This Cypherock X1 review breaks down why this wallet prides itself on being unhackable. They also did the impossible by providing great features for users without compromising the quality of security required to make this crypto wallet formidable.
The Cypherock X1 is a hardware wallet. A cryptocurrency hardware wallet is a physical device that adds an extra layer of security to a crypto wallet, requiring direct access to the device to access the wallet or transfer funds. It enables self-custody of crypto assets, meaning the user keeps complete control over their private keys (which control the wallet and can be used to recover it). On that note, this Cypherock review covers everything you need to know about this product.
The Cypherock X1 is an innovative hardware wallet that enhances safety by distributing private keys across multiple devices. It comprises the Vault and four cards, each containing a portion of the private key. This mechanism adds redundancy and safety, ideal for security-conscious users and long-term investors. Ready to learn more? Let’s get started.
The Cypherock X1 hardware wallet costs $159 and offers enhanced security versus traditional hardware wallets by distributing private keys across five devices. It's a premium wallet with protective accessories, but it has a plastic construction. It can store thousands of crypto assets and NFTs. The X1 offers reasonable value and is best for security-focused users.
When you receive the Cypherock, it's packaged within a protective box but lacks a plastic seal. Upon opening the package, users see the hard case secured with a zip-tie containing the X1 Vault, cards, and accessories. While it lacks anti-tamper packaging, the X1's security mechanism ensures the device is legitimate and running the correct firmware.
The Cypherock is different from other hardware wallets. Because it splits private keys between cards, seed phrase backups are not required, so the wallet doesn't come with cards to write down your recovery phrase. However, users do receive:
Despite its size, the Cypherock X1 weighs 200 grams, which is relatively heavy compared to devices like the Ledger Nano X (34 grams), giving it a premium feel in the hand. The navigation joystick is smooth and robust, while the OLED screen is clear and readable in bright conditions. However, the device is mainly constructed using plastic, which lacks the tactile feel of metal.
Cryptocurrency hardware wallets are advanced devices unique to an emerging market. As such, some can be confusing or offer a poor user experience. Thankfully, learning how to use a Cypherock X1 is simple; just follow these steps:
We've included this Cypherock setup guide to simplify getting started with your wallet.
First, you'll need to download Cypherock's CySync software. It visualizes your crypto portfolio and helps users interact with their wallets. Never download CySync from a third-party source; only download it from the genuine Cypherock website.
The Cypherock X1 supports importing an existing BIP39 crypto wallet or generating an entirely new wallet.
To import a wallet, click 'Create Wallet' on the X1 Vault, then click 'Restore from Seedphrase,' select the length of your seed phrase, input the seed phrase, verify it, and sync it with your X1 Vault and cards. Cypherock also recommends that users destroy the paper backup seed phrase to enhance security, but it's not strictly required.
Setting up a new wallet is simpler. Click 'Create Wallet,' then use the 'Generate new Wallet' option and add a memorable name. Optionally (it's highly recommended), you can set up a PIN to add an extra layer of protection. However, you won't be able to access the wallet if you lose your PIN, so it's worth backing up.
After importing/generating a new wallet and enhancing your security, the Cypherock X1 is ready to use. You can access the wallet using your X1 Vault/cards and securely deposit, swap, buy, or transfer crypto.
Lastly, you should add some additional protection to your X1 wallet. There are three main measures:
Cypherock designed the X1 to be easy for beginners and powerful enough for advanced or professional crypto enthusiasts. Overall, the device is easy to use, and the setup is straightforward. Users can set up their Cypherock X1 wallet within just a few minutes. Still, there are a few quirks to be aware of:
While supported, the Cypherock X1 doesn't require users to set up or store a seed phrase backup. For novices, this eliminates one of the largest hurdles of using a cold wallet (secure seed phrase storage), but it can feel strange for people with hardware wallet experience.
Another aspect of the X1 that could take some getting used to is scanning cards to access your wallet. Instead of just connecting a device to a computer or phone and inputting a PIN, X1 users must scan multiple cards, which makes choosing convenient but secure storage locations even more crucial than usual.
