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BitBox02 review

Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026

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Our verdict

BitBox02 is a hardware wallet from Shift Crypto AG in Switzerland, built for anyone who wants to hold their own keys instead of leaving them with an exchange. Founded in 2015 and open source, it suits long-term holders who want a dedicated secure element and a seed backup they control themselves.

Key facts

Best for
Self-custody holders who want open source code and a hardware secure element.
Wallet type
Hardware↗
Custody
Self custody↗
Coins supported
from 1,500↗
Secure element
ATECC608B↗
Open source
Yes↗
Connectivity
USB-c↗
Backup options
Seed↗
Legal entity
Shift Crypto AG↗
Headquarters
Switzerland↗
Founded
2015↗
Support channels
Email, Help-centre, Community↗
Features
Self-custody
Official website
shiftcrypto.ch

Facts checked September 26, 2026, 4 sources

Apps and profiles

Elsewhere
TrustpilotLinkedInXgithub.com

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Custody is self custody, so no exchange sits between you and the coins.
  • The private key is guarded by a dedicated ATECC608B secure element.
  • The wallet is open source, so the firmware and app can be checked by anyone.
  • Backup is a seed phrase you keep, so recovery never relies on a provider.

Cons

  • Support runs on email, help centre and community only, so there is no phone line for urgent problems.
  • It is a hardware device that needs a purchase and a usb c cable, while eToro and VaultLeap run mobile and mobile wallets on a phone.
  • You keep the seed phrase yourself, so losing every copy leaves no provider able to restore access.
BitBox02

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Scored 9.1 / 10 by SumCue.

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Who it suits

  • Long-term holders who want their keys on a device they own.
  • People who read code and want to see how key storage works.
  • Buyers covering a broad coin list, with from 1,500 coins supported.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Phone-first traders: eToro is a mobile wallet and VaultLeap a mobile wallet, so neither needs hardware.
  • Maximum coin breadth: Trezor's 8,000 is ahead of the from 1,500 for BitBox02.
  • Anyone who wants to ring a support line, since support runs on email, help centre and community only.

Safety of your money

Custody is self custody, so the keys sit with the holder rather than with an exchange. The private key is guarded by a dedicated ATECC608B secure element, which keeps key handling inside the device rather than on the computer that builds a transaction. The wallet is open source, so the firmware and the companion app can be read and checked by anyone.

How BitBox02 compares

Where BitBox02 is available

Available
Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, United States

Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)

Frequently asked questions

What kind of wallet is the BitBox02?+

It is a hardware wallet, so private keys are created and held on a small device rather than on a phone or in an exchange account. It plugs in over usb c and signs transactions on its own, so a transfer does not wait on an exchange to release it.

Who holds the coins in it?+

Custody is self custody, so the keys stay with the person holding the device and no exchange or account provider holds them. The private key is protected by a dedicated ATECC608B secure element, and the wallet is open source, so the code behind it can be read and checked by anyone.

How does the backup work?+

Backup is a seed phrase rather than a card, an account or a second device, so recovery stays in your own hands. The trade-off is that the phrase becomes the only way back in: anyone who gets it can restore the wallet, and losing every copy ends access with no provider to step in.

How many coins can I hold?+

The wallet supports from 1,500 coins, a broad list for a single device of this kind. If a portfolio leans on a longer tail of assets, the comparison point is Trezor, where the figure is 8,000. Check the list against the assets you plan to hold before buying.

How does it connect to a computer?+

Its connection is usb c, so it pairs with a laptop or desktop over a cable and has no wireless pairing, which keeps signing tied to a machine you control rather than an app in your pocket. That suits a desk setup more than quick access on the move.

How do I get help if something goes wrong?+

Support runs on email, help centre and community, so questions are answered by email, through the help centre or by other users in the community rather than by a phone team. That works well for someone comfortable searching documentation, and less well for anyone who wants to ring a person during a stressful transfer.

Who is behind the device?+

It is made by Shift Crypto AG, based in Switzerland and founded in 2015. As a hardware maker rather than an exchange, the business earns from selling devices rather than from custody of funds, which is a simpler arrangement to weigh when you hold money yourself.

Sources

  • shiftcrypto.ch checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Backup options, Open source, Support channels

    “In addition, you can always write down your 12 or 24 recovery words manually, which are compatible with other wallets.”

  • shiftcrypto.ch/en/about checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Founded

    “The BitBox hardware wallet line started by Douglas Bakkum and Jonas Schnelli in 2015 with the original BitBox01, formally known as the Digital BitBox.”

  • shiftcrypto.ch/en/bitbox02 checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Coins supported, Connectivity, Secure element, Wallet type

    “Supports Bitcoin, Litecoin, Cardano, Ethereum, Chainlink, BAT and 1500+ ERC20 tokens.”

  • shiftcrypto.ch/en/imprint checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Custody, Features, Headquarters, Legal entity

    “Shift Crypto AG does not provide financial, investment, or custodial services.”

Compiled from 4 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.

Not confirmed yet: Price.

BitBox02

BitBox02

Self-custody holders who want open source code and a hardware secure element.

9.1/10See alternatives