keepkey review 2019

KeepKey Review: Is It Better Than Ledger? (2020)

In this article, I will give you a deep dive into the KeepKey wallet and provide you a review of my personal experience thus far with a keepkey review. I started using KeepKey about 3 years ago and boy has it come a long way. At first it was the simple bitcoin wallet that only supported about 6 coins, and was the easiest wallet to use at the time (including Trezor and Ledger). It’s selling edge was the physical wallet itself which is a nicer aluminum finish and clean and upscale look and significantly differed from the flimsy plastic Trezor and Ledger presented you out of the box. keepkey review

As a result, it was priced as such, and many people would not pay more for a device that only supported 6 coins. In 2018, it started adding 3rd party wallet support, like MyEtherWallet and MyCrypto.com and ERC-20 tokens. In this review, I will go over what has changed since then and ultimately if this wallet is the best choice for you or not.

I also recommend you download my free e-book that I just wrote that gives you some expert tips on how to secure your cryptocurrency and ensure you are protected for the next bull run. You can click the link above to gain access now, and it will only help you on this crypto journey. Addtionally, I recently wrote a detailed review on the new ShapeShift platform, that will have elements of it woven into this review as they both utilize the KeepKey wallet to operate. Let’s get started!

 

CLICK HERE TO BUY KEEPKEY FROM SHAPESHIFT’S OFFICIAL SITE DIRECTLY

 

KEEPKEY REVIEW: WHAT COMES IN THE KEEPKEY BOX?

First off, they have a really solid presentation. The box is a quality box and is sealed by an anti-tamper sticker to indicate if the box has attempted misuse or access to it. Secondly, it comes with the following items in the rectangular apple-esque box:

 

-Nylon Woven USB to Micro USB cable

-2 Recovery Seed Cards

KeepKey Hardware

-Getting Started Guide

 

The device itself is rectangular and only has one singular button on the top right used for signing and authorizing transactions. This is why it can be defined as the simple bitcoin wallet and is mechanical in design. Overall, this is a non-nonsense wallet that is made up of solid, sturdy construction and is physically larger than the Ledger and Trezor wallets.

 

CLICK HERE TO BUY KEEPKEY FROM SHAPESHIFT’S OFFICIAL SITE DIRECTLY

 

KEEPKEY REVIEW: WHAT COINS ARE SUPPORTED?

 

Natively, this wallet in the current beta form supports over 40 assets with more on the way! Here is a current list of assets that are supported right now.  Now let’s get into the nitty-gritty. For years, KeepKey only supported: Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, Namecoin, Dogecoin, and Dash. For a hardware wallet that needs to compete in this market place, that needed a serious upgrade.

Luckily, they have been making some AMAZING changes and not only added a ton of ERC-20 Support, but more importantly, they are revamping their entire platform to have one fluid, seamless application that integrates all of their core services (See my previous post for details on this). This is extremely powerful, and a decision that I believe will catapult them ahead of the competition. They are currently in a closed beta, and it is expected that they will be releasing this later in 2019. Stay tuned for news on this.

Some of the notable coins that have been added are:

-DigixDAO (DGD)

-Binance Coin (BNB)

-Dai (DAI)

-Maker (MKR)

-TrueUSD (TUSD)

 

CLICK HERE TO BUY KEEPKEY FROM SHAPESHIFT’S OFFICIAL SITE DIRECTLY

 

KEEPKEY REVIEW: HOW TO SETUP THE DEVICE

This information will be outdated soon, but I will leave a link to the current setup and initialization of the device as of June 2019 for most people here. I am more interested in talking about my experience with their new unified platform that will be released to the public shortly. Essentially, once you take the KeepKey out of the box and plug in the USB, it will prompt you to download the firmware updater and initialization steps once you login to your account. Currently, this is done on beta.shapeshift.com.

Once you have updated the firmware by plugging it in and holding down the single mechanical button as you disconnect and re-connect, it will process the update for you very quickly, usually within about 30 seconds. From here it will connect your KeepKey and there will be an animation in the top right of the dashboard letting you know it’s current status and then prompt you for the pin that is randomized every time it’s plugged in to ensure you have proper access to the device.

