Trading cryptocurrencies is a complicated and diverse area with various wallet choices for different purposes. prior choosing the right one, gaining proper understanding is crucial. This blog post will briefly discuss the main differences between wallets.
A crypto wallet is a platform or software that is used to manage and keep your electronic money and other digital assets. This is a tool that also provides information on the current rate of your virtual money. Crypto wallets enable you to send crypto coins to other users and receive digital tokens from other traders. Some of the wallets even support NFTs.
Experience while investing or trading is the key to differentiating various crypto wallets and providing different volumes of access to cryptocurrencies, blockchains, and exchanges.
Crypto Wallet Types
Virtual wallets can be classified into two groups: cold and hot. Cold wallets are similar to flash drives; you can disconnect them when unused. On the other hand, hot wallets are always linked to the internet. This type of wallet is typically recommended to beginner investors and those new to digital asset trading.
This article focuses on hot wallets since their usage is more widespread.
There are two types of hot wallets: centralised and decentralised.
Centralised wallets
Centralised virtual wallets are also called custodial wallets because they are in custody. This type of wallet is managed by someone else rather than the person using it.
With the wallets in custody, you can transfer digital coins. However, the wallet user doesn’t have absolute control over the assets in the wallet or private keys. Such wallets are usually offered to the clients of large and popular crypto exchanges like Binance.
Private keys serve as passwords that prove you own your electronic assets. These passwords are random sets of numbers that you must use to approve transactions. Private keys are extremely essential because you must use them to send, withdraw, deposit, or perform any actions with your digital assets.
Decentralised wallets
Decentralised wallets are non-custodial wallets; any central authority runs them. This allows people to have total control over private keys and the assets kept in their wallets without needing any help from an intermediary.
Such wallets as MetaMask or Trust Wallet are examples of decentralised wallets.
Crypto Wallet Features To Consider
Custodial and non-custodial wallets have pros and cons regarding safety, privacy, and convenience of use. Many traders use both types for different purposes because having more than one wallet can lower the chance of losing assets. But no wallet is completely safe, so users need to make sure they protect their digital assets.
Before you decide what kind of wallet to use for keeping and managing your digital money, take a good look at each type and choose the one that works best for you.
When selecting a wallet, paying attention to several factors, such as ownership, security, support, and anonymity is necessary.
Non-custodial wallets offer complete control over assets, but it can be difficult to recover access to the wallet in case of a private key loss or if the device on which the wallet is installed is compromised.
Custodial wallets are less safe due to the presence of a central entity. On the other hand, decentralised wallets eliminate third-party access unless shared.
Decentralised wallets also allow individuals to remain anonymous and access dApps, making them suitable for crypto collectors as they don’t require specific identity verification processes.
