Cold Storage
Cold storage keeps your private keys offline so they never touch an internet-connected device. The right option depends on how often you need to sign transactions versus how much attack surface you are willing to accept.
Options
- Hardware wallets (Ledger, Trezor)
- Paper wallets
- Air-gapped computers
Signs transactions on a separate secure chip ā keys never leave the device. Most convenient for repeated use, but costs money and is a physical object that can be lost or seized.
Free and has zero digital attack surface once generated offline. A single physical copy is a single point of failure, and spending from it requires care not to expose the private key during the transaction.
Most flexible ā can run any wallet software (e.g., Monero GUI in offline mode). Requires real discipline to keep the machine permanently disconnected from any network.
Backing Up Your Seed Phrase
Every cold-storage method ultimately protects a seed phrase ā the master key that restores your wallet. The seed is generated when you first create a wallet; see the Monero guide for that setup step. Once you have it:
- Write it on paper ā not in a digital note, not in a photo, not in cloud storage
- Keep at least two copies in two separate physical locations so a single fire, theft, or loss does not wipe you out
- Periodically confirm a backup is still legible ā ink fades and paper degrades; do not assume a years-old copy is still readable
Best Practices
- Keep seed phrases offline
- Use multiple backup locations
- Test recovery process