How to Manage Multiple Cryptocurrencies with One Digital Wallet
Crypto wallets, also known as crypto wallets or blockchain wallets, are a tool through which you manage your cryptocurrency holdings. They store the encryption keys that prove your ownership of cryptocurrencies and allow you to interact with a blockchain.
They can be software or hardware and offer different levels of security, fees, supported cryptocurrencies, and customer support.
What is a wallet?
A wallet is a piece of hardware or software that securely stores payment information. It can be used to make payments online or in-store with your phone or device. It can also store loyalty cards, transit cards, and event tickets.
Digital wallets are financial transactions apps that run on connected devices like smartphones and smartwatches. They can securely store digital versions of payment methods like credit and debit cards, loyalty cards, coupons, boarding passes and event tickets in the cloud. Have a peek here.
They use encryption to protect your sensitive information, and tokenization converts your information into a unique digital equivalent that only the merchant’s payment gateway can match up with. This makes it almost impossible for hackers to read your information if it is compromised.
Hardware wallets
A hardware wallet is a physical device that allows you to store and manage your crypto. It keeps your private keys offline, reducing hacking risks. It also protects against malware and other threats. However, it’s important to research the different wallet options and consider your security needs before buying one. Look for wallets with open source software for transparency, or secure code if not. Also consider the supported currencies and backup and restore processes.
Hardware wallets allow you to generate and manage private keys for multiple blockchain addresses on a single device, all of which are managed with a secret recovery phrase (or seed phrase). This serves as the master key for all accounts that the wallet protects, so it’s important to keep it safe. Hardware wallets are non-custodial, giving users full control of their own assets and making them immune to online vulnerabilities. They can be used in tandem with a mobile wallet for maximum security.
Software wallets
Software wallets allow you to store and manage your digital assets from an application installed on a desktop computer, mobile device or hosted online. The private keys are held by the application, which interacts with a cryptocurrency network to verify and execute transactions. They also provide an easy-to-use, flexible interface for users to send and receive cryptocurrency.
A software wallet usually comes with a “seed phrase” which is a series of 12-24 random words that you should write down on paper and keep safe. You can use the seed phrase to restore your wallet if you lose or damage your hardware device.
Since they are connected to the internet, software wallets are more vulnerable to hacking and phishing attacks than hardware wallets. However, you can mitigate these risks by using strong passwords and enabling two-factor authentication, as well as keeping your computer up to date with the latest security patches. Ultimately, your choice between a software or hardware wallet will depend on your transaction frequency, the variety of currencies you invest in, and your personal comfort level with technology.
Non-custodial wallets
A non-custodial wallet is a cryptocurrency wallet in which users have sole control of their private keys. This eliminates the need for a third party to manage assets, and provides more privacy since the wallet is not part of one large pool of information that can be stolen in a data breach.
Custodial wallets are commonly provided by centralized exchanges like Coinbase and KuCoin. While these are more convenient and have a user-friendly interface, they also come with several drawbacks. Most importantly, users must back up their wallets on a regular basis and are responsible for storing their recovery phrases (typically a 12- or 24-word phrase).
On the other hand, non-custodial wallets are more advanced and can be used to hold multiple cryptocurrencies and tokens. Additionally, they often offer features such as a secure login system and cross-chain swaps. With Dock’s white label wallet solutions, developers can create a non-custodial digital wallet faster and more cost-effectively than it would take to build one from scratch.