▷ Keystone Reviews & Ratings 2023

You may not be familiar with hardware wallets and could be wondering, is Keystone legit and reliable to use. That’s where we come in to give you an insight into this advanced crypto wallet and how it can be an excellent choice to improve your digital coin safety in the long run.

Air-gapped technology

Our Keystone review found that this hardware wallet uses the latest air-gapped system to ensure your funds are safe. It works by not allowing a direct connection to the internet or any other online computer to enhance security. Keystone describes itself as the next evolution of cold storage due to its open-source SE firmware and transparent QR codes on the system. This open-source way of doing things works well in the blockchain system as it is developed freely and is open about the ins and outs of how the device is as secure as it is. This makes it harder for hackers or third party entities to interfere as nothing is locked away or hidden.

Cold storage wallet

Keystone wallets are a favorite among crypto enthusiasts as they encourage you to use cold storage instead of hot. This means the digital coins you have saved in your portfolio will not be accessed unless they are attached to an online internet connection. You should be able to monitor your funds using an app on a desktop or mobile device to see how they are changing in line with the current cryptocurrency market. You can buy a Keystone wallet online, but it does come with a cost that may not be appealing to new crypto investors. Still, advanced crypto users could benefit from spending approximately $150 for the Keystone Essential and around $200 for the Keystone Pro.

From Cobo to Keystone

Our Keystone review discovered that the company was originally named Cobo Wallet, which was founded in 2017 during a peak time for customers purchasing Bitcoin in its bull market. Since its name change, the company has seen many improvements and now gives customers one of the safest performances when choosing a hardware wallet to store their cryptos offline. Unlike other hardware wallets, Keystone only supports a small number of digital coins, nine, and tokens, 700. But this can work to its advantage: it has features that will ensure each of the digital currencies customers choose to keep on the hardware will have streamlined access to decentralized apps on different platforms when they come to buy or sell their funds.

When you purchase any Keystone hardware wallet, it is essential that you download the companion app to go along with it. The Keystone Hardware Wallet app is available for download on both iOS and Android devices via the likes of the Apple App Store and Google Play. The Keystone hardware wallet itself is a device that keeps your key to the blockchain in a cold (offline) storage.

This means that the app is your number one companion when it comes to viewing all of your balances. You can also prepare your transactions, both sending and receiving, by using the keystone app. However, you will need to use the hardware wallet itself to finalize any transactions that you make. The huge role that it plays means that the app has to be fit for purpose, and thankfully it has been developed up to a very high standard. Additionally, Keystone also has a good track record for updating the app on a regular basis.

The best and safest way to buy your Keystone hardware crypto wallet is directly from the website. The fastest way to finalize your purchase at the checkout is by using PayPal, which offers you access to the Express Checkout service. Other than that you can manually enter your personal billing and shipping details in order to make your purchase via credit or debit card. Shipping and VAT are added on when making the purchase and will vary depending on where in the world you are. Despite your location, all sales will be processed in USD.

The main “Support” button at the top of your screen will initially take you to the Keystone support center, which will open in a separate tab. Although we are usually critical of mechanisms that appear to deflect customers away from dealing with an actual human customer service agent, we have to say that the support center here is up to a very high standard. It is detailed, well-designed and almost no stone has been left unturned.

If you don’t manage to resolve your problem via the support center, then you can click on the “Contact Us” button. This will take you to the Keystone service desk, where you can then select your issue from a dropdown menu and fill out a form requesting them to get back in touch with you. While we would like to see a live chat/and or phone number, we did receive a decent level of support when testing the platform.

You could be looking through our Keystone review and wondering, is Keystone as safe as it claims to be? So we included a few key benefits that can make your decision about Keystone and hardware wallets easier.

Advanced security

In addition to its self-destruct mechanism and different firmware features, the device has other authentication methods to ensure you’re the only person accessing your funds. This includes fingerprint authentication, similar to what you find on smartphone devices, that only allows the person who authorized the account to access their savings. This gives customers freedom in using the device as they can efficiently turn it on and off securely. It also has web authentication, initiated when users first set up their wallets. This ensures that customers’ wallets are not subject to a supply chain attack and not tampered with or swapped for a different device.

Improves trading experience

Individuals using the best cryptocurrency exchanges will know that some of these platforms will also provide a hot storage wallet for customers to keep their cryptos ready for when they want to trade on the market. It’s simple to have all your crypto needs in one place. Using a hardware wallet ensures speedy transaction times and larger storage space, especially if you’re a high roller or have an impressive crypto portfolio you don’t want to risk being tampered with.

Risks – Risks found in our Keystone review

There aren’t as many risks when it comes to using a Keystone wallet, but you should consider these when deciding which brand you’d like to choose. Generally, are hardware crypto wallets safe? Yes, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have their downsides.

Expensive price point

Our Keystone review discovered this brand of hardware wallet is one of the more expensive options in the market. This may not be ideal as it accepts a smaller range of cryptocurrencies and tokens than other brands that can take on thousands of digital coins on their server. Customers new to online crypto investing might not see the need to purchase a hardware wallet because of the cost, but this could put their portfolio at risk, as they’re keeping all their funds on a hot storage wallet online.

Difficult to add transaction addresses manually

Unlike other hardware wallet providers, Keystone has a touch-screen which gives users more mobility when making transactions. However, if you have an address you want to send some Ethereum to, for example, it could take a while to ensure you get the address right. These addresses are usually a long series of numbers, letters and symbols, so one wrong input and the funds might not be going to the correct destination. Other devices in the market may have an auto-generated address feature which cuts down transaction time, so you may need to compare what’s available.