-
Ellipal Titan – Crypto Hardware Wallet (2020 Updated) – FIRST LOOK!
Is the new Ellipal Titan crypto hardware wallet all hype? Or is it the real deal? In this article we are going to take a FIRST LOOK at the mobile hardware wallet. So, the Ellipal Titan appears to be a very unique and interesting cold storage hardware wallet and is the second generation wallet after the Ellipal 2.0 wallet and is unlike any other hardware wallet on the market.
This device is currently available for pre-order and should start shipping it’s first units by mid-August of this year, so make sure to check out the bonuses for pre-ordering with the special referral links I will have below. This is known as the only “True” offline hardware wallet.
It has zero ports, USB connections, Wifi connections, Bluetooth connections, Cellular connections and NFC connections. This thing is built like fort knox! It has a form factor similar to that of Cobo Vault, but I will have a written review for that device HERE.
So how do you use it if you can’t connect it? QR codes. The device has a camera and a 4-inch full touchscreen and resembles a small android smartphone. It connects with a smartphone app where you can transfer funds between the hot wallet to the air-gapped device almost instantly through scanning the QR code. Very cool.
Before we dive deeper into the details of this device and how it differs from other crypto hardware wallets out there, I want to make sure you get the free download of my e-book “5 Best Ways To Secure Your Cryptocurrency“. This a comprehensive guide to how to best manage and secure any cryptocurrency you currently have, whether you are a beginner or a crypto veteran! Let’s get right down to the Ellipal Titan!
Ellipal Titan: Whats In The Box?
The Ellipal Titan device comes with the same items in the box as the Ellipal 2.0, with the only difference being that there is a magnetic adapter that connects to the bottom of the device. This adapter includes the charging port and SD card slot port for updating firmware and signing offline transactions. The Ellipal 2.0 device has these on the device itself, whereas the titan has no ports or openings on it whatsoever, making it stronger and more secure.
Box includes:
- ELLIPAL Titan Cold Wallet
- Rechargeable battery
- Charging cable
- Mnemonics card
- Warranty card
- User manual
Ellipal 2.0 Vs. Ellipal Titan
So this device is similar in it’s form factor to the Ellipal 2.0 device, with some key differences. Firstly, this device built for Anti-Tampering, Anti-Disassembly, and Anti-Theft protection. What does that all mean? Well, to put it simply, this thing is cannot be pried open with any tools like a screwdriver, hammer, etc…
Ellipal Titan has a self destruct mechanism in place, so that if the screen is tampered with or crushed or broken in an attempt to gain access to it’s internals, it will break a special circuit board that holds all your private keys. This is powerful. Additionally, it’s very sturdy, so not only is it IP65 rated for dust and water resistance, but its made out of a very strong single piece of metal that houses and encompasses the entire device.
The Ellipal Titan is specifically designed against evil maid of supply chain attacks so nothing can be imported or inserted as there are no open access ports on the device.
The Ellipal 2.0 is still a very strong and secure device, but it does have a durable exterior that is built for abuse, and it also has an SD card slot for updating it’s firmware on the device and also has a charging cable port, so there are 2 entry points. Again, still very secure, but the Ellipal Titan is really a massive upgrade.
How Do You Set Up An Air-Gapped Device?
This is very simple. It pairs with a mobile app that is available for iOS and Android. This helps you initialize and setup the device and generate all QR codes needed to transfer your funds from the hot wallet app, onto the cold storage device. This process is identical to the Ellipal 2.0 process, however, you now have access to longer PIN’s and extra security features.
There is a full step-by-step setup guide for both Ellipal devices HERE
What Coins Are Supported?
This is always the section I check the most when reviewing hardware wallets, because although functionality and security are important, none of that matters unless it supports the coins you want to store offline. So here is the current list of supported coins and the one that are currently in development.
Currently, all coins will be supported fully by both devices. They are also developing new coin support as well with frequent firmware updates. This includes: Tezos (XTZ), Zcash (ZEC), NANO (NANO), STEEM( STEEM), and NEO (NEO) just to name a few.
Decentralized Exchange Support
I will briefly touch on this as it’s definitely worth mentioning. This feature allows you to not only have direct coin to coin conversion, but it also allows for staking, for instance on the upcoming Tezos support and other POS coins.
It connects to Binance DEX, which is a decentralized exchange and looks very promising. Additionally, you will be able to earn interest and manage your staking rewards offline in future firmware upgrades, which is a HUGE selling point for me.