While testing for our Cypherock review, we noted that the X1 features a small but clear 0.96” OLED screen. Opting for OLED over LCD enhances viewing angles but limits visibility in bright conditions. Navigation is responsive and uses a joystick, which is far more convenient for selecting menu options than cold wallets with the small touchscreens we've looked at.
The core purpose of a cold wallet is to store your digital assets safely and enhance your cryptocurrency security by requiring physical access to the device to manage assets, implementing special hardware security mechanisms, and keeping private keys offline. The Cypherock X1's core security features include:
The Cypherock X1 splits your private key into five parts using a special algorithm for secret sharing (Shamir's Secret Sharing). The parts are spread between the X1 Vault and four X1 cards, each boasting an anti-tamper chip.
By taking this five-part approach, the Cypherock X1 reduces the issue of theft or losing access to your wallet. Only two parts are required to access the wallet or initiate a factory reset (during which you can re-add missing cards). However, users can set a custom PIN to add a layer of protection, meaning a bad actor cannot access the wallet even if they have multiple parts.
Traditionally, hardware wallets store the private key or seed phrase within a hardware security chip (the Cypherock secure element) embedded within the device's circuitry. While these chips are tamper-resistant and often have self-erasure mechanisms when people try to gain unauthorized access, they introduce a single point of failure that can be catastrophic if exploited.
The Cypherock X1 wallet supports setting a custom 4-8 character PIN or personal identification number to add a layer of security that protects your assets even if a bad actor has physical access to your wallet. For better security, the X1 has an exponential time lock that locks the device for progressively longer periods, up to 100 years, when incorrect guesses are made.
Hardware crypto wallets typically enable setting a custom PIN to stop unauthorized access. Protecting your wallet's PIN is essential to ensuring your crypto security. As such, the best hardware wallets will have a method of preventing brute-force attempts, usually tied to device erasure or locking.
There are more 24-word seed phrase combinations than atoms in the universe. As such, Cypherock exclusively uses 24-word seed phrases. It uses a true random number generator integrated into the secure element to ensure entropy and randomness. While compatible with BIP39 wallets, Cypherock doesn't currently support BIP44.
In contrast to alternative cold storage solutions like Ledger and Trezor, the Cypherock X1 doesn't explicitly require users to create a seed phrase backup (although they can if they want to). The X1 segments and distributes the seed phrase across five devices, and users only need access to two to recover the wallet and send transactions.
If your wallet is lost or destroyed, having access to your crypto assets is crucial. Solely using a crypto wallet leaves you at severe risk. As such, it's common for people to create a seed phrase backup on paper, while some use metal seed phrase storage solutions. Either way, you're vulnerable if someone finds the backup, but Cypherock's system solves this problem.
Supply chain attacks pose a significant risk when purchasing a crypto wallet. Malicious actors could flash fraudulent firmware to a device or replace the wallet with a compromised version. To combat this issue, Cypherock adds unique public-private keys to the X1 Vault and cards, which must authenticate each other before the device can be used.
Criminals are also increasingly scanning and copying electronic devices' signals to trick them into specific actions. In response to this problem, Cypherock includes RFID-resistant card sleeves in the package, forming a Faraday cage that protects the cards against scans. A Faraday hard case for storing the device is also included in the box.
To prevent bad actors from flashing a malicious Cypherock firmware update onto a device, the X1 Vault has an unalterable record of the firmware installed on the device. When updating the firmware, the X1 crypto storage device compares the new firmware with previous versions and will abandon the upgrade if the updated firmware is older or lacks the correct signature.
Flash attacks are one of the most common ways of compromising a hardware wallet. They involve loading fraudulent or malicious firmware onto the drive, usually through social engineering or intercepting the firmware update process. If successful, the attacker can steal your private keys or conduct other malicious actions.
Cypherock lacks a hidden wallet in the capacity of Trezor, a completely secret wallet that users can only access by inputting a specific code. However, it lets users set up a PIN that they must enter to access the X1 hardware wallet, even if the user holds the X1 Vault and all the cards.
