Ellipal X Card ($69): a credit-card-sized NFC cold wallet with a CC EAL6+ secure chip (vendor-stated), a BIP39 seed phrase shown on an offline setup device, optional backup cards, and no firmware updates.
By the WalletInsights editorial team
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The Ellipal X Card, launched in 2025 at $69 for one card ($89 for three), is an NFC card wallet you tap to an iPhone or Android phone. Keys are generated and kept in a secure chip Ellipal describes as CC EAL6+. Unlike Tangem, it always creates a standard BIP39 seed phrase, shown on a small offline setup device in the box, with duplicate cards as an optional extra. There is no screen on the card, no desktop app and no way to update its firmware.
Security Warning
Avoid buying from unofficial marketplaces — counterfeit risk.
Ellipal says the X Card generates keys with the hardware random number generator inside a CC EAL6+secure chip and that they never leave it. It names no chip model or maker and publishes no certificate number, so the certification is the vendor's statement. The card has no screen: you review every transaction in the Ellipal app on your phone, which means you rely on the phone's display rather than a trusted screen on the device. A 6–16-digit PIN is entered on a shuffled keypad in the app; after 10 wrong attempts the card wipes itself. The firmware is locked at the factory and cannot be updated — that removes the risk of a malicious update, but it also means a discovered flaw could never be fixed on cards already sold.
SecurityKey Factor
Setup happens on the X Card Starter, a small offline device with a screen and arrow keys that comes in the box. It shows a standard BIP39seed phrase (12, 18 or 24 words), which Ellipal treats as the primary backup — so you can restore the wallet in other BIP39 wallets, not only on Ellipal hardware. You can also write duplicate cards holding the same wallet, each with its own PIN, and add a passphrase for a hidden wallet. Ellipal does not store keys or seeds. The PIN cannot be recovered; a forgotten PIN means setting the card up again from the seed.
Recovery & backups
Day to day, you open the Ellipal app on an iPhone (XS or newer) or an NFC Android phone and tap the card to sign. There is nothing to charge or plug in, and Ellipal quotes about three minutes for setup. The trade-offs are that you need the Starter for setup and recovery tasks, that there is no desktop app, and that every check happens on the phone screen. Our usability scores for the X Card are editorial estimates anchored to the Tangem card wallet.
Usability / UX
Ellipal states support for 45+ blockchains and 10,000+ tokens, naming Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, Cardano, BNB Chain and Polygon. Through WalletConnect the card can connect to dapps and act as a signer in a Safe multisig on EVM chains, and the app offers staking and exchange features. Check that your specific coins are on Ellipal's list before buying.
Ecosystem & integrations
The card stores keys only and talks to nothing but your phone over NFC. The Ellipal app does the network work, so the usual app privacy considerations apply; Ellipal publishes no details on telemetry for the X Card, and the app is not open source. There is no Tor or coin-control support documented.
Privacy
On Ellipal's store the X Card costs $69 for one card and $89 for a set of three (prices on 30 October 2026; a site-wide discount was running). Against other card wallets, the main thing you pay for is the portable BIP39 seed phrase alongside the card format; the main things you give up are a screen and any firmware updates.
Price & value
The X Card is Ellipal's answer to card wallets like Tangem, with one important difference: it always gives you a standard BIP39 seed phrase. That makes recovery independent of Ellipal — you can restore the wallet on other BIP39 wallets — while duplicate cards add convenience for people who prefer not to reach for the paper backup.
The trade-offs come with the format. The card has no screen, so you check addresses and amounts only in the phone app; there is no desktop support; and the firmware is locked at the factory, so a flaw could never be patched. Most security claims — the EAL6+ chip, signed firmware — come from Ellipal alone, with no published certificate or independent audit. At $69 it suits phone-first users who want a card wallet with a portable seed; people who want to verify transactions on the device itself should look at a wallet with a screen.
✓Our Verdict
The X Card is Ellipal's answer to card wallets like Tangem, with one important difference: it always gives you a standard BIP39 seed phrase. That makes recovery independent of Ellipal — you can restore the wallet on other BIP39 wallets — while duplicate cards add convenience for people who prefer not to reach for the paper backup.
The trade-offs come with the format. The card has no screen, so you check addresses and amounts only in the phone app; there is no desktop support; and the firmware is locked at the factory, so a flaw could never be patched. Most security claims — the EAL6+ chip, signed firmware — come from Ellipal alone, with no published certificate or independent audit. At $69 it suits phone-first users who want a card wallet with a portable seed; people who want to verify transactions on the device itself should look at a wallet with a screen.
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Impermanent loss happens when asset prices in a liquidity pool diverge from external markets, reducing the value of liquidity providers' holdings compared to simply holding the assets.
