Beginner
Hardware wallet
Also: hardware wallets, cold wallet, cold storage
A small physical device that keeps your private keys offline and signs transactions without exposing them.
The device stores your private keysPrivate key A secret number that proves ownership of crypto. Anyone who has it can move the funds. and signs transactions internally, so the keys never touch your internet-connected computer. You still need the seed phraseSeed phrase A list of 12 or 24 words that can recreate all the private keys in a wallet. Never share it. backup. If the device is lost, the phrase restores everything on a new one.