The Cypherock X1 takes a mixed approach to the open vs closed source debate. It uses a different Cypherock secure element for the X1 Vault and cards. Mixing elements enables the X1 Vault's code to be kept open source and verifiable while keeping the cards, which store 4/5 private key parts, closed source and proprietary, enhancing the device's overall security.
Open-source software has advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, it allows many people to review the code, making finding and patching issues or bugs much easier. It also lets people understand how the device works and verify that it operates as advertised.
By open-sourcing the code for a hardware wallet, hackers can more easily create an illegitimate software version for phishing or firmware attacks. Moreover, crypto cold storage devices handle sensitive data, and attackers could find and use an exploit for malicious purposes instead of reporting it so that the company can fix the issue.
Is Cypherock safe? This question can be tricky if you're not technically inclined or do not wish to examine the wallet and its software. However, independent security firm Keylabs, known for finding vulnerabilities in Trezor and Ledger devices, has audited and praised Cypherock for implementing many industry-leading measures and creating a secure crypto wallet.
While researching for our Cypherock X1 hardware wallet review, we found that in addition to passing a stringent security audit, the X1 card has earned an Evaluation Assurance Level rating of EAL6+, the second highest possible. As such, users can be sure that the X1 is independently verified as highly secure.
Even if the code is open source, the average person doesn't have the technical know-how or time to manually review a crypto wallet's software. They have many components and integrate bleeding-edge technology that most people will be unfamiliar with. As such, there is a need for independent verification through security audit companies.
The Cypherock X1 supports 60 major cryptocurrencies, including layer-1 projects like Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Avalanche, Solana, Tron, Matic, and Litecoin. However, it can store thousands more cryptocurrencies built on these networks. With many Cypherock coins supported, the device is excellent for mainstream investors and those trading lesser-known assets.
An offline wallet must support a solid variety of cryptos and have the capacity to store multiple assets. If your device lacks widespread asset support, it might be unable to store your entire portfolio, requiring you to give up certain investments to purchase a secondary hardware wallet, which is inconvenient and costly.
The Cypherock X1 accepts a reasonable selection of assets but excels in supporting assets created on other blockchains. The Ethereum wallet supports thousands of assets, adding more through Solana, Avalanche, Polygon, Arbitrum, Optimism, and Tron support, bringing the total to 9,000+. As such, altcoin traders could find it worthwhile to buy a Cypherock wallet.
The Cypherock X1 Vault supports the storage of assets created on another network, like Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). With the X1, users can connect to marketplaces like OpenSea, spend crypto, and receive an NFT. However, collectors should know that while the wallet is suitable for storing or transferring NFTs, there is no in-built gallery to view them.
Users regularly interacting with Decentralized Applications (dApps) will find the Cypherock X1 a solid device. It can connect to any dApp with WalletConnect support, enabling people to use the X1 with many of the most popular platforms. Connecting to dApps via the X1 drastically enhances security, as bad actors need physical device access to transfer assets.
People with a crypto software wallet with a provider like MetaMask can import their seed phrase to their Cypherock X1 to securely store private keys, manage their portfolio, and send/receive crypto assets.
The Cypherock X1 uses USB-C to charge and connect to a computer, which is highly convenient as USB-C is the latest standard for universal connectivity, meaning it's already widely used in homes for mobiles and computers. Moreover, the X1 Vault uses end-to-end encrypted NFC to communicate with the cards.
The types of connectors a hardware wallet offers can drastically impact its ease of use and connectivity. Ideally, a wallet should utilize a durable connector that users can easily insert into the device, can handle higher currents for faster charging, and is common enough that people will have a plug that accepts the connector.
While testing and researching for our Cypherock review, we were impressed by the device's compatibility with desktop operating systems and mobile devices. The Cypherock wallet and the cySync app are available on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It’s also available on mobiles running iOS and Android operating systems.
It should be noted that Android and iOS support are listed under future releases in the X1’s technical specifications on the product page. However, we found the app already available on the App Store and the Play Store.
Cypherocks' companion software is the CySync app, available on desktop computers and mobile devices (iOS, Android).