Once you’re validated, you can trade, view your accounts, and send/receive from your existing accounts and it’s a seamless process that will prompt for your PIN again to make any changes. I will leave a photo below for you to see the dashboard layout and it is very clean.

CLICK HERE TO BUY KEEPKEY FROM SHAPESHIFT’S OFFICIAL SITE DIRECTLY

 

KEEPKEY REVIEW: SECURITY

 

KeepKey has a true random number generator (TRNG) for it’s PIN interface for extra physical security. In addition to offline storage, KeepKey’s PIN code and number randomization makes sure that

1) Your wallet is secure from physical theft.

2) That a hacker couldn’t steal bitcoins from your wallet with malware.

 

KeepKey is an HD wallet, meaning your entire wallet can be backed up with the 12 words generated on setup. 12 words is the default setting, although KeepKey supports seed lengths of 18 and 24.

The seed is generated using entropy from both the device itself and the computer used for setup. The seed is generated offline on the KeepKey and displayed on the device’s screen. The device’s offline screen makes sure the seed is never displayed on an internet-connected device.

You can recover your wallet using the backup seed if your device is lost, stolen, or damaged. Recovery can be done in this new beta platform, but it has yet to be released on the current version. Make sure to keep multiple backups of your seed and use a metal recovery seed backup for extra protection.

The wallet’s screen allows you to sign and confirm the transaction on the device itself, so you can verify the address matches when sending on the web app and the device to prevent unauthorized bait and switches, but does not prevent phishing attacks.

 

CLICK HERE TO BUY KEEPKEY FROM SHAPESHIFT’S OFFICIAL SITE DIRECTLY

 

KEEPKEY AND SHAPESHIFT: USER EXPERIENCE (UX)

 

As you can see in the interface, besides the assets list on the left, most people like to trade within the app. All this is done within the app, so your private keys are never exposed online or to a 3rd party, which again, makes this new platform EXTREMELY compelling.

Additionally, unlike most exchanges you do not need pre-designated trading pairs that are usually defaulted to BTC. This means you can trade from altcoin to altcoin without having to trade back into BTC first, which will save you a ton on trading fees.

You can also buy crypto directly in the app via Wyre and can do a bank transfer that takes only 1-3 days and with only minimal fees. This is a huge advantage over Binance or other exchanges that charge exorbitant fees to have it done via a credit card and pay a lot more for that instant gratification. Again, when you do this, the private keys will go directly on your KeepKey so they are never exposed to the internet , even for a second.

Finally, here is a glimpse of the assets list. At the time of this screenshot, I only had 2 assets for testing and I haven’t tested this with bitcoin directly and dealt with DOGE and SNT at the time. I have since distributed that between about 9 different assets and have had a good experience with seamless trades that all end up on my hardware wallet, instantly after signing and authorizing a trade.

 

CLICK HERE TO BUY KEEPKEY FROM SHAPESHIFT’S OFFICIAL SITE DIRECTLY

 

KEEPKEY REVIEW – CONCLUSION

 

In the end, I still would take the KeepKey over the Ledger if I had to choose. The Ledger Nano S only holds 3 or 4 apps at the same time, and if you plan to expand or add more, you will have to remove and uninstall what you have to make room. KeepKey does not have this storage issue.

As mentioned above, with KeepKey will not give you this issue and you can trade assets very seamlessly and without the need to give up your private keys over top an exchange. This is a HUGE advantage and not one that any other hardware wallet can compete with. Having a non-custodial wallet is key and having one that is designed to never expose the private keys is even better.

keepkey

The UX has been greatly improved and you can actually initiate a trade, sign the transaction on the device, and then unplug and off you go. You do not need to wait for the trade to take place, which is super convenient. Right now it costs $79 and is only 20 bucks more than the Ledger. It feels like it should be worth twice that since the quality you get is superior. Honestly, if you asked me which wallet should I choose a year ago, and is KeepKey is better than Ledger?

