Keycard
Keycard is an open-source hardware wallet line that keeps private keys on a smart card and adds the Keycard Shell, an air-gapped QR signer with a screen that holds no keys itself.
What Is Keycard?
Keycard is an open-source hardware wallet line that began inside Status as the Status Hardwallet and took its current name in 2019. It has two parts: Keycard smart cards, which hold the private keys, and the Keycard Shell, a signing device with a screen.
Each card runs an open JavaCard applet on an NXP secure element certified to Common Criteria EAL6+. A card can be used on its own, over NFC with the Status mobile app or through a USB smart-card reader on a desktop.
The Keycard Shell adds a screen, a keypad and a camera. It stores no keys: a card is inserted, and the Shell exchanges data with wallet software through QR codes, with no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or cellular radio. Its firmware is MIT-licensed with reproducible builds, and the hardware design files are published.
For backup, the same seed can be loaded onto spare cards, and SLIP-39 Shamir shares are supported. The main limits are scope and review. Keycard supports only Bitcoin and Ethereum with EVM networks; Solana and other chains that do not use the secp256k1 curve are left out. No third-party security audit of the Shell firmware or the card applet has been published, and the Shell's interface is in English only.
Open-source hardware means the device's schematics and board layout are published, so anyone can review or rebuild the design.
Read full definition: Open-Source HardwareA private key is the secret number that proves ownership of a crypto address and signs its transactions. Whoever has it controls the funds.
A hardware wallet is a dedicated device that keeps private keys offline and signs transactions internally, so the keys never reach an internet-connected computer or phone.
A secure element is a tamper-resistant chip built to store secrets and resist physical attacks such as side-channel analysis and fault injection.
Read full definition: Secure ElementEAL certification (Evaluation Assurance Level) under Common Criteria shows how rigorously a hardware component, such as the secure chip of a hardware wallet, was evaluated, from EAL1 to EAL7.
Read full definition: EAL CertificationNFC Connectivity in cryptocurrency enables contactless transactions using near-field communication, allowing users to sign or authorize actions by tapping their device to a reader.
Read full definition: NFC ConnectivityQR Code Signing is a method used in cryptocurrency transactions where a QR code is generated to confirm and sign a transaction, enhancing security and user convenience.
Read full definition: QR Code SigningBluetooth Connectivity enables wireless communication between devices, like hardware wallets and smartphones, using Bluetooth or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) for secure data transfer.
Read full definition: Bluetooth ConnectivityFirmware is the software that runs on a hardware wallet itself: it generates keys, shows transaction details on the screen and signs.
Read full definition: FirmwareReproducible Builds refer to the process where the same source code consistently produces identical binary outputs, ensuring verifiable and trustworthy software in blockchain and crypto projects.
Read full definition: Reproducible BuildsA backup in cryptocurrency is a secure copy of a wallet's seed phrase or private keys. It enables recovery of funds if the original wallet is lost or damaged.
Read full definition: BackupShamir Secret Sharing (SSS) divides a secret, like a crypto wallet seed, into multiple shares. A threshold number of shares reconstructs it, enhancing security as in SLIP-39 backups.
Read full definition: Shamir Secret SharingBitcoin (BTC) is the first decentralized cryptocurrency, launched in 2009. It uses blockchain technology for secure, peer-to-peer digital transactions without intermediaries.
Read full definition: BitcoinEthereum is a decentralized blockchain platform that enables smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). Its native cryptocurrency is Ether (ETH).
Read full definition: EthereumThe EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) runs smart contracts on Ethereum and on compatible chains, which share its address format and tooling.
Read full definition: EVMSolana is a high-performance layer-1 blockchain platform that enables fast, low-cost transactions using Proof of History and Proof of Stake. Its native token is SOL.
Read full definition: SolanaAn elliptic curve is a mathematical curve used in elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) for generating secure public-private key pairs in blockchains, like secp256k1 in Bitcoin.
Read full definition: Elliptic CurveA security audit is an independent review of blockchain code or smart contracts by experts to identify vulnerabilities and ensure robustness.
Read full definition: Security AuditReal-World Examples
Example 1: To sign an Ethereum transaction, a user inserts the card into the Keycard Shell, scans the QR code from the wallet app, checks the details on the Shell's screen and shows the signed QR code back to the app.
Example 2: During setup, an owner loads the same seed onto a second Keycard and stores it in another location as a spare.
Example 3: A holder of Solana finds that Keycard cannot manage it and needs a different wallet for that network.
Ethereum is a decentralized blockchain platform that enables smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). Its native cryptocurrency is Ether (ETH).
Read full definition: EthereumQR Code Signing is a method used in cryptocurrency transactions where a QR code is generated to confirm and sign a transaction, enhancing security and user convenience.
Read full definition: QR Code SigningSolana is a high-performance layer-1 blockchain platform that enables fast, low-cost transactions using Proof of History and Proof of Stake. Its native token is SOL.
Read full definition: SolanaKeycard hardware wallets
Browse wallets grouped by this feature
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more about affiliate links
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Keycard Shell store my private keys?
No. The Shell stores no keys. The private keys sit on a Keycard smart card, which is inserted into the Shell for signing. The Shell adds a screen, a keypad and a camera, and exchanges data with wallet software through QR codes, with no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or cellular radio.
Can I use a Keycard without the Shell?
Yes. A card can be used on its own, over NFC with the Status mobile app or through a USB smart-card reader on a desktop. The Shell is an addition that brings a screen for checking transaction details and air-gapped communication with wallet apps through QR codes.
How do I back up a Keycard, and what does the backup cover?
The same seed can be loaded onto spare cards, which can be kept in another location, and SLIP-39 Shamir shares are supported. The backup covers what Keycard supports: Bitcoin and Ethereum with EVM networks. Solana and other chains that do not use the secp256k1 curve are left out and need a different wallet.
Ready to Choose a Secure Wallet?
Use our tools to find the right hardware wallet for your needs.