Conclusion
Overall, I’m very excited to get this device in my hands and write an in depth review on it. I already pre-ordered the device for $149 and I expect to receive it 3-5 weeks when it’s released. This appears to be a truly unique and air-gapped hardware wallet experience and security is really what it comes down to.
Don’t get my wrong, convenience is also important, but Ellipal really brought a unique form of security to the table here by having a very rugged and durable device that has ZERO online connections. You can transfer your crypto funds between its companion hot wallet and vice versa anytime, but the cold wallet never goes online, which is really cool.
For a limited time, you can also get a FREE mnemonic metal recovery seed (a $49 value) when you pre-order the device. This is a STEAL, as this is something I practice myself and believe it is absolutely NECESSARY for any person who takes their crypto seriously.
I also wrote a review recently on a few metal recovery seed wallets and my favorite one HERE, if you want to educate yourself on why they are so important. I will leave the special referral link below to get this device, and I for one am VERY excited to use it and see how “durable” it really is.
What do you guys think? Have you ever used a device more secure than this for your crypto? Let me know below!
Cheers,
The Crypto Renegade
NOTE: This post may contain affiliate links. This adds no cost to you but it helps me focus on giving as much value as possible in every single post by being compensated for recommending products that help people succeed.
-
Ellipal Titan Pre-Order Extends To 9/15! [SPECIAL OFFER BELOW]
The Ellipal Titan Pre-Order has been officially extended until September 15th, 2019! This can be considered bad news by some, but for people that are still wanting to get a great deal on the wallet, it’s a fantastic opportunity. This device has a lot of upgraded features from the previous generation wallet (Elllipal 2.0) and has been built like a tank. This completely air-gapped crypto hardware wallet is very exciting and I look forward to having a detailed review on it as soon as I receive one.
I received a notification that my pre-order which was originally scheduled to be sent out by August 15th, has had a small delay, so I thought this would be a good opportunity for people to get a great deal on this device as the demand is heating up. And if you don’t pick one up until after the September launch date, you may be waiting a long while as there appears to be some significant demand, and therefore, some extra delays.
I recently wrote an in-depth first look of this device and you can find it HERE. As you can see in the image below, you can now get the Ellipal Titan Pre-Order for only $149 ($20 off) AND you’ll get a FREE metal mnemonics plate for an indestructible recovery seed solution. This device is very similar to that of CryptoSteel and CryptoTag, which can cost anywhere from $89-$215 just for the metal recovery seed device, let alone the hardware wallet itself, so it really is an AMAZING value.
Ellipal Titan Pre-Order – Overview
I go into detail with this device over on this article, but I wanted to go over the primary benefits to this upcoming device that you will be hard-pressed to find with any other crypto hardware wallet currently available.
- This device has ZERO connections to the internet. This means no, WIFI, BLUETOOTH, CELLULAR, NFC or USB. This means that itis not subject to any network or remote attacks or any kind.
- This device is built like a tank. Seriously, this is the world’s first metal, fully sealed (ZERO PORTS) air-gapped security device. Most devices have at least a port for USB for charging, but this device cleverly uses a connector for charging the device that is magnetic, so it is literally air tight.
- The device is set to self destruct if it attempts to be tampered with. What does that mean? The device internals will self-destruct if you attempt to open it to extract any private keys or any other sensitive data.
- The Ellipal Titan is specifically designed to prevent evil maid attacks and supply chain attacks, which have been prevalent in other types of wallets.
Additionally, this device has received an upgraded user experience from the previous generation Ellipal 2.0 cold wallet. Some new features include: New dark mode, finance function and exchanges have been updated and is now connected to the Binance DEX (Decentralized Exchange), and easier backup and recovery.
Existing Users get 50% Off – See Below
During this pre-order period up to September 15th, 2019, you can purchase the Ellipal Titan Pre-Order for 50% off if you currently have a the Ellipal 2.0 device. This is a special incentive for people that have already purchased the original Ellipal 2.0 device at any period of time. This is an excellent deal if you’re looking for a massive upgrade or if you just want to add a secondary wallet to your arsenal.
Conclusion
All in all, this is one of the hardware wallets I’m very excited for in 2019. This is very similar to the Cobo Vault wallet, (which I will leave a review for HERE), but this is a much cheaper option for a lot of the same functionality, security, and durability. I would say this is the closest device to that one in terms of comparison. These are very robust devices and are built for the above average crypto user. This is also for someone that takes their security VERY seriously and wants to “HODL” long term in the safest way possible.
