You can't learn how to start cryptocurrency investing without understanding that you need a place to store your digital coins. You'll need a digital wallet. The name is a little misleading because it doesn't store your coins. A wallet provides you with a key to access your digital currency. Your coins are floating around online within the blockchain, which is entirely secure. There are several digital wallets out there, and they all have different perks. It would help if you learned about these after you start crypto investing in having a place to store your coins. Desktop Wallets The desktop wallet is stored on your personal computer. It isn't stored online where a cybercriminal can steal it. While this may be one of the safest options, it comes with a few drawbacks. You can only access your digital coins if you're by your computer. Desktop hard drives could fail, and if that happens, you can lose everything if you didn't save it. Online Wallets Online wallets are more convenient. You can access your wallet wherever you want, and it'll always be there. Some online wallets offer excellent security features, although the risk of online hacks persists. The most popular online wallet is MetaMask, which allows users to store and handle their cryptocurrencies through a web browser extension or a mobile app. Mobile Wallets Mobile wallets are similar to desktop wallets, except that it isn't your desktop this time but your cellphone where you'll have your crypto. You will have to do a lot to keep your cellphone safe, like installing security features to ensure no one gains access to your phone. You will have to pay for a service that'll help you find your cellphone should you lose it. Even if you do all of this, it's a good idea to somehow back your crypto data up to be safe. You don't want to lose your crypto wallet because you'll have no way of getting it back. Hardware Wallets Hardware wallets are pretty secure because your crypto isn't stored where someone could access it online. You hold it on your private hardware wallet, which you can connect via a USB port to a computer. You can access your crypto from virtually anywhere since all you need is your USB hardware wallet and a way to connect it. You can use a laptop or a public computer if you need to use one. It's essential to keep this crypto hardware wallet as safe as can. If you lose it and have no backup of the passphrase, you've lost everything. Trezor and Ledger are the most prominent hardware crypto wallets. Always buy the hardware wallets directly from the company website and not via third-party resellers or websites to ensure authenticity. Each wallet includes a private key that protects your cryptocurrency and proves ownership. The recovery phrase is a human-readable version of your private key, a list of 24 words in a specific order that can assist users to regain possession of their digital assets if they lose their wallet password or their computer crashes. Make sure you memorize it or store it in a secure location. If anyone has access to the recovery phrase, they can steal your crypto even if they do not have access to your wallet.