Self-Custody Wallets

Coldcard is a Bitcoin-only hardware wallet designed on the assumption that your computer is already compromised. It can sign transactions fully air-gapped using a microSD card, so your keys never touch an online machine. The firmware is published for inspection, though you still trust the vendor's hardware. Less friendly than mainstream devices, and built for serious long-term cold storage.

Electrum is the longest-running Bitcoin wallet still in active development, shipping since 2011. It is a lightweight desktop wallet that keeps your keys on your own machine and supports multisig setups. By default it talks to public Electrum servers rather than your own node, which is faster to set up but reveals your addresses to whoever runs the server.

Foundation Passport is an open-source, air-gapped hardware wallet that signs Bitcoin transactions by exchanging QR codes with your phone or desktop wallet, so it never plugs into a computer. It aims for the middle ground: more approachable than expert-tier devices, more rigorous than beginner ones. You still rely on Foundation as a hardware vendor, but the code is open to verify.

SeedSigner is a do-it-yourself Bitcoin signing device you build from a Raspberry Pi Zero and roughly $50 of commodity parts. It has no persistent storage, never keeps your keys between sessions, and you can verify every line of its open-source code. Because there is no vendor, there is no supply chain to trust — but the assembly and operation are on you.

Sparrow is a free, open-source desktop Bitcoin wallet built for users who want full control of their keys. It supports coin control, hardware-wallet signing, and connecting to your own node, so no exchange or company can freeze your coins. It expects you to learn a few concepts, which makes it better suited to serious users than total beginners.

Trezor is the original open-source hardware wallet: a small device that keeps your Bitcoin keys off your internet-connected computer entirely. Transactions are signed inside the device, so malware on your laptop cannot steal your coins. The firmware is open for anyone to inspect, but you still rely on Trezor's hardware and supply chain being honest. A good first hardware wallet.