CySync supports multiple languages to cater to the international community, crypto-to-crypto swaps across 15 networks, support for managing up to four wallets simultaneously, real-time notifications for important events, WalletConnect support for linking to dApps, and a Binance Connect-powered fiat on-ramp.
Every hardware wallet, whether a Cypherock, Ledger, or Trezor, has companion software or an app that allows users to control their devices, manage their portfolios, and send/receive cryptocurrency. These tools are invaluable and unlock the full potential of a hardware wallet, as it would be highly inconvenient to manage a wallet and input addresses on small screens.
The Cypherock X1 does not support staking natively. Users wishing to enhance crypto networks by staking their assets can do so with the wallet, but they must use an external app that supports WalletConnect.
In addition to storing cryptocurrency, facilitating transfers, and connecting to decentralized applications, Cypherock enables fast and efficient crypto-to-crypto swaps within the CySync app. Moreover, the company offers a fiat on-ramp that accepts 20 payment methods and 15 fiat currencies, allowing users to conveniently buy and store crypto if they don't own any.
Unfortunately, the X1 doesn't connect directly to the top exchanges, which limits options for people who want to trade without moving their assets from a Cypherock device. However, traders can link the Cypherock X1 to platforms that support WalletConnect, which is relatively popular on decentralized exchanges (DEXs).
Instead of implementing a traditional multi-signature system for its Bitcoin wallet, Cypherock opted for a system using Shamir Secret Sharing (SSS). In practice, it fulfills a role similar to that of a multi-sig wallet. The private key is split across five devices, with two required for access. But, SS resolution is off-chain, while multi-sig is entirely on-chain.
Multi-signature wallets protect crypto wallets by requiring two or more signatures to approve transactions or wallet access, which adds significant security and substantially enhances a wallet's safety. However, it's not a universal standard, and support is mixed, so off-chain solutions like Shamir Secret Sharing are valuable.
Cost is one of the most significant considerations when selecting a cold storage solution for your crypto assets. Here are our findings for this Cypherock review:
The current Cypherock price is $159, on sale from its standard price of $199. Costs differ by country. For example, the Cypherock costs £129 in the UK (equal to $176) and €149 in Germany ($174). Users can purchase a replacement X1 Vault or card pack for $89 and $79, respectively. The hard case is available for $59.
Within the Cypherock X1 kit, users receive the Cypherock X1 Vault (the physical device with a screen and joystick for managing your wallet), four X1 cards (which store parts of your private key), four card RFID protectors, a USB-C cable, a webcam cover, and a branded Lanyard. Cypherock also includes a protective card case with the wallet.
At $159, the Cypherock is priced similarly to other premium devices. The Ledger Nano X costs $149, while the touchscreen Ledger Flex costs $249. Trezor's premium offering, the Safe 5, costs $169. However, these companies also offer lower-priced wallets like the Ledger Nano S Plus ($79) and the Trezor Safe 3, priced at $79.
Some other contenders for the best crypto wallets are cheaper. For example, Ellipal has unveiled the ELLIPAL X, which is NFC-enabled like the X1 and costs $69. It is a card-based crypto wallet with a vault similar to the Cypherock X1 but without private key sharding.
With the Cypherock priced at $159, is it a good purchase? The answer varies depending on your security preferences. Generally, hardware wallets are best for safety or privacy-conscious investors seeking maximum protection from a long-term storage solution. Other types of crypto wallets, such as hot wallets like MetaMask, are fine for temporary storage.
If you want one of the most secure wallets, appreciate its redundancy mechanisms, and like being able to distribute your seed phrase across multiple locations, then the Cypherock X1 is worth it. However, if you want a basic or cheap NFC-enabled alternative, the Trezor Safe 3 and the Ellipal X are solid options.
