Executive Summary

Tangem is a cold storage hardware wallet built as an NFC card (and optional ceramic ring) that keeps private keys offline while enabling on-the-go usage via a smartphone. Users can choose a seedless flow or a conventional seed-phrase approach at setup. The device is battery-free, has no moving parts, and ships with a long hardware warranty (up to 25 years). Coverage spans 85+ blockchains and 16,000+ assets; the companion app supports buy/sell, send/receive, swaps (including cross-chain), staking, and WalletConnect for DeFi and NFTs.

What Is Tangem?

Tangem is a credit-card–sized hardware wallet (and an optional ceramic ring) with a secure microcontroller and NFC antenna. It does not contain a battery or fragile components. The wallet performs key generation and signing inside a certified, tamper-resistant chip and communicates by holding the card/ring near a NFC-enabled smartphone. The result is a compact cold-storage form factor that is easy to carry and discreet to use in daily life.

Pricing & Payment Options

• Typical bundle pricing: $50.90 for a set of 2 cards (≈ $25.45 per card); a $3-card pack often lists around $64.90 (≈ $21.64 per card). Taxes and shipping are extra. Periodic promos of ≈ 10% are common.
• Accepted payment methods: cards (Visa/Mastercard), bank transfer, PayPal, and crypto (BTC/ETH/LTC/USDC/DAI/BCH/USDT).

Assets & Chain Coverage

Tangem advertises support for 16,000+ cryptocurrencies across 85+ blockchains. New Layer-1 networks are reportedly added on a regular cadence based on community demand. This breadth makes the wallet suitable for diversified portfolios and NFT users who operate across multiple ecosystems.

Security Architecture

• Cold storage by design: private keys are generated and stored inside the secure element and never leave the device.
• Certified chip: secure element with EAL6+ evaluation, designed for robust protection against physical and side-channel attacks.
• Immutable firmware: firmware is locked; device behavior cannot be altered post-manufacture.
• Independent reviews: testing and assessments conducted by reputable security labs (e.g., Kudelski Security, Riscure).
• Open-source mobile app: the smartphone companion app codebase is publicly inspectable, enabling community scrutiny.

Seed options: At onboarding you can opt for a seed-phrase or a seedless flow. The latter removes seed handling from the process; however, operational backups and redundancy (e.g., multi-card sets stored separately) remain critical for recovery planning.

Setup & Everyday Use

Initial configuration is typically under 4 minutes: install the mobile app, tap the card/ring with your phone to activate, and follow the guided steps to create the wallet (choosing seed mode, setting protections, and confirming access). No cables, batteries, or desktop clients are required; all interactions occur via NFC and the mobile app. The card and ring are built to be physically robust, with high tolerance to environmental hazards (e.g., ESD and X-ray exposure) for durability in real-world scenarios.

Companion App Features

• Portfolio & Market view: integrated tokenomics and price data for quick checks and research.
• Buy/Sell/Send/Receive: straightforward on-ramps/off-ramps and transfers controlled by hardware signing.
• Swaps & Cross-Chain: in-app exchange flows, including select X-chain swaps, with clear fee and route breakdowns.
• Staking: delegate supported PoS assets directly from cold storage for passive income.
• WalletConnect: connect to DeFi dApps and NFT platforms from a cold signer—reduces hot-wallet exposure during on-chain operations.

Card vs Ring: Which Form Factor Fits?

The card mimics a standard payment card for wallet or pocket carry; the ring offers hands-free convenience and is equally NFC-enabled. Both use the same secure element and signing model. Travelers and power users often choose a 3-card kit or a card+ring combo to distribute recovery risk across multiple devices.

Fees & Cost of Ownership

• Hardware: one-time purchase cost for card/ring kits (see pricing above).
• On-chain operations: standard network fees set by each blockchain.
• Swaps/on-ramps: partner fees or spreads may apply depending on route, region, and liquidity.

The wallet itself does not charge a subscription. Effective costs are primarily network gas and optional third-party service fees.

Support & Documentation

The official knowledge base covers setup, recovery planning, and advanced usage. Users can escalate issues through in-app help flows or email, and community channels provide language-localized guidance (commonly English, German, French, Japanese, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian).

Risk Management & Pro Tips

• Redundancy: prefer multi-card kits; store backup cards in separate, secure locations.
• Seed discipline: if using a seed, write it offline, avoid photos/cloud, and consider metal storage for longevity.
• Seedless planning: understand recovery mechanics (additional cards, passcodes); simulate a recovery before depositing significant funds.
• dApp hygiene: verify contract addresses, limit approvals, and periodically revoke unused allowances via reputable tools.
• Physical security: treat the card/ring like a key to your vault; lost cards without prepared redundancy can mean lost access.

Where Tangem Fits vs Other Wallets

Use Tangem if you want cold-storage signing with a minimal, battery-free form factor that pairs with your phone for quick swaps, staking, and dApp access. Compared with traditional hardware wallets that rely on cables, screens, and batteries, Tangem emphasizes frictionless NFC and seedless onboarding while maintaining a certified secure element and offline key custody.

FAQ — Questions & Answers

Is Tangem safe compared to hot wallets?

Yes—Tangem is cold storage. Keys are generated and stored inside a secure element (EAL6+) and never leave the device. Attacks must overcome hardware protections and physical possession, which is a higher bar than typical hot-wallet threats.

Seed or seedless: which should I choose?

Seed suits users comfortable with traditional backups (paper/metal). Seedless removes seed handling but relies on multi-device redundancy and passcode discipline. For significant balances, test your recovery path first.

What if I lose the card or ring?

If you prepared redundancy (e.g., a 2- or 3-card kit), you can restore with the remaining device(s) and your credentials. Without redundancy—or a seed—loss can be irreversible.

Can I stake and swap directly?

Yes. The companion app supports staking for selected PoS networks and in-app swaps (including certain cross-chain routes), with on-screen fee/rate transparency.

Does Tangem work for NFTs and DeFi?

Yes. Connect through WalletConnect to NFT marketplaces and DeFi protocols. The hardware signs transactions, keeping private keys offline throughout.

What phones are compatible?

Any modern smartphone with NFC and the official app. No cables, no batteries, no desktop required.

How durable is the device?

The card/ring design is engineered for robustness, with resistance to common environmental stresses (e.g., ESD, X-rays). Warranty periods extend up to 25 years.

Are there recurring fees?

No subscription. You pay blockchain network fees and any optional partner fees for swaps or on/off-ramp services.