Best Bitcoin Hardware Wallet – Our Top 3 Picks [2023]

Here are our top 3 hardware wallets for storing Bitcoin & cryptocurrency. We review each wallet and explain why they are a great pick in 2023.

Hardware wallets are one of the safest and most secure ways of storing your bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, especially for long term holders who want to buy and store crypto without making frequent trades.

Top 3 Best Hardware Wallets
Top 3 Best Bitcoin Hardware Wallets in 2023

Hardware wallets, a type of cold wallet, provide crypto storage solutions which are resistant to hackers, as the private keys are never exposed to an internet-connected device like they are in hot wallets. Hardware wallets store your Bitcoin offline and only connect to the blockchain when users wish to make transactions.

The only major considerations, when choosing if a hardware wallet is the best crypto storage solution to suit your needs, is that they come at a price premium compared to other storage methods, and likewise they are slightly more technical to use.

This is because unlike paper, mobile or web-based bitcoin wallets that are usually available to download or use for free, hardware wallets must be purchased from a reputable source.

Best Crypto Wallets - Ledger Nano S, Trezor One and KeepKey - Source: Shutterstock.com
Best Bitcoin & Crypto Wallets – Ledger Nano S, Trezor One and KeepKey – Source: Shutterstock.com

In this review, Blokt looks at the top three best hardware wallets available and explains what makes them great crypto storage choices, and what sets them apart from each other.

But first, let’s look at some basic hardware wallet do’s and don’ts.

Using a Hardware Wallet

Hardware wallets should be kept and used with as much caution as you would give to a real-life wallet with fiat currency in. For example, users should never share their 24-word seed phrase or their private keys, nor should they use their hardware wallet with a computer which may be compromised.

Using a Hardware Wallet - Source: Shutterstock.com
Using a Hardware Wallet – Source: Shutterstock.com

To make sure your hardware wallet isn’t compromised before it’s delivered, always buy from a reputable seller, or in the best scenario the manufacturer itself, and make sure the device hasn’t been tampered with prior to using.

Lastly, always update firmware or download supporting software from official channels, and store your hardware wallet in a secure and secret spot!

Ledger Nano S

What Is the Ledger Nano S?

The Ledger Nano S, despite being superseded by its newer counterpart the Ledger Nano X, is still to date the best selling hardware wallet of all time. Why? Because it’s simple, easy to use, and highly affordable.

Note: You can read our full Ledger Nano X Review for a complete rundown of its features.

The Ledger Nano S, from French crypto security company Ledger, is a compact and unassuming hardware wallet, the same size as a standard USB stick, which is perfect for remaining inconspicuous if you’re carrying this wallet on the go.

What is the Ledger Nano S? - Source: Shutterstock.com
What is the Ledger Nano S? – Source: Shutterstock.com

Since its release in 2014, the Ledger Nano S has sold over 1.4 million units, becoming Ledger’s flagship product by a large margin. With a weight of just 16.2 grams, a standard micro USB connection, and supplied with a neck lanyard for portability, it’s the perfect wallet for highly mobile cryptocurrency users.

To see a full list of its features you can read our in-depth Ledger Nano S Review.

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Ledger Nano S
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Ledger Nano S

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How much is the Ledger Nano S?

The Ledger Nano S usually retails for $60 a piece, although this price may well come down now that the Ledger Nano X has been released.

ledger nano s price
The cost of the Ledger Nano S?

How Many Assets Does the Ledger Nano S Support?

Asset support for the Ledger Nano S is among the highest of any hardware wallet on the market. Ledger officially state support for over 1,100 assets, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and all ERC-20 tokens. Likewise, Ledger has a proactive approach to adding new coin and token support on a regular basis.

What Is the Security Like on the Ledger Nano S?

Security-wise, the Ledger Nano S features secure element technology, specific to Ledger, which never reveals private keys to the device that the Ledger is connected to, and each app for individual crypto stored on the Ledger Nano S runs in complete isolation. Additionally, the Ledger Nano S is protected via a 24-word recovery seed phrase.

Likewise, every single transaction must be physically verified on the Ledger Nano S itself, via its small LED screen, before it can be executed, making the Ledger Nano S one of the safest hardware wallets to date.

Ledger Nano X

What Is the Ledger Nano X?

As we briefly mentioned, the Ledger Nano X is the newer version of the popular Ledger Nano S. 

The device, released in early 2019, features a large screen with apps for multiple cryptocurrencies, and it’s also bluetooth enabled so you can connect to your computer without a physical connection. 

However, at first glance, these two devices look almost identical. So what’s the difference, and is it worth the extra price? 

How much is the Ledger Nano X?

The Ledger Nano X retails for around $120 each, so roughly double the price of its predecessor. 

How Many Assets Does the Ledger Nano X Support?

Ledger officially states that they support over 1,100 crypto assets. On the Ledger Nano X alone, users can store 100 separate digital assets. 

To do this, users have to install apps from the Ledger Live software onto their device, which can then be used to store crypto coins and tokens such as ERC20 tokens, Bitcoin, or more. 

What Is the Security Like on the Ledger Nano X?

