Beyond Ledger and Trezor: Top Seedless Wallets of 2024

Cryptocurrency has evolved from a nascent asset class into a mainstream financial revolution. As with anything involving substantial capital, security remains paramount. This is especially true for the crypto realm, which has long been plagued by frauds and scams.

Indeed, the crypto industry lost more than $573 million to hacks and scams across 72 incidents in the second quarter, according to Immunefi. Losses due to hacks and fraud in the crypto sector surged, with nearly $510 million stolen in the second quarter, marking a 70% increase from the $300 million stolen in the first quarter and a 112% rise from the $265.5 million stolen in the second quarter of 2023. Year-to-date, over $900 million has been lost to hacks and fraud, representing a 24% increase compared to last year, according to Immunefi.

Given the high number of frauds and scams in the cryptoverse, people are willing to invest to ensure their cryptos remain protected. Between hardware wallets, mobile wallets and desktop wallets, there's no shortage of crypto storage solutions. However, a vast majority of these wallets involve seed phrases — random words that store data required to access your crypto that you must either remember or stash away safely.

Enter seedless wallets, which eliminate the traditional, vulnerable seed phrases, enhancing both security and simplicity. 

This article will highlight the top seedless wallets, equipping you with the knowledge to make informed decisions about securing your digital assets.

What is a Seedless Wallet?

A seedless wallet is a modern type of cryptocurrency wallet that eliminates the traditional reliance on a seed phrase for account creation and recovery. Instead of using a single seed phrase, seedless wallets utilize advanced technologies like multi-party computation (MPC) or smart contracts. These technologies distribute the key generation and signing processes among multiple parties or devices, enhancing security and user experience.

Seedless wallets address the vulnerabilities associated with seed phrases by providing a more user-friendly and secure alternative. By removing the single point of failure inherent in seed phrases, these wallets aim to reduce the burden on users, making cryptocurrency management more accessible, especially for those new to the space.

For instance, multi-party computation (MPC) works like a team of security guards that each hold a piece of the vault combination. No single guard can open the vault alone, but together, they can unlock it securely. This way, even if one guard (or device) is compromised, the vault (your crypto assets) remains secure.

Similarly, smart contract-based wallets operate on automated agreements coded directly into the blockchain, ensuring that access and recovery processes are handled without the need for a seed phrase. This can be likened to having a programmable lock that can only be opened through a specific, automated procedure, making unauthorized access extremely difficult.

Seed Phrase vs. Seedless Wallets: Understanding the Difference

Traditional seed phrase wallets and the newer seedless wallets each have their advantages and drawbacks. Understanding these differences is essential for anyone looking to securely manage their digital assets.

Before we do a deep dive, here's a handy table on how the two stack up:

What is a Seed Phrase?

A seed phrase, also known as a mnemonic phrase, is a series of words — typically 12 to 24 — that serve as a master key to access a cryptocurrency wallet. This phrase is generated when a user creates a wallet and is crucial for recovering the wallet in case of loss or damage. The seed phrase allows users to regenerate their private keys, which are essential for signing transactions and accessing funds.

Seed Phrase Vulnerability

While seed phrases provide a straightforward recovery method, they also introduce significant vulnerabilities:

• Single Point of Failure: If a seed phrase is lost or stolen, the associated funds can be irretrievably lost. This has led to many users losing their assets due to simple mistakes, such as misplacing the phrase.
• Human Error: Users may forget their seed phrases or write them down insecurely, exposing them to theft or loss. The responsibility lies entirely with the user to safeguard this critical piece of information.
• Physical Threats: Seed phrases can be targeted by thieves. If someone gains access to the physical location where the seed phrase is stored, they can easily access the wallet and its funds.
• Digital Threats: Phishing scams and malware can compromise seed phrases, leading to unauthorized access to wallets. 

Seedless Wallets: A New Approach

Seedless wallets present an alternative to traditional seed phrase wallets. They leverage advanced technologies to enhance security and user experience.

