← Glossary
Wallet
Software or hardware that stores your keys and lets you send and receive crypto.
A crypto wallet doesn't actually hold your coins — the coins live on the blockchain. Instead, a wallet stores your private keys, which prove you own those coins and let you spend them.
Wallets come in two broad types:
- Hot wallets are connected to the internet (apps, browser extensions). Convenient but more exposed.
- Cold wallets stay offline (hardware devices, paper). Safer for long-term holdings.