Seed Phrase Backups: Which Is Better, What to choose? CryoSeed & Others
As cryptocurrencies become more mainstream, so does the number of crypto investors and traders. With that in mind, crypto users need to have safe alternatives for storing cryptocurrencies. One of the best ways to safely store cryptocurrencies is through self-custody wallets. These wallets provide a seed phrase that you should keep with yourself in order to access and recover your funds.
However, these seed phrases are best kept in physical forms such as in a piece of paper. The reason for this is that keeping seed phrases in smart devices would make them vulnerable to potential hacks. So, keeping them physically is much safer.
To keep this short, non-custodial wallets are wallets that only be accessed by the owner and no one else. When you open such a wallet, be that a cold wallet or a short wallet, you will receive a seed phrase. You can then use this seed phrase to unlock or recover your wallet whenever you need to. However, since only you can access such wallets if you lose access to the wallet and you don’t have your seed phrase, you can never access your crypto holdings again. Most wallet companies suggest you write your seed phrase/recovery phrase down so that it cannot be accessed online. Nevertheless, papers can be scratched and are a sensitive material.
Because of this, companies came up with a solution: hard storage for seed phrases. Some of the leading companies for seed phrase storage are ELLIPAL Mnemonic Metal, Cryptosteel, CryoSeed, Coinplate, CRYO, CVER and CRYPTOTAG. One of the most promising ones, however, is CryoSeed.
Check out the list of the best seed phrase backups here >>>
Nonetheless, you can easily lose a seed phrase if you keep it in a piece of paper, unless you keep it somewhere very safe. To make sure you keep your seed phrase as safe as possible, you can use seed phrase storages. One of the best seed phrase vaults, which proves to be quite practical at the same time, is CryoSeed.
In this article, we will review CryoSeed and its features, as well as explain its relevance in today’s crypto industry.
What is CryoSeed?
As mentioned before, CryoSeed is a company that sells seed phrase storages. Based in Berlin, CryoSeed came into the industry with the goal to provide a better solution to securing seed phrases physically. This company claims that its digital wallet backups are going to become leaders in this market. Unlike most other wallet backups, the flagship product of CryoSeed, Genesis, comes with some perks. CryoSeed – Genesis only holds encoded seed phrases. Through this method, the words from your seed phrase are converted into numbers. Then, a simple encoding scheme converts those numbers into dots.
CryoSeed – Genesis. Source: CryoSeed
You might ask yourself, “why go through all this?” Well, through this encoding scheme, you buy yourself time to transfer your funds in case somebody steals your wallet backup. Until now, companies designed backup wallets for seed phrases to protect them from erosion forces. Nowadays, companies like CryoSeed are working towards making wallet backups inaccessible to anyone other than the real owner. The timeless, indestructible design of CryoSeed – Genesis is what makes it stand out the most other than its encryption scheme.
Simply put, CryoSeed is a seed phrase vault, which ensures maximum safety for your seed phrase. Based in Berlin, the designers aim was to marry hardcore utility and aesthetics to produce a timeless seed phrase artifact for the ages.
CryoSeed Marine Steel Time-Capsule. Source: CryoSeed
The main goal of CryoSeed is to facilitate self-sovereignty and provide you with a tool that makes your seed phrase recovery highly secure, reliable, and indestructible.
Most crypto traders store their seed phrases written on a piece of paper since it is safer than keeping them in a smart device. However, pieces of paper can easily be lost, torn apart, burnt, stolen, or get wet. If someone steals your seed phrase, the attacker can easily access your wallet and steal your funds.
This is where CryoSeed is useful. Not only does CryoSeed encode your seed phrase into a set of points, but it is also made out of marine steel. The two metal plates can even be secured using any key or combination lock. A locked and encoded CryoSeed can seriously delay a theif from accessing your wallet. This gives you crucial time to move funds to a safe wallet in a worst case scenario. CryoSeed can endure extreme temperatures, is water proof, and corrosion resistant.
CryoSeed is compatible with all BIP-39 self-custody wallets (software or hardware), including Ledger, Trezor, MetaMask, Exodus, Trust Wallet, and many more.
Wallets Compatible with CryoSeed. Source: CryoSeed
The flagship recovery product, CryoSeed – Genesis, is also available in a limited edition CryoSeed – Taylor Series. This limited set features unique laser designs on the back and were produced in partnership with a local futurist tattoo artist. CryoSeed – Taylor Series offers 108 unique designs. Secure your seed phrase in style.
