The 6 best “Open Source” hardware 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 English name "hardware wallet" which means hardware or physical wallet in French. They look like a kind of USD key and some have more or less large 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 open-source hardware wallets. This can indeed be a deciding factor when choosing a physical wallet. It means that the original code is freely available to anyone who wants to audit, verify, and contribute to it. A large majority of users therefore believe that this helps guarantee the security, transparency, and reliability of the wallets.

That said, some hardware wallet manufacturers have chosen not to openly publish their code as open source. While this doesn't directly impact wallet security, it goes against the principles advocated by the crypto community and makes them more vulnerable to internal decisions.

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 BitBox open-source hardware wallet is one of the high-quality hardware solutions for protecting cryptocurrencies that have come onto the market. BitBox was developed by the Swiss-based crypto company Shift Cryptosecurity in 2018. Its ease of use makes it an ideal open-source wallet for beginners. There is also a BitBox app that allows you to easily track your holdings and make secure transactions.

By design, the BitBox hardware wallet features a USB-C port, making it very easy to use. You can plug it directly into your computer or even your smartphone to sign transactions. BitBox includes a secure element physical chip that stores the user's private keys and also supports multi-signatures. End-to-end data encryption between the application and the device makes BitBox one of the most secure wallets available.

—> 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

The Jade hardware wallet developed by Blockstream is a benchmark in the industry. For one thing, it's one of the most affordable wallets available. Priced at $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 Passport physical wallet is open source and has a design that may appeal to those who prefer larger, more user-friendly wallets. Passport resembles an older-generation phone, with a large screen and a numeric keypad, and was released 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 ColdCard hardware wallet is renowned in the industry for being secure, open source, and affordable. ColdCard's unique feature is its encrypted microSD card, which prevents it from connecting to any internet-connected device. Your private key is stored on 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 arguably the most "handmade" open-source wallet on the market. It was created by Bitcoin maximalists . The wallet was developed to be as affordable as possible, allowing all Bitcoiners to own a highly secure physical wallet at a low cost. You can get a SeedSigner for under $50.

SeedSigner, like ColdCard wallets, only allows you to store Bitcoin. Again, this requires some technical knowledge. You will need to purchase the various components yourself and perform the configuration. This is not a recommended wallet for complete beginners.

An interesting feature of SeedSigner is its ability to use a multi-signature wallet , which drastically enhances your wallet's security. Again, to avoid any contact with connected devices, SeedSigner uses a model based on QR code reading.

The SeedSigner electronic component is a specific version of a Raspberry Pi Zero computer (model 1.3) that does not include wifi or bluetooth functionality. 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 various types of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin. With a development team based in Hong Kong and Tokyo, it remains a very popular open-source wallet, particularly in Asia.

The OneKey wallet allows you to store cryptocurrencies, but it's also very practical for storing NFTs. The wallet comes with software that makes it easy to monitor your accounts through a user-friendly interface. This makes it 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 isn't a question that can be answered definitively. Keep in mind that hardware wallets, being offline, are the most secure. All the open-source crypto wallets we've mentioned are high-quality. Your personal preferences and budget will help you determine which one best suits your needs.

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.

Don't forget that it is also recommended to engrave the words of your seed phrase on a metal plate , in order to protect yourself 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.