Understanding Crypto Wallets
Published: 2022-02-09 11:01:23

Generally, wallets are a piece of item we keep in our pockets to store our cash, in the same light crypto wallets sort of help you to hold and manage your digital cash. Before we delve deeper into what wallets are, let’s look at what cryptocurrencies are:

### What is Cryptocurrency?
A cryptocurrency is a collection of binary data which is designed to work as a medium of exchange. Usually, the data is created using the same methods as cryptography (the science of hiding information). Cryptocurrencies use ‘decentralized control’, which means that they aren’t controlled by one person or government.
Bitcoin is one form of cryptocurrency, and one of the most popular among others.

### What then is a Crypto Wallet?
A crypto wallet is a secure digital wallet that safely keeps your private keys — the passwords that give you access to your cryptocurrencies — allowing you to send and receive cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT.
Your assets are stored on the blockchain, but only a private key can be used to access them. Your keys verify that you own your digital currency and allow you to transact with it. You lose access to your funds if your private keys are lost. That’s why it’s critical to safeguard your hardware wallet or utilize a reputable wallet service like Bitpowr.com, blockchain.com.

### How does a crypto wallet work?
You simply can’t use a cryptocurrency without owning a crypto wallet, they sort of work like emails, to send and receive emails you’ll need an application like Gmail or Yahoo Mail.
Just like your email address you need a unique personal address for you to receive and send cryptocurrencies.
When creating a Gmail or yahoo mail account, you will be asked to create your own password. However, on the blockchain, the wallet chooses it for you at random. This password is known as your private key, and it should never be shared with anybody, just like your email password.

### Types of Crypto Wallet
Hot wallets and cold wallets are the two types of blockchain wallets based on private keys. Hot wallets are similar to the wallets we use for everyday transactions, and they are user-friendly. Cold wallets are similar to vaults in that they hold cryptocurrency in a secure manner.

**Hot Wallets**
Hot wallets are online wallets that allow you to send and receive coins instantly. They can be found on the internet examples are Coinbase, Blockchain.info and Bitpowr.com are some examples.

**Cold Wallets**
Cold wallets are offline wallets that are not stored anywhere on the internet and are usually stored on a local device, entity, or hardware. They are usually used as custodians for hot wallets. Examples are Ledger Hardware Wallet.

Usually, private keys are saved in the cloud with hot wallets to speed up the transfer process. Private keys are either stored on a paper document or in separate hardware that is not connected to the internet or the cloud with cold wallets. 
Hot wallets are convenient to use online 24/7 and can be accessed from a desktop or mobile device, but there is a risk of unrecoverable theft if they are hacked. When using cold wallets, the transaction mechanism aids in preventing illegal access to the wallet (hacking and other online vulnerabilities).
These wallets are further divided into three types:
- Software wallets
- Hardware wallets(which you plug into your USB drive)
- Paper-based wallets.

**Software Wallets**
A software wallet is an application that is downloaded on a device; it could be a desktop or a mobile device, or it could be a web-based wallet that can be accessed online. Breadwallet, Jaxx, and Copay are popular software wallets.
We can further categorize software wallets as desktop wallets, online wallets (web wallets), and mobile wallets.

**Desktop wallets**
They are cold wallets in which the private keys are stored in cold servers (on your desktop). You can unplug the wallet from the Internet, do some offline transactions, and then bring it back online. In case the main server is lost, then a cold server, basically your desktop, is used as a backup server.
These wallets can be downloaded on any computer, but they can only be accessed from the system they’re installed on, so make sure the desktop or machine you’re downloading the desktop wallet on is safe (has a backup and is kept in a secure location), and that you’re maintaining the hardware and not letting it go anywhere.
These wallets are unquestionably cost-effective. One of the most popular desktop wallets is Electrum.

**Online Wallets**
These are a type of online hot wallets. These wallets can be accessed from any device by users. You can use a tablet or a desktop computer, or you can use your mobile browser to access it. A third party manages the private keys, which are stored online. GreenAddress, for example, is a Bitcoin wallet that can be accessed via the web, Android, desktop, and iOS.

**Mobile Wallets**
Mobile wallets are similar to online wallets except that they are built only for mobile phone use and accessibility. These wallets have a user-friendly interface that helps you do transactions easily. Mycelium is the best available mobile wallet.

**Hardware Wallets**
A hardware wallet is a type of cold storage device, typically like a USB, that stores the user’s private key in a protected hardware device. These wallets are similar to portable devices that can be connected to the computer (plugged in). As noted earlier, they are less prone to malicious attacks and are hack-proof. Ledger, Trezor, and KeepKey are the top hardware wallets on the market.
To make a transaction from your hardware wallet, you have to ensure that the hardware wallet is plugged into your computer system.

**Paper Wallets**
A paper wallet is an offline process for storing cryptocurrencies. This wallet is a printed paper that has both your private key and public key, which are accessed using a QR code. Since these wallets are safe, they are widely used for storing large amounts of cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin Paper Wallet and MyEtherWallet are two widely used paper wallets.
A paper wallet works with your software wallet to transfer funds from your software wallet to the public address shown on your paper wallet. First, you park your funds in a software wallet, then you transfer the funds from your software wallet to the public address printed on the paper wallet.

## Why are crypto wallets important?
The benefits of cryptocurrency wallets are:
- They are very simple to use.
- You can have multiple coins in one place.
- Wallets’ security is very reliable; they keep you safe while making a transaction.
- They manage your profile better.
- You can buy, sell, and Hold without hesitation.
- And the most important thing is that they have a dedicated support team.

**The importance of backups**
It can be very costly to lose access to your cryptocurrency wallets. As a result, it’s critical to back them up on a frequent basis. This is frequently accomplished by simply backing up wallet.dat files or seed phrases. A seed phrase functions similarly to a root key in that it produces and grants access to all keys and addresses in a crypto wallet. Also, if you use password encryption, make sure you have a backup of your password.

**Conclusion**
Crypto wallets are an integral part of using bitcoin, Ethereum, and many other cryptocurrencies. In this article, you’ve been able to learn What crypto wallets are, the types that exist, and the benefits of using them. It is very crucial to understand how they work before moving your funds.
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