The 6 best “Open Source” physical wallets to store your bitcoins and cryptos

A crypto wallet allows you to store, send and receive cryptocurrencies. However, there are different types of cryptocurrencies, including online and offline wallets. It turns out that offline wallets, that is, wallets that are not connected to the Internet, are considered the most secure. Indeed, hacker attacks mainly occur in an environment connected to the internet.

Also, it is recommended to have an offline wallet, in other words physical wallets. They are generally referred to by their name in English “hardware wallet” which means hardware or physical wallet in French. They look like a sort of USD key and some have larger or smaller screens to make them easier to use.

There are more and more hardware wallets on the market and it is not easy to make a choice as there are so many offers and different characteristics for each of them.

However, many members of the crypto ecosystem tend to prefer hardware wallets that are open source. This can indeed be a criterion of choice for choosing your physical wallet. It means that the original code is freely available for anyone who wants to audit it, verify it and contribute to it. It is thus admitted by a large majority of users that this allows to guarantee the security, transparency and reliability of wallets.

That said, some physical wallet builders have decided not to openly publish their codes as open source. This does not have a direct impact on the security of wallets, of course, but it does not fall within the principles advocated by the crypto community and this makes them more vulnerable to decisions made internally.

As a reminder, Bitcoin which is at the origin of the entire ecosystem is open source and free software, available to everyone. This explains why many people prefer to choose hardware wallets that are open source.

This article will help you choose among the best open source physical wallets you can buy right now.

Note: There is no ranking in this article. The order here is random.

1/ BitBox: One of the most intuitive devices, for $149

The open source physical wallet bitbox is part of the high-quality hardware solutions to protect its cryptos that have been placed on the market. BitBox was designed by crypto company based in Switzerland Shift Cryptosecurity, in 2018. This is an open source wallet ideal for beginners due to its ease of use. There is also a BitBox app that allows you to easily track your assets and make secure transactions.

By design, the physical wallet bitbox has a USB-C port which makes it very easy to use. You can then plug it directly into your computer and even your smartphone to sign transactions. BitBox features a physical secure element chip that stores the user's private keys and also supports multi-signature. There is end-to-end data encryption between the app and the device, making BitBox one of the most secure wallets out there.

—> You should know that there are two types of Bitbox devices. One is only intended for storing bitcoin and the Bitbox02 allows you to store different cryptocurrencies. It is important to be aware of this before making your purchase because you will not be able to add other cryptocurrencies later.

2/ Jade from BlockStream, to store bitcoin, at $58

Le Jade physical wallet developed by Blockstream is a reference in the industry. On the one hand, it is one of the most affordable wallets in terms of price. Available for $58 with fast delivery, the open source Jade wallet is a good option for securing your bitcoins.

The particularity of Jade is that it has an integrated camera which allows transactions to be carried out in isolation. This then avoids the need for connection with USB or Bluetooth for example. All you have to do is scan the QR Code for the transaction data. Thus, this makes Jade one of the most secure physical wallets on the market.

Please note that Jade is a wallet that only allows you to store bitcoin (BTC) and not other cryptocurrencies. However, it is also possible to own other assets developed by Blockstream, such as those on the Liquid network.

3/ The Foundation Passport wallet at $199

The physical wallet Passport is open source and it has a design that may interest those who prefer larger and more practical wallets to use. Passport looks more like an older generation phone, with a wide screen and a numeric keypad that was released on the market in 2020.

Developed by the American company Foundation, the wallet is aimed only at bitcoin holders who are looking for high security. The software, firmware and hardware elements are open source and auditable by everyone. There is no hidden code, which can reassure the most purist crypto community on the issue.

Passport is known for its great security because it never communicates with any device connected to the Internet. With its USB-C connector, this only allows it to be plugged in to power the battery and not to transfer data. The Passport wallet has a camera, which allows you to flash QR Codes rather than connecting via a USB cable to your computer. In fact, the hardware wallet comes with software available on smartphones and computers, called Envoy, which facilitates the management of your assets and transactions as well.

The Passport wallet is a first choice but it has the disadvantage of being rather expensive compared to competitors with a price listed at $199.

4 / ColdCard: The raw and secure version of a bitcoin wallet for $149

The physical wallet ColdCard is renowned in the industry for being secure, open source and affordable. The particularity of ColdCard is that it has an encrypted microSD card, which allows it to avoid any connections with a device connected to the internet. Thus, your private key is stored in a dedicated security chip.

Again, this is a wallet that only allows you to store bitcoin. The ColdCard wallet is very popular because it also has payment functions that are provided with the software wallet, which you use with Cold Card.

ColdCard remains an excellent wallet which is nevertheless aimed at people with the most knowledge and mastery of the cryptographic subject.

5/ SeedSigner, the DIY wallet for less than $50

The SeedSigner wallet is certainly the most “artisanal” open source wallet on the market. These are in fact maximalist bitcoiners who are at the origin of this open source wallet. The wallet was developed to be as affordable as possible and allow all bitcoiners to own a high security physical wallet at a lower cost. You can get a seed sign for less than $50.

SeedSigner, like ColdCard wallet, allows you to store bitcoin only. Again, this requires some technical knowledge. You will have to purchase the various components yourself and carry out the configuration. This is not a wallet recommended for total beginners.

An interesting feature of SeedSigner is that it allows you to use a multi-signature wallet, which drastically increases the security of your wallet. Here again, to avoid any contact with connected devices, SeedSigner uses a model that works on QR Code reading.

The SeedSigner electronic component is a specific version of a Raspberry Pi Zero computer (model 1.3) which does not include wifi or bluetooth function. You then have the guarantee that your private keys do not “leave” your device.

6/ One Key, the multi-crypto wallet starting at $89

OneKey is a very interesting open source wallet because it allows you to store different types of cryptocurrencies including bitcoin. With a development team based in Hong Kong and Tokyo, this remains a popular open source wallet in Asia in particular.

Wallet OneKey allows you to store cryptocurrencies but it is also very practical for storing NFTs. The wallet comes with software that allows you to simply monitor your accounts on an easy-to-use interface. It is then an ideal wallet for beginners.

The OneKey, which also exists in a mini version for $58, is a wallet containing a secure chip and all the elements are available as open source, on Github. This allows everyone to audit the code and verify that there are no backdoors.

The physical wallet does not have Bluetooth and only requires a USB-C type connection for its use.

Final Word: What is the best open source wallet?

This is not a question that can have a clear and drastic answer. Remember that the hardware wallet, while being offline, are the most secure wallets. All the open source crypto wallets we have mentioned are of high quality. Your personal choices and your budget will help you define the one that suits you best.

Some will prefer to choose wallets with an original aesthetic while others will prefer artisanal models, for example. We cannot guide you on your choices but we believe that if you choose one of the open source wallets on this list, you will have in your hand a secure and reliable wallet to store your bitcoins or cryptocurrencies.

Remember that it is also recommended to engrave the words of your seed phrase on a metal plate, in order to protect you from possible natural disasters.

-> Here are metal plates to engrave your seed phrase for centuries

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Note: This is not investment advice. Some of these links are sponsorship links. Always do your own research. All investments involve risks.