I’ve tested dozens of hardware wallets over the years, and I’ll be honest, KeepKey is not worth your investment. It’s not terrible, but it’s just too basic for what most crypto users need in 2025.
The large screen looks nice, and it does the job if you only want to store Bitcoin or Ethereum and forget about it. But once you need real flexibility, mobile access, or stronger security, it starts to feel outdated. The ShapeShift-only ecosystem also limits what you can do compared to more open, feature-rich hardware wallets out there.
So, my KeepKey wallet review will cover what it gets right, what it lacks, and whether you should bother with it today by comparing it with other top crypto cold storage devices.
My Experience With KeepKey Hardware Wallet
KeepKey remains a legitimate hardware wallet in 2025, but it’s obviously not a perfect device. The huge 3.12‑inch screen and open‑source firmware make it very transparent and user-friendly.
Also, its integration with ShapeShift’s dApp ecosystem means you can swap, stake, and even handle NFTs without leaving the wallet interface. You can access thousands of assets, and it even costs far less than top‑tier competitors.
But, on the flip side, it’s quite bulky. It also lacks a secure element chip and doesn’t offer Bluetooth or native mobile support. And even receive security firmware updates less frequently than Ledger or Trezor.
So, if you want portability and popular hardware wallets, there are better options. But if you value openness, a big display, and a low price, yes, KeepKey still holds its own.
KeepKey is a good fit if…
- You prefer seeing entire addresses and transaction details on a big screen.
- You value open‑source software and transparency.
- You’re on a tight budget but still want the benefits of a hardware wallet.
- Your crypto management happens mostly on a computer rather than a phone.
- You don’t mind occasionally checking for firmware updates and managing a passphrase.
You might want to skip KeepKey if…
- You need a pocket‑sized wallet that travels easily.
- Mobile connectivity, especially on iOS, is important to you.
- You want a secure element chip for maximum physical tamper resistance.
- You expect rapid firmware releases for security patches and robust customer support.
KeepKey Pros Reviewed: What I Like About It
The pros of using the KeepKey wallet are a large OLED screen, a beginner-friendly design, open-source firmware, built-in ShapeShift integration, and an affordable price compared to other cold wallets.
The Display is quite large and user-friendly
The large 3.12‑inch OLED display is by far my favourite feature here. As you know, when you’re dealing with crypto, even a small mistake in a wallet address can mean losing funds forever.
With KeepKey, you can easily view the entire address at once, and you don’t have to scroll or piece it together from small segments. That may sound trivial, but it eliminates a lot of anxiety.
And even when signing DeFi transactions through ShapeShift’s dApp store, the screen clearly displays contract addresses and amounts. Eventually, it feels more secure confirming a swap or stake when you can actually read all the details instead of trying to trust a tiny two‑line display.
Transparent, open‑source firmware
The entire codebase is open source, including both hardware and the desktop app. You can find it all on GitHub.
Now, a few examples are here: when a memory bug was found in early 2023, the community rapidly identified the faulty function, and ShapeShift released a fix in the firmware version. In my view, having flaws exposed and fixed openly is better than hoping a proprietary system is secure.
Integration with ShapeShift and DeFi
KeepKey’s integration with ShapeShift used to be a novelty. Today, it’s a powerful ecosystem. Inside the ShapeShift desktop app, there’s a dApp store with a growing list of services: decentralized exchanges via Thorchain, staking for ATOM, AVAX, and OSMO, NFT marketplaces, yield farming, and even fiat on‑ramps.
Because KeepKey handles all the signing, your private keys never leave the device. Also, you can easily swap Bitcoin for ATOM, staked ATOM, and later swap it for AVAX, yes, all from the same interface.
But, I would say, it’s not as polished as the Ledger Live app, but it’s more functional than many give it credit for.
A good number of supported coins
One of the criticisms I see on old forums is that KeepKey supports only a few dozen coins. Well, that hasn’t been true for years. Today, thanks to multi‑chain integration through ShapeShift, the wallet supports more than 1,000 coins and tokens across about 50+ blockchains.
That includes major networks like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Avalanche, Cosmos, Binance Smart Chain, and Ripple, plus thousands of ERC‑20 and BEP‑20 tokens. You can easily store obscure GameFi coins, and they will work fine.
