Coldcard review
Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Coldcard suits holders who want self custody keys on a hardware device rather than a provider balance. The $219 to $319 outlay buys Microchip ATECC608 and Maxim DS28C36B chips and open source firmware, while narrow support of 1 coins leaves it ranked 99 of 111.
Key facts
- Best for
- Self-custody keys on a physical device with open source firmware.
- Wallet type
- Hardware↗
- Price
- $219 to $319↗
- Custody
- Self custody↗
- Coins supported
- 1↗
- Secure element
- Microchip ATECC608 and Maxim DS28C36B↗
- Open source
- Yes↗
- Connectivity
- USB-c, NFC↗
- Backup options
- Seed↗
- Legal entity
- Coinkite Inc.↗
- Headquarters
- Canada↗
- Founded
- 2012↗
- Support channels
- Email, Help-centre, Community↗
- Features
- Self-custody
- Official website
- coldcard.com
Facts checked September 26, 2026, 4 sources
Apps and profiles
- Elsewhere
- Xgithub.com
Pros and cons
Pros
- Keys stay with you: the device is built for self custody rather than a provider balance.
- Firmware is open source, so the signing code can be read by anyone.
- Signing runs behind Microchip ATECC608 and Maxim DS28C36B secure chips.
- Connects over usb c and nfc, so nothing wireless needs pairing.
Cons
- Coin coverage is thin at 1, ranking 99 of 111.
- Support runs on email, help centre and community only.
- The $219 to $319 price sits above Trezor at $79, ranking 111 of 121 on price.
Who it suits
- Holders who want their own keys and can keep a seed backup safe.
- Buyers comfortable paying $219 to $319 upfront for a device rather than an account.
- People who read open source firmware as a reason to check the signing code.
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, if a mobile wallet on the phone you already carry is enough.
- Trezor, when the $79 outlay is the deciding factor.
- VaultLeap, for readers who want mobile convenience with nothing to store.
Safety of your money
Your keys stay with you: the device is built for self custody rather than a balance held for you. Signing happens behind Microchip ATECC608 and Maxim DS28C36B chips, and the firmware is open source, so anyone can read what the device does before trusting it. Nothing here depends on a company, and nothing here can be undone by one either.
Where it sits among rivals
Coldcard sits near the bottom of both measures. Coins supported place it 99 of 111 compared, and price places it 111 of 121, so it ranks among the narrower and dearer devices in the group. Narrow scope suits a focused holder, less so anyone expecting a long asset list on one device.
How Coldcard compares
8.9 vs 9.1
8.9 vs 9.4
8.9 vs 9.4
8.9 vs 8.5
8.9 vs 9.4
8.9 vs 8.7
8.9 vs 9.2Its wallet is mobile, which suits everyday trading on a phone rather than holding keys on a device.
8.9 vs 8.7
8.9 vs 9.3
8.9 vs 9.0
8.9 vs 9.5
8.9 vs 9.0$79 against Coldcard's $219 to $319, so it is the cheaper way into a device of this kind.
8.9 vs 8.6
8.9 vs 8.5
8.9 vs 8.3
8.9 vs 9.6
8.9 vs 9.5
8.9 vs 9.4
8.9 vs 9.4
8.9 vs 9.3
8.9 vs 9.3
8.9 vs 9.3
8.9 vs 9.3
8.9 vs 9.3
8.9 vs 9.3
8.9 vs 9.2
8.9 vs 9.2
8.9 vs 9.0
8.9 vs 9.0
8.9 vs 9.0
8.9 vs 9.0
8.9 vs 8.9
8.9 vs 8.8
8.9 vs 8.7
8.9 vs 8.6
8.9 vs 8.5
8.9 vs 8.4- 8.9 vs 8.0
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Coldcard cost?+
Prices run $219 to $319 for the device, sold by Coinkite Inc.. The hardware unit holds self custody keys rather than a provider balance, and Trezor, the cheaper device listed here, comes in at $79.
Which coins can I hold on it?+
Coin support is narrow: 1. That places Coldcard 99 of 111 on the measure, so the device suits holding coins you already have rather than swapping them. Anyone expecting a long asset list will find the range thin.
How do I connect it to a computer or phone?+
It connects over usb c and nfc, so a cable and contactless tapping are both available. As a hardware device rather than a phone app, signing needs the hardware in hand, which is the point: the keys and the approval stay on the device itself.
What happens if the device is lost or breaks?+
Your route back in is the seed backup you record, not the device itself. That is the deal with self custody: nobody else restores access for you, and nobody else can freeze it either. The Microchip ATECC608 and Maxim DS28C36B chips protect signing while the device works.
How do I get help if something goes wrong?+
Support runs on email, help centre and community, so questions go by email, through the help centre or in the community. That list carries no phone line, so buyers who want live chat or phone support while setting up may prefer another route.
Is the software open source?+
Yes, the firmware is open source, and the device is a hardware wallet built around Microchip ATECC608 and Maxim DS28C36B chips. Because the code is published, the signing logic can be checked by others, while self custody keeps the keys on your side of the line.
Who makes Coldcard and where is it based?+
Coldcard comes from Coinkite Inc., based in Canada and founded in 2012. It is a hardware maker rather than a brokerage, and the hardware device it sells is a product you own rather than an account you hold.
Sources
- coldcard.com checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Coins supported, Open source, Secure element, Wallet type
“Bitcoin Only”
- coldcard.com/about checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Custody, Features, Founded, Headquarters, Legal entity
“We build tools for people who want full ownership and custody of their Bitcoin.”
- coldcard.com/faq checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Backup options, Connectivity
“Then the file is saved as an AES-encrypted 7Z file on the MicroSD card.”
- store.coinkite.com/store/coldcard checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Price, Support channels
“COLDCARD Q $369 $319 USD; COLDCARD Mk5 $269 $219 USD”
Compiled from 4 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.