I will say, that if you plan on using these devices on a regular basis (i.e. trading, daily transactions, etc…), this probably isn’t the best wallet for you. Why? This has many steps to authorize and sign transactions, which is great from a security standpoint, but is really not ideal for the heavy daily user. For me? I use the KeepKey device as my daily user wallet, as they just launched a very user friendly new platform that makes it super easy to trade and manage your portfolio.
With KeepKey, you don’t even have to KYC in order to use the hardware wallet and make transactions, but if you want to trade and still keep your private keys in your possession, I would highly recommend it as your “daily use” crypto hardware wallet, as that’s what I currently use on a day-to-day basis.
What do you think? Are you excited for the Ellipal Titan cryptocurrency hardware wallet? Let us know down below in the comments!
Cheers,
The Crypto Renegade
NOTE: This post may contain affiliate links. This adds no cost to you but it helps me focus on giving as much value as possible in every single post by being compensated for recommending products that help people succeed.
-
Cobo VAULT Review | The “Self-Destructing” Crypto Hardware Wallet? (2020)
Is the Cobo Vault the best unbreakable crypto hardware wallet of 2019? Is it as tough and inpenetrable as they claim? Stay tuned for the whole Cobo Vault Review to find out! I recently wrote an article on an upcoming device that appears to be directly competing with this product called the Ellipal Titan. If you want to read that review after this one to get kind of a side-by-side comparison, you can check out the in-depth first look of that device HERE.
Overall, my first impression of this device was very good. It appears to be targeting an entirely different segment of the cold storage crypto wallet market, which is something I obviously follow quite closely. They are marketing this as a “Military Grade Durability and Security” device, which is definitely the case as it has all the proper ratings a certifications to protect against impact, water resistance, and shock resistance to ensure it is as rugged as humanly possible.
If you are new to cryptocurrency security in general, please check out my free e-book HERE. This dives in deep on the basic (and some advanced) security tips on how to best manage your cryptocurrency by learning from my mistakes. I guarantee you will learn something new and it will help you on your crypto journey! So, let’s get to why you are here and jump right into the Cobo Vault Review. Let’s do this!
What’s In The Box?
There’s a lot of bang for your buck here and certainly attempts to justify it’s current price tag of $479. This is no ordinary crypto hardware wallet, this thing is very different than Ledger, Trezor, and KeepKey as there are no active ports or USB connectors to allow you to interface with this product. I will get more into this in the next section, but needless to say this is a unique device!
Here’s what comes in the box:
-Cobo Vault Hardware Wallet (4 inch touchscreen)
-The Cobo “Vault” (Houses The Device)
-A Removable 1540 mAH Battery
-Charging Dock
-USB-C Cable (For Charging)
-Mnemonic Steel Recovery Seed Device
-Steel Tiles For Recovery Seed Phrase
-Small Screwdriver
-Instruction Booklet
The box is very large and feels heavy when you get it because of the steel grade quality of all of the components. There is an unboxing video below that will explain how this all works and gives you a visual cue of everything that is included and what each piece is used for.
The most “compelling” piece to me here is the steel mnemonic tablet that is used to secure your 24 word seed phrase. This is TYPICALLY used by other providers by writing it down on paper, which is vulnerable to the elements. These devices can cost upwards of $300 by itself, so this is a HUGE value add and absolutely necessary for anyone that takes their cryptocurrency security seriously.
If you are not familiar with what this and why it’s needed, you can read an in-depth review of the best standalone titanium recovery seed backup HERE.
Setup And Use
This device has NONE of the following connections:
WIFI
USB
BLUETOOTH
NFC
CELLULAR
This means that it is completely off the grid. So how do you use it and set it up? QR Codes. The device has a 5-MP camera for scanning QR codes on Cobo’s website and then the companion app for managing assets from their hot wallet over to the offline device.
This is a very prolonged and arduous process. In terms of security, this is a VERY good thing. It’s like having a 7-step authentication system. However, for ease of use, it’s a killer, and most wallets try to strike a balance between ease of use and security. Cobo does not appear to care about what it’s competition is doing in this regard, since it’s breaking out into it’s own little sub-niche of cold wallet security. Here are the steps I had to follow to setup and use the device:
1.) Download the “Cobo” mobile app
2.) Power on the Cobo Vault device
3.) Go through the recovery seed phrase process. This includes writing it down and verifying it through the touch screen
4.) Set a custom passphrase that has stringent requirements including multiple special characters and at least 10 characters minimum.