How Does CryoSeed Work?
The way CryoSeed works is quite simple, yet very effective. When you purchase a CryoSeed vault, you receive the marine-steel plates, which contains a set of 12-24 encodable combinations.
CryoSeed Seed Phrase Encoding Scheme. Source: CryoSeed
With the steel plates, you are given a punch tool, which can help you stamp your seed phrase in the steel plate. An included industry standard BIP-39 word list will help you convert your seed phrase into numbers. Then, using a simple encoding scheme, your seed numbers are marked permanently into the inner steel surface. Finally, lock the steel Genesis plates together so that no one can open them without a key.
CryoSeed does not come with a lock, however, you can use any key or combination lock with a bold diameter 6mm (0.23in) or less.
Locking Your CryoSeed Vault. Source: CryoSeed
Why is CryoSeed Important?
CryoSeed is essential for all crypto investors because it helps you keep your seed phrase as safe as possible, much safer than conventional methods. Given the recent state of the crypto market due to the turmoil caused by FTX, the need for self-custody wallets is strengthened more than ever.
If you are interested in self-custody there’s no better way to secure a wallet than in a CryoSeed time-capsule. Protect your wealth with cold hard steel.
CryoSeed Key Features
Here are some of the key features of CryoSeed:
- Design: The design is aesthetically pleasing to say the least. It has dimensions of 64×110 mm, and is 4 mm thick. This makes the CryoSeed vault quite easy to carry around and keep it in your pockets if needed, though it is recommended to keep it somewhere secret.
- Seed Phrase Encoding: A simple encoding scheme translates your words into numbers. The handbook guides you on all the steps. Based on the BIP-39 standard, there are up to 2048 words. Check here for more.
- Endurance: Since it uses marine steel, CryoSeed is able to endure extreme temperatures (up to 1400°C or 2500°F). It is also waterproof.
- Lock Option. To ensure even more safety, CryoSeed includes a 6mm-diameter hole, where you can put a lock.
- Price: The Genesis model costs $89, which is quite reasonable given what it offers.
- Refund Policy: If you are not satisfied with your purchase, CryoSeed refunds 100% of your money.
Is CryoSeed Better Than Cryptosteel Capsule?
Cryptosteel Capsule Solo Breakdown. Source: Ledger
Ledger is the biggest hardware wallet producer in the world. The company made its debut back in 2014 when it launched its first product. Ever since the launch, Ledger has put new products on the market quite often, and not all of them were wallets. A very important product of Ledger is Cryptosteel Capsule Solo. The Cryptosteel Capsule Solo is one of the first wallet backups in history. Through this, Ledger aims to help its users keep their recovery phrase safe. This product is like a small tub that can fit a rolled piece of paper inside. According to the company, this capsule is designed to resist extreme conditions, meaning that your phrase is safe inside it.
However, CryoSeed might essentially be a better choice than Ledger Cryptosteel Capsule. This is because, unlike Ledger, CryoSeed uses an encoding scheme. In this sense, if someone manages to somehow steal your seed phrase physically, they will need to first decode the encoded seed phrase and then access your wallet. This should give you enough time to move your funds to safety before the attacker potentially decrypts the code.
The main points you should focus on when comparing the two are:
- Ease of Use | Ledger Cryptosteel has many components and small parts
- Design | CryoSeed design is more aesthetic and feature rich than that of Ledger Cryptosteel
- Safety | Ledger Capsule is NOT lockable, NOT encoded, and can have the word order changed accidentally or maliciously.
- Price | CryptoSeed – Genesis costs €89.00 ⇔ Ledger Capsule costs €100.
Is CryoSeed Better Than Coinplate Alpha?
Coinplate Alpha. Source: Coinplate
Coinplate Alpha is another competitor of CryoSeed. Similar to CryoSeed and Ledger, this company produces seed phrase storages. Their product, the Coinplate, is a tool where you store your seed phrase physically. This tool is also known as a metal seed storage and is extremely durable. The design of this product makes it possible for people to permanently store wallet seed phrases. Although this product has a very simple design, it is extremely easy to use and robust, if we may say.
If we compare Coinplate to CryoSeed, we notice that CryoSeed might be the better option. This is because of the locking ability and less obvious encoding scheme offered by CryoSeed. While Coinplate maintains its classic, simple design, CryoSeed tries to adapt to actual user’s needs such as security and integrity.
