A hardware wallet is a special type of bitcoin wallet which stores the user's private keys in a secure hardware device.
Most bitcoin hardware wallets use the same concept of securing your bitcoins or other crypto currencies. The private key which gives you the ownership of the bitcoin address is stored on the device and it never needs to leave it. In addition to that there is a pin that additionally protects the access to the device. The way to recover the private key in case the device is lost or stolen is by creating 12 or more words which uniquely identify the private key when the device is initially setup. In addition to storing your bitcoins the devices provide the ability to make transactions. Bellow are some of the best hardware wallets currently available on the market.
KeepKey
$ 99.00
KeepKey works with the bitcoin wallet software on your computer by taking over the management of private key generation, private key storage, and transaction signing.
KeepKey generates your Bitcoin private key using its hardware-based random number generator, combined with randomness provided by your computer.
Once your private key is generated, you are given the one-time opportunity to write down a backup of your KeepKey in the form of a twelve-word recovery sentence.
Supported by clients including Electrum, MultiBit, and Mycelium. Works on PC, Mac, and Linux.
Ledger Nano S is a secure Bitcoin and Ethereum hardware wallet. It connects to any computer through USB and embeds a built-in OLED display to double-check and confirm each transaction with a single tap on its buttons.
To store your crypto assets and secure your digital payments, Ledger Nano S is architectured around a state-of-the-art Secure Element and a screen to check and confirm transactions at a glance. Sensitive operations are isolated inside your hardware wallet: your private keys are never exposed, your assets are safe.
Ledger Nano S includes Bitcoin and Ethereum/Ethereum Classic built-in apps, and can integrate other blockchain-based cryptocurrencies. You can send and receive payments, check your accounts and manage multiple addresses. Nano S also supports the FIDO Universal Second Factor standard that simplifies the authentication process on compatible services such as Google, Dropbox or Github.
No matter how unprotected your computer or internet connection might be, your coins always stay safe with TREZOR as it never exposes your private keys. TREZOR is an isolated environment for offline transaction signing and using a small display you can visually verify the transaction contents. That's why all operations using TREZOR are entirely safe.
TREZOR is Windows, OS X and Linux friendly. All you need to do is to connect your TREZOR to the computer and follow the instructions. There are only two buttons, to confirm or to deny the action, so using TREZOR is as easy and as intuitive as it can be. Users can backup the whole TREZOR contents on a small piece of paper and use this backup to regain access to all their coins in case of disaster, loss or theft.
TREZOR uses state of the art cryptographic algorithms and practices, but you don't have to read long manuals or to be a crypto-expert in order to use them properly.
TREZOR code is open-source and technical decisions are discussed with the wider developer community. Everything can be audited by an independent third party. This ensures that TREZOR is absolutely transparent and backdoor free.
