Cryptnox Hardware Wallets
Cryptnox is a Swiss maker of NFC smart cards based in Carouge, Geneva. Its only hardware wallet is a screenless two-card set built on an NXP JCOP 4 secure element and priced at $49.90. Transactions are reviewed in the Cryptnox phone or desktop app, not on the card.
Cryptnox Wallet Models
Explore the complete range of Cryptnox hardware wallets designed for different needs and budgets.
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Cryptnox Hardware Wallet
Screenless NFC smart-card wallet sold as a two-card set with an NXP EAL6+ chip platform; transactions are reviewed in the phone app. $49.90.
Pros & Cons of Cryptnox Wallets
Pros
- Wallet cards use an NXP JCOP 4 secure element with Common Criteria EAL6+ platform certification
- The backup card in the box holds the same non-exportable seed; BIP39 import is optional
- Low entry price: $49.90 for a two-card set, with a 20-year warranty on the cards
- Open-source CLI and SDKs (LGPL-3.0) for desktop use with a smart-card reader
Cons
- No screen on the card: transactions are reviewed only in the phone or desktop app
- The card applet and the mobile app are closed source
- The Cure53 audit from 2019 is a vendor claim; the report is not public
- No support for Solana or other ed25519 chains
Cryptnox Rating Summary
How We Rate Cryptnox Wallets
Every rating is based on 40 measurable parameters with a fully transparent, open formula. No pay-to-play, no hidden criteria.
Ready to Choose Your Cryptnox Wallet?
Based on our analysis, the Cryptnox Hardware Wallet is the top-rated model with a score of 65/100.
Who Is Cryptnox Best For?
Cryptnox wallets are designed for specific types of users and use cases.
Low-cost cold storage
The Dual Card Set costs $49.90, has no battery to maintain and fits in a wallet. Setup and transactions run through the Cryptnox app on an NFC phone.
Learn more →EVM networks and dApps
The app covers Ethereum and other preset EVM networks, connects to dApps through WalletConnect and works as a QR signer for MetaMask. Transactions are reviewed in the app, as the card has no screen.
Learn more →Phone-based use
The card is tapped against an NFC phone for each operation, and after pairing the app can use the phone's biometrics instead of the PIN. Desktop use needs an external smart-card reader.
Learn more →Cryptnox vs Other Wallets
See how Cryptnox compares to other leading hardware wallet brands.
Cryptnox vs Tangem
Tangem Wallet (2 Cards, $54.90) and the Cryptnox Dual Card Set ($49.90) are both NFC card wallets; Cryptnox cards also have a contact interface for smart-card readers and accept an imported BIP39 phrase.
Cryptnox vs Keycard
The Keycard Shell ($129) stores keys on cards with the same NXP JCOP 4 P71 chip family but adds a screen, keypad and camera, while Cryptnox cards ($49.90) rely on the phone app for review.
Cryptnox vs Trezor
The Trezor Safe 3 ($59) shows transaction details on its own screen before signing, while the Cryptnox card set ($49.90) has no screen and is reviewed in the phone app.
About Cryptnox
Cryptnox SA is registered in Carouge, in the canton of Geneva, Switzerland, and its About page dates the company to 2019. It designs smart cards built on NXP secure elements. Besides the crypto hardware wallet, it sells FIDO2 and PIV authentication cards, smart-card readers and card services for businesses; those products are not wallets.
The current wallet is the Cryptnox Hardware Wallet, sold as a Dual Card Set for $49.90. It was sold as the BG-1 Card as early as 2021. The two cards can generate the same seed between themselves, so the second card serves as the backup without seed words; importing a 12- or 24-word BIP39 phrase is also possible.
The cards have no screen, battery or buttons. Cryptnox publishes its command-line tool and SDKs as open source under LGPL-3.0, while the card applet and the mobile app are closed source.
Backup & Recovery
By default the two cards of the set generate the same non-exportable seed, so the second card is the backup and no seed words exist; a 12- or 24-word BIP39 phrase can be imported instead.
Price & Value
At $49.90 for two cards, an Access Card and an NFC-blocking case, the set is among the lowest-priced hardware wallets, and Cryptnox gives a 20-year warranty on the cards.
Compatibility
The cards work over NFC with iOS and Android phones and through a contact smart-card reader on Windows, macOS and Linux; each card also carries a FIDO2/U2F security-key applet.
FAQ About Cryptnox Hardware Wallets
Where is Cryptnox based?
Cryptnox SA is a Swiss company registered in Carouge, in the canton of Geneva. Its About page gives 2019 as the founding year. Besides the crypto hardware wallet, Cryptnox sells FIDO2 and PIV authentication cards, smart-card readers and card-based services for businesses, none of which are cryptocurrency wallets.
Is Cryptnox open source?
Partly. Cryptnox publishes its command-line tool and SDKs for Python, C++, Arduino and ESP32 on GitHub under LGPL-3.0. The wallet applet on the card is closed source, with only its documentation public, and the Cryptnox Wallet mobile app is proprietary. Cryptnox says Cure53 audited the applet in 2019, but the report has not been published.
How does the Cryptnox backup work?
By default, the two cards in the Dual Card Set generate the same seed between themselves. The seed cannot be exported and no recovery words exist, so the second card is the backup and losing both cards means losing access. Alternatively, an existing 12- or 24-word BIP39 phrase can be imported, which keeps a standard written backup.
Can I check transactions on a Cryptnox card?
No. The card has no screen and signs what the Cryptnox app sends to it, so recipient and amount are checked only on the phone or computer. If that device is compromised, the card cannot show the real details. Buyers who want on-device confirmation should look at wallets with a built-in screen, such as the Keycard Shell ($129).
Read the Cryptnox Hardware Wallet review
See how the screenless two-card set handles security, backups, supported networks and privacy, and how it compares with Tangem and Keycard.
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