The main points you should focus on when comparing the two are:
- Ease of Use | using Coinplate is slightly easier than using CryoSeed. However, the latter offers significant security improvements.
- Design | the designs of both Coinpate and CryoSeed are appropriate and serve their core purpose well. Both are durable.
- Price | CryptoSeed – Genesis costs €89.00 ⇔ Coinplate products cost from €79.00 up to €276.00
Is CryoSeed Better Than Cryptotag?
Cryptotag Zeus. Source: Cryptotag
Moving on, we have Cryptotag, a famous seed phrase storage producer. Cryptotag claims that its storages are built from titanium, making them super durable. Cryptotag is partnered with Ledger, Trezor, Trust Wallet, and MetaMask. This company offers several products, with all of them having different features. One of them, for example, is Thor, the titanium wallet backup for multi-wallet holders. Similar to every wallet backup we mentioned, the products of Cryptotag are designed to last hundreds of years.
Comparing CryoSeed to Cryptotag, we can see that both companies deliver slick products. Both the Genesis product from CryoSeed and the Thor/Odin backups of Cryptotag are very safe and durable. Nevertheless, CryoSeed is one step ahead of Cryptotag when it comes to security. Cryptotag does not feature any way to lock their titanium plates, the two halves are held together with simple manual clasps.
The main points you should focus on when comparing the two are:
- Ease of Use | both CryoSeed and Cryptotag offer products that are easy to use.
- Design | Cryototag has 4 pieces and no locking ability. CryoSeed features 2 piece locking design,
- Safety | Since Cryptotag products can NOT be locked, the safety advantage goes to CryoSeed.
- Price | CryptoSeed – Genesis costs €89.00 ⇔ Cryptotag costs from €129 to €350
Takeaways
- Cold wallets are one of the safest ways to store and hold your cryptocurrency.
- These wallets are non-custodial and can only be accessed by the owner through the wallet’s seed phrase.
- The seed phrase should be stored physically and not digitally to limit exposure to potential cyber-attacks.
- Some companies have created seed phrase storages to keep the seed phrase safe in the long term.
- The leading companies for seed phrase storages are CryoSeed, Ledger, Cryptotag, and Coinplate.
- All seed phrase storages have their own unique features and benefits. However, out of these four companies, CryoSeed’s Genesis seed phrase storage seems to stand out most, offering a higher level of security for a reasonable price.
- CryoSeed is one of the best seed-phrase vaults available.
- It provides an encoding mechanism, where you can encode your seed phrase so that no one can access your funds.
- It is compatible with all BIP-39 standard wallets, including, Ledger, Trezor, MetaMask, Exodus, Trust Wallet, etc.
- It is made of marine steel plates that endure extreme temperatures. It also comes with a punch tool and handbook to guide you on encoding the seed phrase.
- You should keep your CryoSeed vault in a secret location.
Conclusion
To conclude, CryoSeed is one of the safest and easy-to-access seed phrase vaults available. Given that people are becoming more aware of the importance of self-custody wallets, the need for safe-storing seed phrases increases. Hence, CryoSeed offers just that, with a unique design and a reasonable price.
CryoSeed-Genesis fills a void left by other wallet backup providers. The patent pending ‘slide and clasp’ design allows the steel Genesis plates to be secured with any common key or combination lock (<6mm diameter bolt). The seed phrase encoding scheme translates seed words into a collection of points. These secret points are punched into the inner metal surface by the wallet owner using the included automatic punch tool to immortalize their seed phrase. In the event of a physical compromise, the lockable design and encoding scheme act as seed extraction hurdles and extend the window of opportunity to move funds to a secure wallet.
With an obsession for wallet security and UX, the lean CryoSeed (Seed Industries) team based in Berlin designs and prototypes elegant tools for self custody. The CryoSeed mission is to build a premium self custody brand with product offerings that help you ensure your cold seed phrase backup can endure the arrow of time. Founded in September 2021, CryoSeed aspires to make saving cool again. www.cryoseed.xyz
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is CryoSeed?
CryoSeed is a seed-phrase storage vault, which can store up to 24 words. It uses an encoding mechanism to safely store your seed phrase.
Is a lock Included with CryoSeed?
A lock is not included with a CryoSeed purchase. You will need to buy a lock in order to properly lock the steel plates.
How much is a CryoSeed vault?
The CryoSeed Genesis model costs $89. The CryoSeed Taylor Series (limited edition) costs $99.
Is CryoSeed safe?
Yes, CryoSeed is one of the safest options to store your seed phrase.
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