What is a cold storage wallet? Why should you choose it?

4 min read | July 10, 2022 11:17 PM AEST | By Priya Bhandari

Highlights

  • In recent years with the rising popularity of cryptocurrencies, the cases of fraud, thefts, and hacking have also increased.
  • Cold storage is offline crypto storage that uses a physical medium, such as a USB.
  • A hot crypto storage wallet is created or stored on a connected device and cryptocurrency network.

With the exponential growth of cryptocurrencies in recent years, their risks have grown manifold. Cryptos have become more vulnerable to hacks, thefts, frauds, etc. Investors often have to turn to wallet services to safeguard their assets in such a scenario. Crypto wallets primarily function as a wallet for storing tokens. Like normal wallets, crypto wallets store passcodes through which users can sign for crypto transactions. 

Crypto wallets are of two types: hot storage and cold storage wallets. A hot storage wallet is also known as a software wallet, and one can access it on a computer or phone. As it requires an internet connection, they are often susceptible. This is where cold storage wallets are more useful. 

What is cold storage wallet? 

A cold storage wallet is offline crypto storage that uses a physical medium, such as a USB. It is also called a hardware wallet and is considered one of the safest forms as it's encrypted and would need a passcode to access it.

Unlike a hot storage wallet, it needs to be connected to interest to access the account, and except during the transaction, the cold storage keys largely remain offline.

How to set up a cold storage wallet 

  1. Install software: A cold storage wallet can be set up by simply plugging the USB cable into the computer and the device. 
  2. Adding blockchains to the wallet:  After installing the OS, the users can connect the wallet to a specific cryptocurrency blockchain and confirm the creation of your cold storage device.
  3. Add seed phrase backup code: Upon installing and adding the blockchain network, the users will receive a seed backup code, allowing access to the user's private keys. Private keys act as a safeguard measure to access crypto in the vent of the loss of the wallet. The users must enter the seed phrase backup code into the wallet device to confirm them.
  4. Create PIN: The users need to set a PIN to access the device and store the private keys to their digital assets on your device. To add crypto assets, the users have to click receive to receive them to the wallet address.
  5. Transfer cryptos to cold wallet from the hot wallet: To transfer your digital assets from a hot wallet to a cold wallet, go to the online exchange or other desirable wallet location and send stored cryptos to your cold storage wallet address.

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