SecurityRandom Number Generator
A Random Number Generator (RNG) produces unpredictable numbers essential for cryptographic security in blockchain, such as generating private keys and nonces.
EAL Certification (Evaluation Assurance Level) from Common Criteria rates the security of hardware components, like secure chips in crypto hardware wallets. Higher levels, such as EAL5+ or EAL6+, indicate stronger resistance to attacks.
PIN Protection is a security feature that requires a personal identification number (PIN) to access a cryptocurrency wallet or device, preventing unauthorized access.
BIP39 is a standard for generating mnemonic seed phrases that are used to create deterministic wallets and securely back up cryptocurrency private keys.
A 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.
A passphrase is an additional security layer for cryptocurrency wallets, acting as a 25th word in the BIP39 seed phrase, protecting access to hidden wallets.
A hidden wallet conceals a secondary cryptocurrency wallet behind an additional passphrase on the same seed, providing plausible deniability against coercion.
NFC Connectivity in cryptocurrency enables contactless transactions using near-field communication, allowing users to sign or authorize actions by tapping their device to a reader.
Recovery is the process of restoring access to a cryptocurrency wallet using its seed phrase or mnemonic backup if the original wallet is lost or inaccessible.
Tangem is a hardware wallet in the form of a physical card that stores cryptocurrency private keys securely and offline, allowing for easy and portable access to digital assets.
BlockchainBlockchain
A blockchain is a shared, append-only record of transactions kept by many independent computers, so no single party can rewrite it.
Bitcoin (BTC) is the first decentralized cryptocurrency, launched in 2009. It uses blockchain technology for secure, peer-to-peer digital transactions without intermediaries.
Ethereum is a decentralized blockchain platform that enables smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). Its native cryptocurrency is Ether (ETH).
Solana 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.
Cardano is a proof-of-stake blockchain platform that prioritizes research-driven development, scalability, and sustainability. Its native cryptocurrency is ADA.
BNB Chain is a high-performance blockchain network developed by Binance, formerly Binance Smart Chain (BSC). It supports smart contracts, DeFi, and uses BNB as its native token.
Polygon is a layer-2 scaling solution for Ethereum that enables faster, cheaper transactions via its Proof-of-Stake sidechain. Native token: MATIC (also called Polygon PoS).
WalletConnect is a protocol that enables secure communication between decentralized applications (dApps) and mobile wallets through QR code scanning or deep linking.
Multisig (multi-signature) is a security feature that requires multiple private keys to authorize a transaction, enhancing protection against unauthorized access in blockchain networks.
Telemetry in cryptocurrency and blockchain refers to the automatic collection and transmission of anonymous usage data, metrics, and error reports from wallets or nodes to improve software.
Ellipal X Card uses a certified Secure Element chip to store private keys in tamper-resistant hardware. Even if the device's software were compromised, the Secure Element isolates your keys from extraction.
What if Ellipal goes out of business?
Your seed phrase follows the BIP39 standard, meaning you can recover your funds using any compatible wallet — you are not locked into Ellipal's ecosystem.
What if I lose my Ellipal X Card?
Your cryptocurrency is stored on the blockchain, not on the device. If you lose your Ellipal X Card, you can recover full access using your seed phrase on any compatible wallet. Multiple backup cards are supported for redundant recovery.
How long will Ellipal X Card receive security updates?
Check Ellipal's website for the latest firmware update schedule.
Does the Ellipal X Card have a seed phrase?
Yes. Unlike Tangem's default setup, the X Card always creates a standard BIP39 seed phrase, shown on the offline X Card Starter during setup. It is the primary backup; duplicate cards are an optional extra.
Does the Ellipal X Card work with iPhone?
Yes, with an iPhone XS or newer, and with Android phones that have NFC. There is no desktop app.
Can the X Card's firmware be updated?
No. Ellipal locks the firmware at the factory for both the card and the Starter. That rules out malicious updates but also means a discovered flaw could not be patched.
Ellipal X Card or Tangem: what is the difference?
Both are NFC cards with a secure chip and no screen. The X Card always gives you a BIP39 seed phrase and uses a separate offline Starter for setup; Tangem uses backup cards by default. Compare details on the Ellipal vs Tangem page.
What happens if I enter the wrong PIN?
After 10 wrong attempts the card wipes itself. You can set it up again from your seed phrase; Ellipal says a card is disabled permanently after 10 wipes.
How many coins does the X Card support?
Ellipal states 45+ blockchains and 10,000+ tokens, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, Cardano, BNB Chain and Polygon.
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Our rating methodology is evolving. Ratings and assessments will be refined as we improve our scoring framework to reflect the most accurate results.
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