Here are some key differences:

• Key Management: Instead of relying on a single seed phrase, seedless wallets utilize multi-party computation (MPC) or smart contracts to distribute key management across multiple parties or devices. This means that no single entity has complete control over the wallet, reducing the risk of loss or theft.
• User Experience: Seedless wallets often provide a more user-friendly experience. Users do not need to remember or securely store a seed phrase, which can be particularly beneficial for those new to cryptocurrency.
• Enhanced Security: By eliminating the reliance on seed phrases, seedless wallets mitigate the risks associated with human error and physical threats. The decentralized nature of key management means that even if one component is compromised, the wallet remains secure.
• Recovery Options: Seedless wallets often offer alternative recovery methods, such as biometric authentication or recovery through trusted contacts, making it easier for users to regain access to their funds without the stress of remembering a seed phrase.

Top Seedless Wallets

In this section, we will delve into the features, security measures and pricing (where applicable) of some of the best seedless wallets in the market today.

Core Wallet

Core is a non-custodial crypto wallet that allows users to manage digital assets and access decentralized applications. It is developed by Ava Labs, the company behind Avalanche. 

The wallet supports Avalanche, Ethereum, Bitcoin, and any custom network using the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). Core is available as:

• Web app
• Browser extension
• iOS app
• Android app

Security

Core leverages CubeSigner, a non-custodial signing service provided by Cubist, to manage secure social logins and key handling. This service uses secure hardware to generate and sign transactions, ensuring private keys remain confidential through robust encryption methods and a secure enclave. Additionally, accessing a Core account requires both login details and a physical authentication device, significantly reducing the risk of phishing and unauthorized access.

Core also incorporates a two-day waiting period for key export requests, adding another layer of protection against SIM swapping and ensuring only the rightful owner can export their keys​​. This layered approach enhances security, making Core a reliable option for securely managing digital assets. In short, the wallet packs a punch to the core, pun intended!

Zengo

Zengo is a secure crypto wallet with no private key vulnerability, utilizing industry-leading cryptography. Unlike centralized exchanges, only users can access, recover, or spend their funds. ZenGo employs MPC security, eliminating the need for seed phrases or passwords, and has been protecting crypto funds since 2018.

Account recovery with ZenGo is straightforward, requiring just an email, a storage service (iCloud, Google Drive, or Dropbox), and a selfie scan. The wallet supports a wide range of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Polygon, Dogecoin, and many others.

It's available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Security

Utilizing secure MPC and threshold signatures, ZenGo replaces traditional private keys with two independently created mathematical secret shares: one stored on the user's mobile device and the other on ZenGo's server. These shares never interact, ensuring no single point of failure and maintaining asset safety even if one share is compromised.

Wallet backup is simple, with an encrypted copy of the device share stored on the ZenGo server and the decryption code in the user's personal cloud account. Access requires a biometric face scan to decrypt the share. Wallet recovery is quick, involving a face scan to decrypt the device share on a new device.

Zengo Pro

A premium service, costing around $9.99 per month, offers additional features such as legacy transfer (transferring assets to a trusted friend or family member), Web3 firewall, asset theft protection, and private transaction mode for enhanced privacy and security.

👉 Sign Up For Zengo

Creso

Creso is a non-custodial seedless wallet that simplifies the Web3 journey, making it secure, gasless, and user-friendly.

Features

• Gasless Transactions: Creso allows users to manage gas fees using any token, with apps or friends covering the costs, ensuring smooth transactions.
• Social Recovery: Users can recover their wallets using familiar logins like email, Google, and Apple, and can add guardians for additional security.
• Assets: Supports various cryptocurrencies that are compliant with the Ethereum blockchain, primarily focusing on ERC-20 tokens. The wallet allows users to manage any ERC-20 token, including the native Creso token (CRE).

It's important to note that there’s currently a waiting list that must be joined to apply for the wallet. You can find out more in the Creso whitepaper.

Security

Creso leverages the ERC-4337 standard to provide a secure and intuitive wallet experience. By eliminating the need for seed phrases, it reduces the risk of losing access due to misplaced recovery phrases. Social recovery mechanisms ensure that users can regain access to their wallets even if they lose their primary device, and the use of 2FA enhances security by requiring verification from multiple sources​​.

