Hot Wallet vs. Cold Wallet: What’s the Difference?

Hot Wallet vs. Cold Wallet: An Overview

Hot wallets are cryptocurrency wallets with a connection to the internet; cold wallets do not have a connection. Both are means for storing cryptocurrency and token private keys.

It’s necessary to know the differences between a hot wallet and a cold wallet so that you can store your cryptocurrency private key safely.

Hot Wallets

Hot wallets are software that stores your private keys on a device connected to the internet. They offer a series of features, from storing, sending, and receiving tokens to managing and viewing all your available tokens in one place.

Hot wallets are accessible from internet-enabled devices such as cellular phones, tablets, and laptops. They have been widely adopted by cryptocurrency users because they are an interface that makes it easier to transfer and receive cryptocurrency.

Cold Wallets

Cold wallets differ from hot wallets in that they don't have a connection to another device or the internet. Hence, they’re less susceptible to hacking. This makes them a popular method for storing crypto keys.

These wallets usually come as hardware devices that look like USB sticks and cost between $50 and $200. Hardware and paper wallets are examples of cold storage wallets.

An added security layer stems from the fact that the private keys in cold wallets are entirely offline—compared with those of hot wallets—and must be transferred to a hot wallet to complete a crypto exchange.

Types of Hot Wallets

Hot wallets come in different types and have various purposes. Some are mobile applications, web-only wallets, or even ecosystem-specific wallets. The list is extensive, and wallet usage depends on a user’s needs.

Some of the more common hot wallets include:

• Coinbase Wallet: Specific to the Coinbase exchange
• MetaMask: An ecosystem-specific wallet that supports Ethereum-based tokens.
• Trust Wallet: A noncustodial and more inclusive wallet supporting over 300 cryptocurrencies and tokens. It is available for web and mobile software.
• Exodus Wallet: A software wallet with many functions that supports hundreds of cryptocurrencies.

Other reasons you might choose a specific hot wallet type include design, fees, and even integration with certain crypto exchanges. It is essential to research wallets to find the best one for an activity.

Types of Cold Wallets

Cold wallets are available in different types; some of the more common examples include: 

• Paper wallet: This is a document that has public and private keys printed on it. You can also print a quick response (QR) code on the paper to facilitate crypto transactions. The downside is that you can easily lose access to your crypto if the document is damaged.
• Hardware wallet: Offline devices used to store private and public keys. They usually look like a thumb drive, are smart cards, or might even look like a smartphone. Commonly available hardware wallets are Trezor, Ledger, and KeepKey. 
• Deep cold storage: This isn't necessarily a wallet, but rather a technique. It involves extra steps to make access to your wallet very difficult. For instance, you might keep your cold wallet in a physical vault or a safe deposit box at a bank. Deep cold storage is for those who don't need to access their crypto often.

Wallets and Keys

There are two key components in a cryptocurrency wallet: the private and public keys. These keys are made up of a string of letters and numbers.

The way a crypto wallet works is straightforward: The public key is your wallet's address. You can think of public keys as similar to a bank account number, where transactions are sent to and from.

The wallet holds the private keys to your cryptocurrencies after purchasing or mining them. When a cryptocurrency transaction needs to be completed, private keys are required.

Private keys are designed to verify the ownership of a token. Without them, you can’t use your cryptocurrency. Think of them as the passwords you need to complete a crypto transaction.

The Bottom Line

Hot and cold crypto wallets each come with specific advantages. However, it’s a good practice to use both types of wallets by moving the keys you don't need immediately to your cold wallet.

It’s best to do some research before deciding on a crypto wallet type. That way, you’ll be set up for an optimum experience when storing and trading your digital assets.

The comments, opinions, and analyses expressed on Investopedia are for informational purposes only. Read our warranty and liability disclaimer for more info. As of the date this article was written, the author does not own cryptocurrency.