Cryptocurrency wallets decoded: Key insights and secure practices

What is a crypto wallet?

A crypto wallet, also known as a cryptocurrency wallet, can be either software or hardware designed to facilitate the storage and utilization of cryptocurrencies, which are considered digital asset securities. In the realm of cryptocurrencies, there is no physical cash or paper money to be placed in a conventional wallet or purse. Instead, cryptocurrencies reside on the blockchain, devoid of any tangible form that users can physically handle. Nevertheless, there remains a crucial necessity for individuals and organizations to ascertain ownership of their cryptocurrency assets and monitor the quantity held, akin to the manner in which a traditional bank account reflects a bank balance. The primary function of a crypto wallet lies in providing users with a means to validate their account balance, offering transparency into their cryptocurrency holdings. It serves as a tool for users to send and receive cryptocurrency transactions, resembling the functionality of a conventional bank account that facilitates various financial transactions. For many users, a crypto wallet serves as a central mechanism for effectively managing their cryptocurrency balances.

What makes crypto wallets essential?

Similar to any form of currency, cryptocurrency can be accumulated and utilized for various purposes and transactions. Crypto wallets play a fundamental role in making crypto assets and cryptocurrencies functionally practical for both individuals and organizations, much like how a bank account is foundational for fiat currency. Crypto wallets fulfill several critical functions that contribute to the practical utility of cryptocurrency, including:

• Cryptocurrency Management:  Crypto wallets empower users to monitor the balance of their cryptocurrency assets.
• Transaction Facilitation: The ability to send and receive cryptocurrency payments is a crucial feature provided by crypto wallets.
• Connection to Decentralized Apps (dApps): To engage with Web decentralized applications, a crypto wallet is necessary for connecting and interacting with dApps.
• Username Identities: All cryptocurrencies are stored on a blockchain, and a crypto wallet facilitates transactions using a username associated with a public key address on the blockchain.
• Key Management: Cryptocurrency essentially exists on the blockchain as a public key address. A crypto wallet aids users in managing the private encryption keys required to access a specific address and execute a transaction.

Types of Cryptocurrency Wallets

There are two primary types of crypto wallets: hot wallets and cold wallets. Hot wallets are typically operational at all times and remain connected to the internet, while cold wallets, also known as cold storage, are usually offline and only connect to the internet as needed. Within the cold wallet category, two main types exist:

• Hardware Wallets: In a hardware-based crypto wallet, the user’s cryptocurrency balance’s private key is stored on a physical medium, often a USB drive. This secure device, disconnected when not in use, provides isolation for the key, enhancing security.
• Paper Wallets: A paper wallet represents a straightforward, low-tech solution where the user manually records the public and private key information on a physical piece of paper.

Within the hot wallet category, three types are prevalent:

• Online Wallets: commonly used and widely accessible, involve an online service, such as a crypto exchange, holding the user’s public and private keys.
• Desktop Wallets: Desktop wallets store cryptographic keys within an application on the user’s desktop system, providing a level of control over the keys.
• Mobile Wallets: Mobile wallets utilize a mobile app to store a user’s public and private keys, offering convenient access for managing and using cryptocurrency on the go.

How do cryptocurrency wallets operate?

In contrast to a physical wallet that can contain fiat currency or bank and credit cards, a cryptocurrency wallet doesn’t store cryptocurrency. Instead, it safeguards the essential credentials, specifically private keys, necessary for accessing the blockchain of a particular cryptocurrency. In the conventional system, users are provided with bank accounts featuring unique account numbers. Similarly, in the cryptocurrency realm, the public key serves a comparable role to a bank account number. However, possessing solely a bank account number or a public key is insufficient to execute a comprehensive set of transactions within an account. The blockchain operates on a public key infrastructure model for cryptography, where both a public key and a private key are intended to be known only to users holding a specific asset or cryptocurrency. The combined use of both keys is imperative for accessing and transferring cryptocurrency. Just as a personal identification number is required to access a bank account using a bank card, a private key is essential for accessing assets on a blockchain. Crypto wallets securely store the user’s private key and associated information, while public keys reside on the blockchain. By employing the combination of public and private keys, a crypto wallet facilitates secure operations.