Hey, Bitcoin community 👋
I've just joined after a small research over the web, and decided to share some of my thoughts about these hardware wallets as individual experience.
The first hardware wallet I've received was the KeepKey, which acquired by the ShapeShift platform. It has some great advantages I liked at first sight:
- Using ShapeShift platform web to communicate between the wallet and the outside world. On the platform you could watch your assets with nice graphs, send & receive Bitcoin (and other ERC20 tokens) and trade between assets without commission (as long as you have FOX tokens - more on the ShapeShift subreddit).
- The most cheap hardware wallet, can be purchased for only 10$ here
- Great customer support! any question I sent them was answered quickly
The KeepKey via the web platform needs to be verified by a PIN (4 to 9 digits) of your choose. I didn't like it has there is no zero ("0") digit, only one to nine.
The PIN pattern on the KeepKey large screen (which is great advantage!) changes every time you unlock it, and numbers are not shown over the web (only dots). All actions on the web must be approved by one single button on the device it self and all the details shown very nicely!
Receiving Bitcoin on KeepKey - address and QR shown (and can be scanned)
KeepKey implemented a great privacy feature that each successful transaction changes the wallet's address. On the other, once you got the transaction done you can't see this address anywhere again.
Some of the disadvantages that made me move to the BitBox02, are:
- The lack of USB-C adoption. It was a bit frustrating looking for an adapter every time I wanted to connect it to my MacBook, which has USB-C ports only.
- Mobility isn't available, as you must use the ShapeShift platform (no native desktop program nor mobile application is available)
- Chrome is the only supported browser and the platform can't be used by any other.
- Not sure about the build quality. When I first opened the box, the upper half of the device wasn't parallel to the bottom, made me a bit nervous
- Not supported bech32!
- Lead to KYC
MicroUSB connector and edgy built
Overall, I find the KeepKey a great wallet, decently for this low price and the platform as some nice features. KeepKey has a Chrome extension which will be removed by June of this year, as the Google removes Chrome App Store.
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So, after the downsides of the KeepKey I was waiting for my wallet of choice, the BitBox02 which was built by the Shift Cryptosecurity, it is much smaller device but I find it more useful and much easier to use everyday.
The BitBox02 has two types, one for Bitcoin only and one for Bitcoin and some others. Currently not many coins supported, which isn't a great (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and some other ERC20).
Shift Cryptosecurity has some other type of threat model, it has no seal tape on the box to verify it's a legit unboxed wallet, as many manufacturers (including KeepKey) does; they actually vacuuming the box and make it almost impossible to cut it without notice. As for now, they working on new awesome feature called "Tep", a really innovative idea! watch the video, it's really great!
Inside the box there was a USB-C to USB-A adapter (awesome thing to provide!), extended USB-C cable, stickers, microSD card (soon to be explained why, but again, awesome they send it included) and the device it self.
Some of the advantages are:
- Native desktop program for MacOS, Windows and Linux
- Android application (hope for iOS soon as well), which is great for mobility
- Easy to use and guided through every step of the initialisation
- MicroSD card used to backup (not encrypted) the keys, another method for users, along with the 24 mnemonic passphrase. It's nice feature to have for those who aren't that technologically.
- Secure chip built-in the device
BitBox02 has no buttons, it has a unique gesture touch sensors on it's sides and it used a slide, tap and hold gestures.
Supported low and capital letters along with all 0-9 digits
The device will wipe it self after 10 times of wrong password. Backup of the keys can be done by the microSD card or by the 24 words.
BitBoxApp, receiving address must be verified on the device
Verify on the device by single tap
Same as the KeepKey, the BitBox02 generates a new address each time you made a successful transaction, keeping the privacy in mind and focused. another nice feature to have is that the BitBox02 has U2F ability, which means websites like Google, Facebook, Twitter and else can be 2FA with a physical security key, a great way to secure accounts.
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In my opinion, KeepKey is a great wallet but I liked the BitBox02 more, specially because of the mobility and the ease of use on any OS no need to download Chrome, although it's bit more expensive.
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