Argent

Argent is a popular smart wallet for StarkNet, trusted by over 2 million users. It offers the ability to buy and trade crypto, stake ETH, and manage NFTs. Argent is available for iOS, Android, and as a browser wallet for Chrome. It supports Ethereum and StarkNet.

The wallet emphasizes security with features like two-factor authentication and built-in fraud protection. Argent is praised by industry leaders such as Vitalik Buterin, Stani Kulechov, and Wouter Kampmann for making DeFi user-friendly and secure. Users can buy crypto with card, bank transfer, or Apple Pay, and enjoy low fees and high speeds for transactions and staking.

Wallet Variants:

• Argent Vault: Built for the highest security on Ethereum Layer 1, ideal for wallets with significant assets. Argent Vault offers multisig security, allowing users to set Guardians (trusted contacts or devices) to approve transactions with untrusted addresses. This wallet also includes biometric authentication and trust lists for secure transactions. You can hold all Ethereum ERC-20, ERC-721 and ERC-1155 tokens in your wallet.
• Argent X: A web browser extension wallet designed for StarkNet, allowing users to manage StarkNet accounts and interact with decentralized applications built on StarkNet. Argent X offers enhanced security with two-factor authentication, real-time fraud protection, and multisig support. It is the most popular StarkNet wallet, with over 2 million downloads​.
• Argent StarkNet Mobile Wallet: A mobile wallet exclusively for StarkNet, providing all the benefits of StarkNet’s layer-2 scaling solution on a user-friendly mobile platform. It enables faster and cheaper transactions.

Security:

Argent uses a smart contract-based approach to replace the traditional private key model. Guardians — trusted individuals or devices — can help recover the wallet if needed, significantly reducing the risk of losing access due to lost or stolen credentials. Additionally, features like transfer limits and account freezing offer enhanced security against unauthorized transactions. Argent’s security measures include two-factor authentication, real-time fraud protection, and open-source code for transparency.

NuFi

NuFi is a versatile seedless wallet that offers a comprehensive solution for managing, storing, and staking cryptocurrencies and digital assets. It allows you to log in with social accounts like Google, creating a non-custodial wallet without the need to store a seed phrase.

Features:

• Multi-Chain Portfolio: Manage assets and accounts across different blockchains, including Cardano, Ethereum, Solana, Polygon and more
• Multi-Chain Staking: Stake your crypto and earn rewards effortlessly. Enjoy automatic rewards re-staking for supported blockchains.
• NFT Gallery: Manage your NFTs across various blockchains in one gallery.
• Web3 DApp Connectivity: Connect to multiple DApps, including NFT marketplaces, DEXes, DeFi platforms, and metaverses, even if they don't directly support NuFi Wallet, thanks to Wallet Emulation mode.
• Buy and Trade: Buy and trade over 400 assets with an integrated crypto exchange and options to purchase crypto with a card.
• Integrated Cardano DEX: Swap tokens on the Cardano blockchain directly within the wallet.
• Effortless Migration: Import your existing crypto wallet in under 30 seconds.
• Hardware Wallet Compatibility: Manage your hardware wallet accounts through NuFi’s interface.
   

NuFi integrates two-factor authentication (2FA) to secure user accounts, reducing the risk of unauthorized access. The wallet’s recovery options allow users to regain access using their social accounts, mitigating the risks associated with traditional seed phrases. Additionally, NuFi uses technology from Torus and Web3Auth to split and securely store private key shards, which are reconstructed upon user authentication. This ensures that the private key remains secure and that only the user can access their wallet.

Cypherock X1

Cypherock X1 is a hardware wallet that offers enhanced security and convenience for managing a wide range of cryptocurrencies. Unlike traditional hardware wallets, it employs a seedless approach using multiple encrypted NFC-based smart cards. Now that's cool.

