on test and publish no current price until confirmed on Keystone's own site.
type:
Hardware (cold storage, fully air-gapped)
custody:
Self-custody
secure-element:
Yes (secure-element chip; signs via QR code, no USB/Bluetooth data connection)
open-source:
Yes (firmware open-source)
supported-chains:
—
staking-support:
Via companion/third-party apps, not native
mobile:
Pairs with companion apps (e.g. MetaMask, Rabby) via QR code, not a dedicated Keystone mobile app for signing
desktop:
Pairs with desktop wallet software via QR code
browser-extension:
No (device itself has no extension; used alongside browser-extension wallets)
price-usd:
—
backup-method:
24-word recovery phrase; supports Shamir Secret Sharing on some models
SafePal, launched in 2018 and backed by Binance, offers both an air-gapped hardware device (QR-code signing, no USB/Bluetooth on most models) and a free companion software wallet/browser extension that can be used on its own as a hot wallet. Its hardware line is self-custody, cold storage. We have not completed a hands-on test and publish no current price until confirmed on SafePal's own site.