The Chain logo

Everything You Need to Know About Bitcoin or Crypto Wallets

A cryptocurrency wallet is a software program that enables you to store, access and interact with your coins and can be considered as the crypto version of a bank account.

By Don PatrickPublished 3 years ago 4 min read
Like

A cryptocurrency wallet is a software program that enables you to store, access and interact with your coins and can be considered as the crypto version of a bank account. The main difference is that with a conventional bank account, your account number is public and is directly linked to your identity, but your transaction history is private. With crypto wallets, your transactions are public, as well as your account number (public key), but there’s no way to link a particular address to you.

Wallet address

Your wallet address is a unique string of numbers and letters (also called a public key) that people can use to send you cryptocurrency, and which is used on the blockchain to verify transactions. It can also be thought of as the crypto version of your bank account’s IBAN or SWIFT CODE in that it’s only used as an identifying number.

Because Coinmama is not a wallet provider, it’s very important that you triple check the wallet address you provide us with when buying cryptocurrency. Coinmama does not keep or store any coins, and if you make a mistake when entering your wallet address, we will have no way of retrieving your coins. This is due to the fact that transactions on Blockchain were designed to be irreversible, so once funds are transferred, they’re at the sole discretion of the receiving wallet’s private key holder.

Wallet addresses do not expire, but some providers do generate several addresses for the same wallet. This means that even if the address has changed, you should still see the funds in your wallet. You should be able to access a list of your historical addresses from within your wallet, but if you’re not sure, it would be best to contact your wallet provider.

How wallets work

In addition to the address (aka public key), your wallet also has a unique private key (or password/ PIN), which only you should know, and which you can use to access your cryptocurrency.

Anyone who has your private key has access to your wallet, so don’t forget it and be careful who you share it with!

Types of Wallets

Different cryptocurrencies are supported by different wallets, but some wallets support several currencies (if you’re buying multiple coins you’ll probably need more than one wallet, depending on your provider).

Each different type of wallet has its own benefits and drawbacks, and your decision should be based on your particular needs. We’ve broken down the different kinds of wallets below to help make the choice — or choices — a little bit easier!

  • Hot Wallets
  • Cold Wallets

Hot wallets

Hot wallets give you easy access to your cryptocurrency and are stored either on your computer or online (depending on the provider). They’re best for small amounts of cryptocurrency that will be used frequently, such as for daily trading or making online purchases.

Types of hot wallets:

Online wallets: These cloud-based wallets can be accessed from any device with an internet connection and are stored with a third party, making this to be the least secure type of wallet.

Mobile wallets: Mobile wallets are also based with a third party, but they live as an app on your own device. These can be used as a means of payment even in physical stores, but the downside is that if your phone breaks or is hacked, your funds may be lost.

Desktop wallets: These wallets are installed directly onto your computer and can only be accessed from the device they’ve been downloaded to. The funds in desktop wallets are at risk if the device is hacked, has a virus, or is damaged.

Pros of hot wallets:

  • Easily accessible
  • User-friendly
  • Usually free or inexpensive

Cons of hot wallets:

  • Vulnerable to hacking
  • Online and mobile wallets are kept through third parties, which are also vulnerable to hacking and are often uninsured
  • Susceptible to scams

Cold wallets

Cold wallets live offline, either on a USB-like device or on paper. They’re typically used for storing larger amounts of cryptocurrency that are meant for investment or HODLing (e.g. funds that won’t be used often).

Types of cold wallets:

Hardware wallets: These are physical devices similar to a USB stick that contains your wallet keys or code.

Paper wallet: Literally paper printed with a QR code and your wallet address and key. Receiving funds to your paper wallet isn’t any different from other types of wallets since the transaction and your wallet history are stored on the Blockchain.

Cold wallets we recommend:

MyCoinChain

This multi-currency wallet lives offline. It’s free to use just like hot wallets but offer the highest security possible for funds that aren’t being moved around on a regular basis.

Pros of cold wallets:

  • Highly secure and hard to hack
  • Don’t physically need to have the wallet in order to use it
  • Leave control in the hands of the user

Due to the fact that your cryptocurrency is actually stored on the collective Blockchain network, if your hardware, paper wallet or keys is stolen, damaged or lost, then you might not be able to recover your crypto assets. MyCoinChain offers an insurance policy on all your crypto assets, along with its interest based accounts for you to HODL much more effectively than storing your crypto on an exchange.

wallets
Like

About the Creator

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments (1)

Sign in to comment
  • Abbjean2 years ago

    Of course, the key with any investment is to buy low and sell high. Crypto investor [email protected] has done his own analysis on the recent highs and lows of Bitcoin, and sees lows of $17,000, $14,000 and at $11,000. He stresses that these are his own opinions based on previous bounces. “The equities market is going to have a big impact overall on what Bitcoin will do,” he cautions. “It’s going to be years from now, hopefully in the next decade, where we see Bitcoin break away from the equities market,” he said. Buying the bottom is easier said than done, especially with a volatile asset like Bitcoin. But he, like The Moneyist, is not giving financial advice, or telling you to buy at any level. When it comes to crypto, like any investment, it’s every man and every woman for himself and herself.

Find us on social media

Miscellaneous links

  • Explore
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Support

© 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.