The Ledger Nano X builds on the security of its predecessor, with secure element technology preventing hackers from stealing your funds. This applies even over a bluetooth connection, so there’s minimal chance that a criminal could get into your device wirelessly. 

All transactions on the Ledger Nano X have to be approved by the user on the device itself, so the device is at least as secure as the Ledger Nano S, and it’s an all-round great hardware wallet.

Read our full Ledger Nano X review to find out more.

Trezor One

What Is the Trezor One?

The Trezor One hardware wallet is both the original wallet from Czech company Trezor and likewise, the first commercially produced hardware wallet in the world. Since its release in 2014, the Trezor One has attracted a huge user base and become one of the most trusted cryptocurrency storage wallets.

What is the Trezor One? - Source: Shutterstock.com
What is the Trezor One? – Source: Shutterstock.com
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Trezor One
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Trezor One

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How Much Is the Trezor One?

The Trezor One is a compact and simple device, larger than the Ledger Nano S, but still slimline, with a screen capable of displaying full length crypto addresses. It’s 12 grams, which makes it the lightest wallet we’ve reviewed here, and it retails for around $75 or less, so it’s highly affordable.

How much is the Trezor One?
How much is the Trezor One?

How Many Assets Does Trezor One Support?

Trezor officially states support for over 1,200 assets, including all major cryptos such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and ERC-20 tokens. The supporting Trezor Bridge software makes setup, sending and receiving assets quick and easy.

What is security like on the Trezor One?

Trezor keeps funds secure using a ‘zero-trust’ principle, which expects that even secure systems can become compromised, and each Trezor device is a ‘single purpose computer’, which means it can’t be compromised with external software.

Likewise, the Trezor One provides users with a 24-word seed phrase and PIN. All of Trezor’s code is open-source. The Trezor One has, therefore, become one of the best value and most highly trusted hardware wallets on the market.

One of the best features of the Trezor One is that Bitcoin is directly stored on the device as soon as you make the purchase. This means there’s no extra step of sending BTC from the exchange to your device, and there’s also no reason to worry  that you’ve sent BTC to the wrong address.

For a more detailed look at this hardware wallet, you can also read our Trezor One Review.

KeepKey

What Is KeepKey?

The KeepKey hardware wallet is a device from ShapeShift, a cryptocurrency exchange, which has drawn some serious attention for its stylish design, in particular, its full length, 3 inch OLED screen, which makes using the device easy and intuitive.

What is the KeepKey?
What is KeepKey?

ShapeShift have gone for a luxury design with the KeepKey wallet, with a quality build feel, premium accessories, and a pleasing design, which looks completely different from any other hardware wallet on the market.

But, is the KeepKey all style and no substance? Whilst it protects funds faultlessly, using limited protocols which protect private keys, and boasts direct API integration with the ShapeShift exchange, the KeepKey is not as functional for the average crypto user as the other top hardware wallets.

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KeepKey
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KeepKey

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How Many Assets Does KeepKey Support?

This lower functionality is largely due to the KeepKey’s disappointing range of supported assets, which really limits what this wallet is capable of, supporting over 40 coins including the major cryptos Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, Dogecoin, DASH, Litecoin, Binance Coin, and Bitcoin Gold; alongside just a handful of ERC-20 tokens.

How many assets does KeepKey support?
How many assets does KeepKey support?

Likewise, although usability is high due to the KeepKey’s huge screen, it’s a very large device, weighing 54 grams, which limits its use on the go.

How Much Is the KeepKey Wallet?

The KeepKey now retails at $79, around the same price as our other wallets, down from $239 when it was first released.

How much is the KeepKey wallet?
How much is the KeepKey wallet?

Whilst it has got its own dedicated fanbase, the KeepKey has failed to achieve the same commercial success as Ledger and Trezor, although, for holders of major crypto assets who use their hardware wallets fairly infrequently, the KeepKey is still a good choice.

For a complete look at this hardware wallet and all its features, you can read our in-depth KeepKey Review.

Conclusion

Overall, all the wallets we’ve reviewed here are trustworthy and secure ways to store a range of cryptographic assets. But, you’re here to find out which hardware wallet is the best, and which wallet will get you the most value for money.

All in all, the Ledger Nano S offers the highest level of asset support, premium security features, and a very attractive price tag. It’s a tried and tested wallet with regular updates and a high level of ongoing support from Ledger. The Ledger Nano S is the most popular hardware wallet ever made by far, and in the short term at least, looks likely to remain so.

Conclusion - Source: Shutterstock.com
Conclusion – Source: Shutterstock.com

Having said that, the Trezor One is also a very popular hardware wallet, and whilst it doesn’t have as high asset support or the same stylish design as the Ledger Nano S, its pragmatic and long-standing approach to cryptographic security has made it a firm favorite among more technically inclined crypto users.

The KeepKey might be a good option for those who regularly use ShapeShift, but in terms of portability and asset support, it’s definitely not the best value for money and prioritizes style a bit over substance.

Overall, in terms of asset support, ease of use, value for money and security, the Ledger Nano S keeps its place as the best hardware wallet for the foreseeable future.

Disclosure: Blokt strives to provide transparent, honest reviews, and opinions. The writer of this article is a user of the product(s) or service(s) mentioned in this article and was not influenced by the respective owners.

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