5.) Scan the QR code on Cobo’s website to authenticate the firmware and authenticity of the device.
6.) Once authenticated, you scan a dynamic and ever-changing QR code on the companion mobile app to initiate transactions
7.) If you want to receive any payment directly on the device, you just generate a QR code and your sender can scan the code to initiate. If you want to send a transaction, follow the steps 2-6 above and repeat the process.
Features: What Makes It Inpenetrable?
So, in addition to having a water resistant, shock resistant, and using “Military Grade” materials and configuration, it also has a “Self-Destruct” mechanism if it expects foul play. Let me explain. The device cannot be hacked through any ports or any wireless type connections. However, if someone tries to extract the private keys manually, the chip will have a timer initiate a countdown. If the screen is broken or if the device is opened up internally in any way, it will completely wipe the device.
If this happens, the only way to restore this is through your recovery seed phrase that you now have in stainless steel thanks to having it included in the box. This can be imported to any BIP-32, 39, 44 wallet to restore your funds with this seed phrase.
Additionally, if someone tries to steal the device and initiate a transfer of the funds through their own Cobo Vault, they will not be able to, as during your initial setup it is coded to the QR code you scanned on your app that is unique on your mobile phone. This device is really the Fort-Knox of crypto wallets. It took me about 30-40 minutes from start to finish when I unboxed, setup, and made my first transaction on the device. As I mentioned above, this DOES make it very secure, but for ease of use, it’s kind of nightmare. There are no trade-offs here.
Cobo Vault Coins Supported
This device claims to have a lot more coins that will be supported on their road map, but this is definitely one of the “cons” of this device as it is of the utmost quality, but also is VERY lacking in the coins that are supported. Below is a picture of all the coins that are currently supported as of this writing.
For those that are not familiar with all of these coins or brands, I will list them here: Bitcoin (BTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Ethereum (ETH), Ethereum Classic (ETC), Tron (TRX), Eos (EOS), Litecoin (LTC), and Dash (DASH).
Price
This is a premium device and the price reflects that. It’s $479 USD to get this device and may have some shipping costs associated with it if you are outside of the U.S. As this is a higher-end device, you get what you pay for. I have not come across a more durable and secure device yet, but the Ellipal Titan appears to be a cheaper option that is going to be competing with this directly when it is released to the public in late August 2019. You can check out my review/first look HERE.
Cobo Vault Review: Conclusion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKbiyf5fJmo
Overall, the Cobo Vault device is probably the strongest and highest quality device physically, that I’ve ever used in a hardware wallet. It feels solid, and I know that if I drop it, get it wet, or otherwise try to damage this, it will stand the test of time. In terms of security, I have yet to personally test a device that compares to this one.
I had several steps and verifications in order to just set it up, let alone make a transaction. I believe this device is designed to be used VERY sparingly and is not used in a daily setting. This is a long-term “HODL”er device, which is good, but if you frequently transact, it is a hassle.
Also, it only supports 8 coins currently. It claims to be supporting more coins soon, but it has mentioned that since it’s launched and have not seen any announcements of movement on that front for several months.
Finally, we have to consider the price. $479 is no cheap price for a hardware wallet and this is a premium and high end device, so I personally use it as a backup and long term device. I do not use this for frequent trading and transacting for obvious reasons described above, but I like having it for my long term stash.
So what’s the bottomline?
If you are new and are looking for your very first hardware wallet, I would personally recommend getting a KeepKey device. It is very nice quality and just launched a brand new platform that integrates trading and is the only one that allows you to keep your private keys offline and in your personal possession the entire time. It’s my go-to wallet for daily use. You can get that HERE.
If you are looking for a secondary or longer term wallet to diversify, then I would ABSOLUTELY recommend this wallet, as it is probably the most secure wallet you can get and the quality is unmatched. I have only used mine twice, but that also means it’s safe and sound and I have no second thoughts about someone being able to crack it, even if they get it in their hands. I feel very comforted knowing that this is literally unbreakable. You can get the COBO Vault hardware wallet below and check out some reviews on their site below
Cheers,
The Crypto Renegade
NOTE: This post may contain affiliate links. This adds no cost to you but it helps me focus on giving as much value as possible in every single post by being compensated for recommending products that help people succeed.