In addition to no seed phrase vulnerability, the wallet's other features are:

• Audited by Keylabs: Ensures robustness, having been tested by the firm known for identifying vulnerabilities in major hardware wallets like Trezor and Ledger.
• Decentralized Private Keys: Utilizes Shamir Secret Sharing cryptographic technique to split the private key into five parts, enhancing security by decentralizing the storage.
• Geographical Distribution of Keys: Allows storing each part of the split key in different locations for added security.
• Simplified Transaction Process: Requires just one of the four cards to be tapped on the wallet for transactions, maintaining security while simplifying the process.
• Elimination of Single Points of Failure: Reduces the risk of total loss by not relying on a single seed phrase or storage point.
• Manage Multiple Wallets: Users can import up to 4 private keys, allowing for shared device use or multi-wallet management.
• Bank-Grade Security: Each card is EAL6+ certified, and the ATECC608A and STM32L4 components have no known hardware vulnerabilities.
• DeFi and DApp Access: Access decentralized finance through Wallet Connect.
• 3-Factor Authentication: Combines the Cypherock X1 device, X1 card, and pin for ultimate protection.
• Inheritance Feature: Upcoming feature to enable passing crypto to loved ones.
• Cypherock Cover: The industry's first multi-chain, non-custodial, and non-KYC inheritance-style recovery service for crypto.
• Multi-Asset Support: Supports over 9,000 digital assets, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and many ERC-20 tokens.

Security

Cypherock X1’s security model involves splitting the private key into four shards, each stored on an NFC card. The wallet requires two out of these four cards to sign transactions, making it extremely secure against physical and digital threats. If the wallet or any card is lost, the remaining cards still protect the assets. This system also supports viewing the seed phrase for transferring assets if needed. The wallet incorporates dual chip architecture with secure elements (EAL 6+) for offline key computation and storage.

Price

The Cypherock X1 is priced at $159.

👉 Sign Up for Cypherock

Tangem

Tangem features a user-friendly card-shaped design, prioritizing accessibility and ease of use. It includes NFC capabilities, supports a wide range of cryptocurrencies, and offers enhanced security with concealed private key generation. Tangem eliminates third-party risks for buying, selling, and trading within the wallet and removes recovery seed vulnerabilities. This makes it especially appealing to less tech-savvy users in the crypto space.

Here are the wallet's top features:

Convenience and Accessibility:

• NFC capabilities for easy access.
• Wallet activation in less than 3 minutes.
• Manage, buy, sell, and swap cryptocurrencies directly from the wallet.
• Compatible with DeFi and DApps via Wallet Connect.
• No need to charge the card.

Multi-Wallet Management: Ability to manage multiple wallets and private keys.

Extensive Cryptocurrency Support:

• Access to thousands of digital assets with live tickers and price comparisons.
• Integrated exchange for buying and trading over 400 assets.
• Support for staking various cryptocurrencies (coming soon).

Future-Ready:

• Inheritance feature for passing crypto to loved ones (coming soon).
• Multi-chain, non-custodial & non-KYC inheritance-style recovery service.

Security

Tangem Wallet ensures top-level security with an EAL6+ security standard, having been audited by Kudelski Security and Riscure. It features biometric security and access code protection. The Tangem Chip, developed in collaboration with Samsung Semiconductor, offers high resistance to dust, water, temperature extremes, X-rays, electromagnetic pulses, and electrostatic discharge.

Price

Tangem wallets are priced from $54.90, with options for two-card or three-card sets.

👉 Sign Up For Tangem

How Seedless Wallets Enhance Security and User Experience

Every industry evolves with the idea of bringing more value to the customers, and the crypto wallet industry is no exception. The stakes are high, for real, and the fast-paced technological advancements continue to drive the crypto world towards newer, better and safer options. Seedless wallets are revolutionizing the cryptocurrency landscape by addressing major security concerns associated with seed phrases and improving user experience.

Here’s how they achieve these benefits:

Addressing Seed Phrase Vulnerabilities

Seed Phrase Risks:

Seed phrases, or mnemonic phrases, are a common method for wallet recovery in traditional crypto wallets. However, they present significant risks:

• Single Point of Failure: If the seed phrase is lost or stolen, the user can lose access to their entire wallet.
• Human Error: Users may forget or improperly store their seed phrases, leading to potential loss or theft.
• Physical and Digital Threats: Seed phrases can be targeted by both physical theft and digital attacks, such as phishing and malware.