But I saw a little drawback here. There’s still no native MetaMask or mobile wallet integration, but yes, within ShapeShift, I’ve yet to find a mainstream token it doesn’t support.
KeepKey Wallet Drawbacks: Where It Falls Short
The cons of using the KeepKey wallet are no secure element chip, no mobile app support, an outdated ShapeShift platform, no air-gapped features, and limited altcoin support compared to other cryptocurrency wallets.
No Bluetooth and limited mobile support
KeepKey only connects via a USB cable, as there’s no Bluetooth or NFC, and the port is Micro‑USB rather than USB‑C. The ShapeShift mobile app on Android can work with an OTG cable, but again, iPhone users are left out entirely.
As someone who often uses an iPhone to check balances on the go, I felt constrained. Ledger’s Nano X offers Bluetooth, and Trezor can work with Android via USB‑C. So, I feel like KeepKey’s desktop‑only approach feels dated in 2025.
There is no secure element chip
Nowadays, it is common for hardware wallets to have secure element chips. But KeepKey relies on a general‑purpose microcontroller. It doesn’t have a dedicated secure element chip like some rivals, so its safety relies on staying offline and locking it down with your PIN and an extra passphrase.
From what I’ve read, an extremely skilled and determined thief with access to good tools might be able to pull data from its memory.
Personally, I feel fine using it at home with a strong passphrase, but if you’re carrying a wallet with life‑changing cryptocurrency or you’re suspicious about hardware attacks, you might sleep better with a device that has a tamper‑resistant chip. I would say, go with ELLIPAL Titan 2.0 or Ledger wallet.
A few security vulnerabilities in the past
Now, KeepKey’s open source has both positives and negatives. Because the code is public, researchers have found and disclosed issues. A few deserve mention:
- During 2022, a team of researchers found a way to guess the PIN of a person by taking measurements of electromagnetic emissions at the time of PIN was put in. For sure, this needed special laboratory equipment and also physical access to the device, but it was still a matter of concern.
- In 2022 was also discovered a nerdy supervisor-mode bug which could let bad firmware get around the security protections of the device.
- At the beginning of 2023, testers discovered a problem that could leak a part of your seed phrase if you sent an Ethereum transaction that was not properly formed.
So, I saw these issues get patched quickly because the code is open, and it also just reminds me that you’ve got to update your firmware and not leave your wallet.
How KeeyKey Compares With Other Hardware Wallets
The best alternatives to KeepKey Wallet, in my opinion, are Ledger, Trezor Wallet, ELLIPAL, and BitBox. Honestly, KeepKey is good for basic cold storage, but it’s clearly outdated on a few important fronts, especially when you compare it with the wallets below.
| Feature | KeepKey | Ledger Nano X | Trezor Safe 3 | ELLIPAL Titan 2.0 | BitBox02 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secure Element Chip | No secure chip | CC EAL5+ | EAL6+ NDA-Free | CC EAL5+ with air-gap | ATECC608B Secure Chip |
| Air-Gapped | USB only | Bluetooth & USB | USB only | Fully air-gapped via QR | USB only |
| Display Screen | 256×64 px OLED | 128×64 px | 128×64 px OLED | 480×320 px color touchscreen | 128×64 px OLED |
| Touchscreen | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Mobile Support | No | iOS/Android via Bluetooth | Only Android via OTG | iOS & Android (QR scanning) | Android only (USB-C) |
| Coin Support | 1000+ (via ShapeShift) | 5000+ coins | 7000+ coins | 10,000+ via ELLIPAL App | 1500+ via BitBoxApp |
| Software Wallet | ShapeShift only | Ledger Live | Trezor Suite | ELLIPAL App | BitBoxApp |
| Firmware Transparency | Open source | Closed-source firmware | Fully open source | Firmware open, App closed | Fully open source |
| Backup Options | 12-word seed | 24-word seed | 12/20/24-word SLIP39 Shamir | 12/24-word + QR backup | 24-word BIP39 + microSD backup |
| Price (Approx) | $49 | $149 | $79 | $129 | $149 |
To sum up my KeepKey wallet review, honestly, I don’t recommend buying the KeepKey hardware wallet. There are dozens of better wallets on the market. You can check out my guide on the best cold storage wallets and best crypto hardware wallets.