Holiday Hardware Wallets

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Phantom is the most popular software wallet in the Solana ecosystem. It’s a great product and ubiquitous accordingly. 

One thorn, though? Hot wallets are so easy to spin up that many people do so without backing up the recovery phrases they’re provided with during the setup process.

This approach works fine… so long as you have access to your wallet. But if you lose that? Your magic internet money gets trapped forever. 

The latest cautionary tale here came through a recent Phantom update that accidentally reset the wallets of some iOS users, causing permanent loss of funds—life-changing sums in some cases—for people who hadn't saved their recovery phrases.  

The episode reminds us to always backup our keys. But it’s also a demonstration of why hardware wallets are a great choice for crypto holders. These devices typically force recovery backups during setup, the big ones work smoothly with apps like Phantom, and they provide a solid line of defense against hacks. 

All that said, a good hardware wallet goes a long way. And with the holidays now upon us, you may be looking to splurge on some crypto goodies for yourself or the other holders in your life. 

The good news? There has never been a wider variety of options to choose from here. I could always recommend popular models like the Ledger Nano S and Ledger Nano X to anyone, but let’s specifically go through 5 newer devices that have arrived on the scene this year! 

1. Burner — $19

The Burner hardware wallet is a simple, low-cost device aimed at making it easy to gift stablecoins, although you can also use it as a fully-fledged wallet. It works through NFC tech and connects directly to your smartphone’s browser without an app. The Burner has no complicated setup, as it removes the need for managing seed phrases, and comes with a native stablecoin, USD II, backed by dollars and with gas fees subsidized. This one’s ideal for gifting crypto without the usual complexities; just note that shipping starts in December 2024.

2. Trezor Safe 5 — $169

I’ve always been a Ledger guy myself, but Trezor is another one of the best hardware wallet manufacturers around, so their newest model, the Trezor Safe 5, is certainly worth a look. Its key features include a 1.54” color touchscreen with haptic feedback, a durable Gorilla Glass surface, and security measures like an EAL 6+ Secure Element and PIN/passphrase protection. The device supports advanced backup options, including a 20-word multi-share recovery system, and you can use it with 1,000s of coins. There’s also an orange Bitcoin-only edition for dedicated Bitcoin users, which is a cool option. 

3. Ledger Flex — $249

Feeling a larger screen instead? You might consider the Ledger Flex, a newer hardware wallet featuring a 2.84” E Ink touchscreen. This size makes reading transaction data easy, while its customizable lock screen lets you display your favorite images or NFTs, even when the device is off. Powered by a Secure Element chip and the Ledger OS, the Flex is another solid option for anyone who’s active across multiple different chains and coins. It also offers a great backup feature via Ledger Recover. 

4. Ledger Stax — $399

A pricier but more premium option here is the Ledger Stax, another new hardware wallet model featuring a large 3.7” curved E Ink touchscreen, which gives the wallet the feel of a small smartphone. With support for wireless charging, multi-device connectivity (iOS, Android, and desktop), and a battery capable of days of standby use, the Stax UX is practical and optimized. It also has a customizable display for showcasing NFTs or personal images, and the included Magnet Shell provides extra protection and easy stacking for multiple devices.

5. dGEN1 — ~$460

The dGEN1 is like a souped-up cross between a mobile phone, a hardware wallet, and an Ethereum light node. Equipped with two touchscreens (a 3.95" main display and a 1.71" secondary screen) and hardware optimized for crypto, the dGEN1 supports secure transaction validation, crypto-based messaging, and more. Envisioned as an “everyday carry” for Ethereum enthusiasts, the device is currently available for pre-ordering via an NFT mint on Base for just under $500 a pop worth of ETH, with shipping scheduled for Spring 2025. 

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