The Seedless Wallet Solution:

Seedless wallets mitigate these risks by eliminating the need for a seed phrase altogether. They use advanced technologies such as multi-party computation (MPC) and smart contracts for secure key management and recovery.

• Multi-Party Computation (MPC): This technology splits the private key into multiple parts and distributes them across different devices or parties. No single entity holds the complete key, reducing the risk of loss or theft.
• Smart Contracts: These are automated agreements that handle wallet recovery and key management without relying on a seed phrase. They enhance security by ensuring that the recovery process is secure and transparent.

Enhancing User Experience

Ease of Use

Seedless wallets significantly improve the user experience by simplifying the setup and recovery processes.

• Simple Onboarding: Users can create wallets using familiar methods such as social logins (e.g., Google or Apple accounts) without needing to write down or remember a seed phrase. This lowers the barrier to entry for new users.
• Intuitive Recovery: Wallet recovery is straightforward and can be done through trusted contacts or devices, reducing the stress and complexity associated with seed phrases.

Enhanced Security Features

Seedless wallets also offer advanced security features that contribute to a better user experience:

• Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Adding an extra layer of security by requiring verification from another device or method before completing transactions.
• Biometric Authentication: Some seedless wallets support biometric security measures, such as facial recognition or fingerprint scanning, making it easier and more secure for users to access their wallets.

Choosing a Crypto Wallet: Factors to Consider

With the growing popularity of seedless wallets, users must consider several factors to ensure they select a wallet that meets their needs. Here’s a basic guide to help you navigate the selection process, focusing on security, ease of use, and support for various cryptocurrencies.

Security

Encryption and Key Management
Look for wallets using strong encryption protocols to protect private keys. Advanced security measures like multi-party computation (MPC) distribute key shares among multiple parties or devices, reducing the risk of loss or theft.

Recovery Options
Ensure the wallet offers alternative recovery methods, such as recovery through trusted contacts or biometric authentication. This is essential for regaining access to your funds if you lose your device.

Reputation
Research the wallet’s reputation within the crypto community. Check user reviews and feedback regarding security incidents or vulnerabilities. A strong track record is generally a safer choice.

Ease of Use

User Interface
Opt for wallets with intuitive and user-friendly interfaces. A well-designed platform simplifies asset management, transactions, and accessing support.

Onboarding Process
The wallet should offer a straightforward onboarding process. Look for wallets that simplify account creation and provide clear instructions for new users.

Customer Support
Consider the availability of responsive customer support. A support team can quickly resolve issues, enhancing your overall experience.

Mobile and Desktop Compatibility
Check if the wallet is available on multiple platforms, such as mobile and desktop. This flexibility allows you to manage your assets on the go or from your preferred device.

Support for Various Cryptocurrencies

Supported Assets
Ensure the wallet supports a wide range of cryptocurrencies, including popular options like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and emerging altcoins. This diversity allows you to manage all your assets in one place.

Integration with Exchanges
Some wallets offer integration with cryptocurrency exchanges, enabling you to buy, sell, or swap assets directly from the wallet. This feature can save time and simplify the trading process.

Future Updates
Look for wallets that frequently update their software to support new cryptocurrencies and features. This commitment to innovation indicates that the wallet will evolve with the market.

Top Seedless Wallets: Closing Thoughts

Seedless wallets address major security concerns associated with traditional seed phrases. These wallets utilize advanced technologies such as multi-party computation (MPC) and smart contracts, which distribute key management across multiple devices and eliminate single points of failure.

This significantly reduces the risk of loss and theft, providing a more secure environment for managing digital assets. The elimination of seed phrases and the incorporation of features like social logins and biometric authentication simplifies the setup and recovery processes, making cryptocurrency management more accessible, especially for beginners.

Nevertheless, users should understand the importance of choosing wallets with strong reputations and proven security measures.