Hot vs cold wallets
Hot wallets touch the internet; cold wallets don't. That one difference is most of your risk.
In plain words
A hot wallet lives on something connected to the internet — your phone, your laptop, a browser extension. Handy, but exposed: whatever can reach the internet, the internet can reach back. A cold wallet keeps keys on something that never goes online, like a signing device. The classic setup: pocket money hot, savings cold. A wallet in your pocket, a safe at home.
Why it matters
- Most thefts hit keys that lived on internet-connected devices.
- Matching wallet type to amount is the simplest security win there is.
- Cold doesn't mean awkward: signing devices make it routine.
Not to be confused with
- Custodial vs self-custody — a different question: who has the keys, not where they live.
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Updated 2026-07-29