Hardware wallet
Plain definition. A hardware wallet is a physical device that keeps your private key inside its secure chip, so every transfer has to be approved on the device itself.
Technical definition. DCENT’s app FAQ describes a hardware wallet as one whose private key is generated inside the device’s secure chip and never leaves it, a fundamentally different model of protection from a software wallet. A companion app serves only as the interface for display and operation, which is why every transfer must be approved on the device. The guarantee has one exception: if the wallet’s recovery phrase is ever entered into an app wallet or any other software wallet, the two wallets share the same private keys and the hardware wallet should not be treated as isolated.
On this site
On this site, Hardware wallet comes up in What’s the difference between a hot wallet, a cold wallet and a paper wallet?, What happened with the D’CENT wallet hack, and am I affected?, Can a hardware wallet be hacked, and how do I verify one is genuine?, What is air-gapped signing, and do I need it? and Which wallet is best for XRP, and how do I choose one without getting a fake or flawed one?.
Source
Frequently Asked Questions - DCENT App Wallet Security Issue (store.dcentwallet.com), read October 1, 2026.
Pages that cover Hardware wallet
- Can a hardware wallet be hacked, and how do I verify one is genuine?
- What's the difference between a hot wallet, a cold wallet and a paper wallet?
- What is a malicious signing request or wallet drainer?
- What is air-gapped signing, and do I need it?
- Which wallet is best for XRP, and how do I choose one without getting a fake or flawed one?
- What happened with the D'CENT wallet hack, and am I affected?