Keystone
score
Fees: one-time device purchase; free app
Best suited to users who want a genuinely air-gapped device with an open-source stance and a comfortable touchscreen. The main trade-off is the QR-based signing flow, which is more secure but slower than plugging in a cable.
What Keystone is
Keystone is an air-gapped hardware wallet that signs transactions entirely through QR codes, with no USB cable, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi involved. Launched in 2018 (originally under the Cobo name), it pairs a large colour touchscreen with a removable battery so the device can live fully offline in cold storage. You scan a QR from your software wallet, confirm on the Keystone screen, and scan the signed result back, keeping the private keys air-gapped throughout.
How it scores
The air-gapped design underpins an 8.5 security model, since there is no wired or wireless attack surface to exploit, and the firmware is open-source on top of a bank-grade secure element. Transparency and value both sit at 8.5, and supported assets at 8.5 reflect solid multi-chain coverage. App and UX earn 8: the touchscreen is comfortable, but the QR round-trip is inherently a few steps more than plugging in a cable.
Pricing
Keystone is a one-time purchase with a free companion app and no recurring cost, which keeps its value rating strong. It sits in the mid-range for hardware wallets, and the touchscreen and removable battery are a large part of what you are paying for compared with cheaper screenless devices.
The main trade-off
QR-only signing is more secure but slower and less familiar than USB, and for some chains Keystone leans on partner apps such as MetaMask or BlueWallet rather than a single first-party interface. The brand also has a smaller support ecosystem than Ledger or Trezor, so you may lean more on community resources when troubleshooting.
Best suited to
If you specifically want an air-gapped device with an open-source stance and a screen big enough to read comfortably, Keystone is a strong fit. Users who prioritise the fastest possible signing, or who want the largest brand and support footprint, may prefer a wired alternative. Consider your own workflow rather than treating any single wallet as universally best.
Overall 8.4 / 10 — the weighted average of the criteria above. How we score →
- + Fully air-gapped: signs transactions via QR codes with no USB/Bluetooth attack surface
- + Bank-grade secure element with open-source firmware
- + Large touchscreen and removable battery for cold storage
- + Good multi-chain coverage and integrations with popular software wallets
- − QR-only signing workflow is slower and less familiar than USB
- − Relies on partner apps (e.g. MetaMask, BlueWallet) for some chains
- − Smaller brand footprint and support ecosystem than Ledger or Trezor
Is Keystone a good hardware wallet?
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Yes, we rate it 8.4 overall. It is genuinely air-gapped, runs open-source firmware over a secure element, and its touchscreen is comfortable to read. The main compromise is the QR-based signing flow, which is slower than a USB connection.
How does Keystone signing work?
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Keystone never connects by cable or wireless. Your software wallet displays a QR code of the unsigned transaction, you scan it with the Keystone camera, confirm on its touchscreen, and scan the signed QR back. The private keys stay air-gapped the whole time.
Is Keystone safe?
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Its air-gapped design removes the USB and Bluetooth attack surface entirely, which is why it scores 8.5 on our security model, and the firmware is open-source. As with any wallet, buy from an official source and record your recovery phrase carefully.
What coins does Keystone support?
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Keystone covers a broad range of chains and tokens and scores 8.5 on supported assets. For some networks it works alongside partner software wallets such as MetaMask or BlueWallet rather than a single first-party app, so check that your specific coins are covered.
How much is Keystone?
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It is a one-time device purchase with a free companion app and no subscription. It sits in the mid-range, with the touchscreen and removable battery accounting for much of the cost versus cheaper screenless wallets.