Comparing the wallet to a few other popular options makes it much easier for readers of our Cypherock review to understand how the X1 stacks up against competitors in the hardware wallet industry. Here are our findings:
| Hard Wallets | Security Architecture | Support Coins/Tokens | Price | Ease of Use | Connectivity | Display | Advanced Features | Build Quality | Customer Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cypherock X1 | Shamir Secret Sharing, Secure element | 9,000+ | $159 | Simple, but requires additional setup | USB-C, NFC | 0.96” OLED | Easy wallet recovery, doesn't require a seed phrase | Premium | Live chat, email, and FAQ |
| LedgerNano X | EAL5+ Secure Chip, custom OS | 22,493 | $149 | Easy | USB-C, Bluetooth | 1.09” OLED | Bluetooth, staking | High quality (metal and plastic) | Support center, AI bot, live chat |
| Trezor Safe 5 | EAL6+ secure chip, open source | 1,000+ | $169 | User-friendly | USB-C | 1.59” touchscreen | Touchscreen, Gorilla Glass screen | Premium (lightweight, touchscreen) | Knowledge center, AI bot, email ticket |
| BitBox02 Nova | EAL6+ Secure chip, open source | 1,500+ | $205 | Simple to use, connects to mobile | USB-C+ USB-A & lightning adapters, Bluetooth | 128 x 64 px OLED | Supports SD cards, buy/sell crypto, and optional insurance | Moderate (plastic) | Help center, AI bot, email |
| Tangem | EAL6+ secure chip | 1,000+ | $69.90 | Simple, fast setup | NFC | N/A | Doesn't require a seed phrase or redundancy | Basic | Help center, email |
Taking a more in-depth look at how the Cypherock X1 compares to other leading hardware wallets, we found these points interesting:
The Cypherock X1 is a premium hardware wallet offering a unique security methodology, unrivaled redundancy, and a solid build, albeit at a higher-than-average price. It most closely competes with offering premium options like the Ledger Nano X.
While it commands a relatively high price tag, the Cypherock X1 enables private keys to be split across devices, which can be stored globally, creating redundancy and adding significant security. As such, it's best suited to long-term investors willing to pay more in return for enhanced security and the ability to recover their wallets without a seed phrase.
Although it's primarily suited to people seeking maximum digital asset protection, Cypherock's support for multiple networks and all the tokens built on them makes it an attractive option for people trading altcoins or new/unknown projects. By eliminating the need for seed phrases, the X1 also caters to privacy-focused users wanting to avoid the vulnerability of paper backups.
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Hardware wallets are invaluable for storing crypto for extended periods. They add security by requiring physical device access to manage funds or initiate transactions. The Cyperock X1 innovates on standard designs by using a vault and card system, with the former being used to scan the cards and manage the wallet, and the latter storing private keys.
After extensive research and testing for our Cypherock review, we found that the wallet is highly functional. It can store 9,000+ assets, works on mobile and desktop, comes with basic exchange capabilities, can connect to dApps, and offers redundancy if some devices are lost or stolen. However, it has a relatively high price tag of $159 and a primarily plastic housing.
While its construction and cost leave something to be desired, the Cypherock's unique security methodology makes it one of the safest hardware wallets on the market. Moreover, the X1 comes with accessories like anti-RFID protective sleeves and a hard case, which help cement it as one of the most secure and best hardware wallets available.
The Cypherock CySync software is available on mobile devices running iOS or Android operating systems and desktop computers. The mobile app boasts the same core functionality as the desktop application, enabling users to store, send, receive, and swap thousands of crypto assets.
Cypherock created the X1 with redundancy in mind. It contains the Vault and four cards. You can lose two X1 cards and use or recover your wallet with the remaining ones. If you lose the X1 Vault and two cards, you can still recover your wallet by purchasing a new Vault and pairing it with your remaining X1 cards.
If you purchase a Cypherock X1 wallet for crypto security, you don’t have to worry about the company freezing your wallet and funds. It’s entirely non-custodial, meaning you have complete control over your assets and the private keys linked to your wallet. Cypherock or any other entity cannot freeze your wallet or take your assets.
Users can update their Cypherock X1 crypto wallets through the CySync desktop app. They’ll need to download the most recent firmware from the Cypherock website, connect the X1 Valut to a computer, and then the software will guide them through the installation process. The X1 uses a special mechanism to ensure the firmware you install is legitimate and new.