Frequently asked questions

Short answers to what people ask us most. If your question isn't here, our guides go into more detail.

We will never ask for your recovery words, your backup or your password. Nobody genuine ever will.

About ColdSock

What is ColdSock? A small, Bitcoin-only hardware wallet. It creates your keys, keeps them offline and signs your payments itself. A companion app on your phone shows your balance and prepares payments, but never holds the keys to your savings. How it works

Who is it for? People who keep Bitcoin on an exchange and want to hold it themselves, simply and safely. You don't need to be technical.

Can I buy one now? Not yet. ColdSock is in development and not for sale. We don't take orders or payments in advance, so anyone asking you to pay for a ColdSock today is not us.

How much will it cost? The planned launch price is $99 before tax. The final price in your country will include local VAT or sales tax. Features, details and price may change before release.

When will it be available? We haven't set a date. We'll say so clearly on this site when there is one, and we won't promise dates we can't keep.

Which coins does it support? Only Bitcoin. Fewer features means less code, and less code means fewer places to attack.

Safety

Does ColdSock connect to the internet? No. It has no Wi-Fi, no Bluetooth and no data cable. It talks to your phone only by QR codes: it reads them with its camera and shows them on its screen.

What if my phone or computer has a virus? Your keys stay on the device, and every payment is checked on the device's own screen: amount, full address and fee. Malware on your phone can't spend your Bitcoin without the device in your hand.

What if someone steals the device? It's useless without your PIN, and too many wrong tries wipe the keys. Your Bitcoin isn't lost: you restore it from your backup.

How do I know the device is genuine? The box is sealed and the case shows if it has been opened. At setup, the device must create new keys for you. Never use a device that arrives already set up, or with recovery words in the box. Buy only from us or an authorised seller.

Will it be checked by anyone else? Yes. Before it goes on sale, the device and its software will be checked by independent security experts.

Backup and recovery

What if I lose or break the device? Get a new device and restore from your backup and its password. Your Bitcoin lives on the Bitcoin network, not inside the device.

How does the backup work? On first use, ColdSock writes an encrypted backup of your keys to a memory card. The device creates the password for it and shows it once, and you write it on the card in the box. Keep the memory card and the password in separate places. More on the backup

Can I use the standard 24 recovery words instead? Yes. The memory card backup is the main one, but you can show the standard 24 recovery words at any time from the device's settings, after entering your PIN. With them you can also restore your Bitcoin in other compatible wallets. Write them on paper or metal and keep them well hidden: unlike the memory card, the words aren't encrypted, so anyone who finds them can take your Bitcoin.

What happens if ColdSock the company disappears? We plan to use the standard Bitcoin formats for keys and addresses. With your backup you can then restore your Bitcoin in other compatible wallets, not only ours.

Can you recover my Bitcoin if I lose my backup? No. Nobody can. We never have a copy of your keys, and that's the point. Anyone who offers to "recover" your Bitcoin for a fee is running a scam.

The app

Do I need the ColdSock app? It's the simplest way to use ColdSock. Because we plan to use standard formats, ColdSock should also work with well-known wallet apps.

What are The Sock and Pocket? In the app, The Sock is your savings on the ColdSock device. The app shows the balance and prepares payments, but every payment needs the device. Pocket is a small spending wallet on your phone, for everyday amounts. You top it up from The Sock when it runs low.

Everything else

Do you give investment advice? No. We help you keep your Bitcoin safe. We never tell anyone whether to buy or sell, and nothing on this site is financial or investment advice.

What batteries does it use? A standard AAA battery you can change yourself. Your keys stay safe without power.

ColdSock is in development and not yet for sale. Features, details and price may change before release.