Online, mobile or a hardware wallet, all types are available for Ethereum, for storing and processing Ether. Quite a few of them already support Ethereum’s specialty - smart contracts. There is also an official Ethereum wallet.
Mist - the Official Ethereum Wallet (Desktop)
Mist is a desktop wallet that stores private keys on your computer. After it synchronizes with the network, you are required to set a password to start using it. The password is your only access to the insides of your wallet, so don’t lose it.
Mist runs on Windows, Mac and Linux and no registration or personal information is required to use the wallet.
Besides sending, receiving and storing ETH, the official Ethereum Wallet is the gateway to daps on the blockchain, as it allows to create, deploy and use smart contracts.
Trezor (Hardware Wallet)
Trezor was first created to be used with Bitcoin, but it can be used for Ethereum as well, with the use of MyEtherWallet web interface.
Ledger Nano S (Hardware Wallet)
Another hardware wallet where Ether is stored offline directly on the device. Whenever you want to spend Ether, Ledger Nano S signs it using the private key stored on the device.
Jaxx (Mobile Wallet)
The multi-asset wallet by the Canadian company Decentral, supports multiple cryptocurrencies and ETH is one of them. Jaxx is elegantly designed and features robust security. Private keys never leave the device. Jaxx supports smart contracts.
Jaxx wallet runs on desktops on Windows, Mac OS, Linux or as an extension in Chrome and Firefox, it also has a mobile app for both Apple and Android.
Ethereum is stored in special wallets that consist of private and public keys (see above). There’s a huge number of cryptocurrency wallets with different features and it’s hard to recommend one that would cover all your needs. Let’s see the major differences between various wallets.
They represent the so-called cold wallets, meaning they operate offline - unless a payment needs to be made. Hardware wallets store your private keys on a storage medium, and usually connect to a computer via USB to make a payment transaction, after entering a pin. Easy to use with a high level of security. The best Ethereum hardware wallets are Trezor Model T, Trezor One.
You can download and install these on your computer. They will only work and be accessible on this single computer. They are among the most secure wallets, unless your computer gets hacked or attacked by a virus. The best desktop Ethereum wallets are Ledger Nano X, Ledger Nano S, Ledger Blue.
Online wallets run on a server and can be accessed from any device at any location. They are the most convenient to use, but remember that your private keys are stored online and with a third-party - the probability of hackers’ attacks and theft is higher. The most reliable online Ethereum wallets are Jaxx, Blockchain wallet, CoinSpot.
These don’t offer as much functionality compared to desktop wallets, however their convenience lies in the fact that you always have the wallet with you and can use it anywhere, e.g. to pay at a retail store. The best mobile Ethereum wallets are Jaxx, Ethereum, MyEtherWallet.
Although it sounds strange or even funny to talk about paper wallets in connection with a digital currency, they exist - in the form of printed-out private and public keys. Because of their physical (and offline) nature, they provide a very high level of online security.
There’s no single answer. It is best to realize what is the desired purpose of the wallet. If you want to use it to regularly pay and receive small amounts of Ethereum, then mobile or online wallet makes sense due to their ease of use. If however, you want to use the wallet to hold a small Ethereum fortune then security should be your priority. The range of devices you use the most often will also help determine what wallets are best for you, as there is at least one for each type of device.
It is best to approach Ethereum wallets as you would your regular money - cash and credit card is used for small payments (hot wallets-mobile), while your savings sit securely in a saving account (cold wallet-hardware), or spread out in several investments. Choosing a wallet which makes the private key with which you dispose of your cryptocurrency visible only to you is most important. Our top picks for Ethereum would be Trezor Model T and Trezor One for a secure storage of your private keys.
Getting a Ethereum adress is easier than it looks. For this you will need to set up a Ethereum wallet of your choice. Check out our wallets section for advice on which type of wallet will suit you best. Once you've set up a wallet, for receiving or sending coins your wallet client will each time generate a unique Ethereum adress.
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