My Hardware Wallet Recommendations: BitBox02 & Keystone 3 Pro

--- by D. Petkovski ---

I write about self custody and security a lot on this blog.

The holy grail of securing digital assets is using a hardware wallet. And I’ve compared most with each other: Trezor, BitBox02, Ledger, Coldcard or the Keystone 3 Pro review.

In this post, I’ll give my summary and recommendations:

BitBox02 & Keystone 3 Pro Analysis

To confirm their compatibility and security, I’ll test both of these hardware wallets against my Mandatory HW Requirements.

Both are BIP-39 compatible, which makes portability effortless if you need to migrate
They support 12 and 24 word seed phrases and optional passphrases
Both have a secure element (Keystone has 3) and they’re not susceptible to hacks with physical access to the device
BitBox02 and Keystone 3 Pro have an optional Bitcoin-only firmware available, so whether you’re a maxi or in the trenches, they should be suitable for your needs
Both have numerous integrations with software wallets – BitBox has an optional app while Keystone doesn’t even have a native app
Both are fully open source – software and firmware. Those that aren’t are borderline hot wallets
These hardware wallets have a self-destruct mechanism – an automatic factory reset after a few wrong unlock attempts

The main difference between the two is that Keystone is air-gapped, so it’s never even connected to the device which you’re using, but confirms transactions by scanning QR codes. It also has the upper hand in terms of user experience. On the other hand, BitBox need to be connected to the device, but due to it being open source, you know that no data is transmitted. Also, it has less hardware components that can malfunction.

So yes, both BitBox02 and Keystone 3 Pro are awesome products. As such, I consider this a tie between the two and I could sleep well using either of them.

You won’t go wrong buying any of the two. My recommendation?

Conclusion: Get Both!

Since both are great products I conclude that it’s a good idea to have both.

Not just because we can’t decide which one is better. But because in case something happens with your main wallet, you can always use your seed phrase to initialize your accounts on the other one.

I consider this mandatory if you manage 6+ figures in Bitcoin or crypto.

Alternatively, the Trezor One is a cheaper alternative you can use as a backup. Just keep in mind that that particular model has been hacked with physical access to the device.

If you want to use my links, here you go:

Buy BitBox02 here
Buy Keystone 3 Pro here

Need a step-by-step guide to buying Bitcoin and securing it safely with a hardware wallet? Head to: The Self Custody Manual.

Author

D. Petkovski

📓 The Author Husband & Father
Software Engineer StrengthCentric
Bitcoin Hodler DeFi Veteran
🌍 Everything Enthusiast 🔥 Optimist

Revolutionizing ideas. Simplifying complexity. Sharing knowledge.

My Hardware Wallet Recommendations: BitBox02 & Keystone 3 Pro

BitBox02 & Keystone 3 Pro Analysis

Conclusion: Get Both!

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