Bitkey - Bitcoin Hardware Wallet - Black

Having held bitcoin for years, I've always struggled with how difficult it is to set up and use hardware wallets. You have to manage complex seed phrases, not store them online, and work with tiny screens. Bitkey, by contrast, is simple to set up (took me 5 minutes to set up and only a few more minutes to move Bitcoin into the wallet), really easy to onboard Trusted Contacts to help you recover, and is frankly just a beautiful product. It's hefty, premium, and exactly what I need for storing my bitcoin.

There are different types of hardware wallets and I have to say that this specific one is one of the easiest to configure and has a very peculiar design. In the box comes the hardware wallet, a usb-c to usb-a charging cable and some documentation. You need to download the Bitkey app and follow the instructions for setting up the device. The process is simple although it requires some steps to ensure the possibility of recovery in case of losing the phone or the hardware wallet itself. A backup is made in the cloud in my case that my phone has ios operating system is backed up in icloud, you can also add trusted contacts that, although they do not have access to the funds or the account as such, will be helpful in case you need to regain access to the funds if you were to lose the phone or hardware wallet. The Bitkey device registers one or more fingerprints, requiring the finger to be placed in different positions between 15 and 20 times to ensure correct registration. This is done at the time of configuration and it is necessary to have the device close to the phone since the communication between the phone and the device is through NFC. Once you have configured the device and the digital wallet in the app, you can start making transfers, receiving and sending bitcoin, as well as buying and selling it. There are different exchanges to buy, and in fact it is possible to make bitcoin purchases by paying with apple pay, which I consider an advantage if you have an iphone. On the main screen of the app the current balance is shown (this can be hidden in settings) and below are the options to add more bitcoin, add trusted contacts, more fingerprints, and set a maximum limit for spending without having the Bitkey device, just the app. You can only use the defined amount, if you need to use more money it will be necessary to have the hardware wallet on hand to authorize transfers that exceed the daily limit, something quite useful and safe. I think the design is one of the most striking things, in my opinion it is minimalist and attractive, although it should be mentioned that it does not have any kind of screen, only an indicator LED and the fingerprint sensor and the charging port. Although this device does not grant full custody of the crypto, it is a good alternative for those who want to buy bitcoin and do not want to face the complications of the different layers of security such as seed phrases or difficult passwords of other hardware wallets. In addition, you can enable facial recognition to access the app, which I find very convenient in case someone wants to access our resources without our authorization. At this time that the device has a discount, I consider it a good investment and a unique device that provides security but at the same time ease to activate an account and start making bitcoin transactions with confidence, I can certainly recommend it.

The first thing I thought when I opened this package is... wow, it’s heavy and hexagonal. It's got this six sided shape with a front face that looks like natural stone, complete with swirls and flecks. They say it’s one of a kind but I don’t have a way to compare it with other bitkeys. It's eye-catching, but since it’s storing a key to your bitcoin, maybe it didn’t need to be so flashy. Functionality: If you’re wanting a device like this, then knowing how it works is probably the most important thing. Bitkey uses a 3-key setup. Your keys are split between the hardware device, your phone, and Block's servers. This means you don't have to deal with seed phrases. You need to have two of the three keys to unlock your bitcoin. Depending on how you look at it, this is could be considered an extra security layer or a protection from losing or having to deal with a massive seed phrase. I have to say, it makes me uneasy not knowing my root phrase, although, the idea of carrying your own bitcoin with safety net features is pretty compelling. Usually when you make something easier, you give up some security, but it’s within my threshold of risk. The app is user-friendly, making it easy to manage your Bitcoin. However, there are some drawbacks. The lack of a display on the Bitkey itself means you're relying entirely on your phone to verify addresses, which isn't ideal for security. Also, the reliance on Block's servers raises some privacy concerns in my mind – they know a lot about your transactions and personal info so let’s hope they have top notch security at their servers. It is SUPER EASY to move bitcoin from Coinbase and Cash App Price-wise, it's in the premium range at $150, competing with established players like Ledger and Trezor. You get the device, a USB-C cable, and some documentation in the box. The build quality seems solid, with a stainless steel back adding durability and some panache. I’m glad it has some heft so you know you have positive possession of the device without having to pat your pocket all the time. Compared to the other devices out there, the Bitkey can only carry bitcoin, whereas the other cryptocoin wallets can carry other coins. It runs on NFC, which is definitely different from the USB C connections others have, and it is a definite non-frictional plus to making the system work efficiently. And, the fingerprint sensor is great for fast and secure unlocking. These guys are the same guys who do Square and Cash App so it was bound to be streamlined and easy. I really do like the ease of use of transfer to the bitkey, but I do have a few questions about it. Is it really bitcoin self-custody and what happens to the transaction data that they carry at thier servers? Overall, Bitkey is a pretty cool entry in the bitcoin hardware wallet scene and I’d recommend you give it a go.

This is the next level in Crypto wallet technology. It's small and compact. Not heavy but feels like it was made with quality materials. It works with your fingerprint. An app is available to see your assets in the wallet. In the box comes the wallet unit, a charging cable and two piece of paper with instructions on how to get started and how to setup. Setup was easy. You touch the finger print module to turn it on. Then tap your unit against the back of the phone to pair you unit with he app. No KYC is needed. After the initial setup with the app it was very easy to transfer Bitcoin to the wallet. The transfer was extremely fast and accurate. The app is easy to use and maneuver. Fingerprint access can be setup to use on the app. The app has the capability of buying, selling, sending and receiving Bitcoin. Overall, this is a great crypto wallet for anyone in the market for one. I feel my Bitcoin is safe and secure with this wallet. I like that you can monitor your bitcoin as it grows in value.

So this is the first hardware wallet I’ve ever owned. For now, it seems to only support bitcoin. Which is the only crypto I’ve invested some money into. Anyway, to keep myself from being tempted to sell off my crypto and to secure it for long term holding, I decided to try a hardware wallet. I’ve never heard of this brand before but I thought I’d try it out. It was super easy to set up, literally took me only a few seconds to set it up and get it going on my iPhone. Transferring my bitcoin from cash app to the Bitkey was also very quick. I did the zero fee exchange, and it was transferred in under 24 hours. Time will tell just how secure and reliable the wallet will be 😬 but for now it was really seamless and easy to use. I love the fingerprint reader for securing the wallet, It will not connect to the app without your fingerprint unlock first. You can add upto three fingerprints for unlocking. I let my wife set one up as well in case anything ever happens to me. Some piece of mind for holding onto bitcoin. I only plan on using the app and wallet for holding bitcoin for a long term investment, but you can buy, sell, trade bitcoin within the app. Currently it is compatible with cash app, moon pay, coonbase and Robin Hood. There is no need for a “seed phrase” with this device as it is all taken care of by Bitkey. I never really liked the idea of using a seed phrase to recover your crypto. It seems that Bitkey is a work in progress, their app has some features locked away that say “coming soon”, and their website says that the wallet and services will be evolving over time. I’m excited for it, and look forward to what’s next. For now, I really like it. It’s been easy to use, has multiple security features and so far I trust it. Would I recommend this wallet? Yes, especially if you are kind of new to this. I was a little intimidated about transferring my bitcoin onto other hardware wallets, because you need a computer and other software. Bitkey simplifies the process of transferring your bitcoin to a wallet while keeping it super secure.