I would’ve said “No”. But, this new user interface and overall experience managing your assets all in one place and one screen, and not needing to install and uninstall several applications is unbeatable. Using their beta and testing their new platform has been a great experience and one that I would recommend to my closest friends and family at this point. Even if you are brand new and don’t have much experience. KeepKey is the best choice for a hardware wallet right now in 2019.

 

CLICK HERE TO BUY KEEPKEY FROM SHAPESHIFT’S OFFICIAL SITE DIRECTLY

 

***Leave a comment below and I will message you a coupon for 50% off for a limited time only!***

 

What do you think? Which hardware wallet is your favorite and why? Sound off in the comments 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.

ShapeShift’s Brand New Platform – Review (2020)

In this article, I will review Shapeshift’s brand new platform! I’ve always been a fan of ShapeShift, and in fact, Erik Voorhees is one of the inspiring figures that helped get me into the crypto space to begin with, as we share a lot of the same fundamental philosophies on freedom and liberty. That’s why I was thrilled and honored when I was asked to join the private beta to test out the new platform, especially since I have a KeepKey and I use it frequently to manage my crypto on a regular basis.

It did not disappoint.

 

**Keep in mind that this is currently in BETA, and is not finalized in terms of design, complete look and feel, or full functionality**

 

This is a complete overhaul that includes all of their services including: Instant Trades, Real-Time Market Data via CoinCap, In-App Crypto Purchases, and KeepKey Integration. That last part is of particular interest to me because I’ve wanted to find a way to execute purchases and trades while having my KeepKey connected, while ensuring that my private keys are protected throughout the entire process.

This is a very important detail, especially if you want to make purchases online with that extra protection and also ensure that my private keys are never compromised in a trade. This truly is the ultimate non-custodial hardware wallet solution. Here’s a few screenshots and user flows based on my experience using this web app.

When first gaining access to beta.shapeshift.com, you will be asked to register for a trading account (if you haven’t already), so that you can seamlessly use the trade feature in the dashboard when your KeepKey is connected. Second, you will plug in your KeepKey and it will notice you will need a new firmware update to “Pair” your KeepKey to the new platform.

This will require a few steps of plugging in the device and unplugging it a few times to confirm this upgrade. Additionally, it will pull up the random number generator here so you can enter the PIN that is listed on the device screen to sync and authenticate your device and session.

This where the fun begins.

 

Shapeshift Beta

 

(PRO-TIP: You can view all of your transaction history, assets, current prices of assets and contents of your KeepKey WITHOUT having it plugged in. This can provide you a quick snapshot of where everything stands, even if your device is not present)

 

As you can see below, this a very clean, simple, and easy to user interface. You have all the key information at a glance that you need to manage your portfolio. It show’s your asset allocations, any losses or gains of your combined assets in real time, and the most recent transaction history below the chart. In the top right, it will show if your device is synced and connected, and will show your current fiat value of each individual asset if you drill down, or the combined asset value as a whole. At a glance, this is the information most people need to decide what action they need to take next.

 

ASSETS

The assets you see here are just a handful of the assets that are supported. If you would like to see the full asset support list, click here. At the top, you will see the 2 assets I have been using to test this software in order from the most USD value, to the least on my KeepKey at the time. The assets that you see below that are greyed out will show you what’s supported and available for you to receive on your KeepKey when ready. Each asset breaks down the charts over time in terms of price and you have a toggle view with the balance. Pretty slick.

 

TRADE

The trade feature is super easy to use and automatically calculates any minimums or fees needed in order to execute a trade, almost instantly. One thing I will point out is that some assets that are supported on the KeepKey itself, may not be available to trade via the ShapeShift platform, like SPANK for example.

If your particular coin is not showing in the drop down menu when swapping assets, it simply means it’s not supported on the ShapeShift trade engine. Another key feature is that all trades are executed on the KeepKey device directly, so you don’t have to risk exposing your private keys while they are in transit. This is a mix of the classic ShapeShift trade engine, but is simplified and integrates with your hardware wallet very seamlessly.

 

PURCHASE

This is done via a new feature they have been testing out with a button “Buy Crypto $” at the top, next to “Send” and “Receive”. This is facilitated through Wyre, which is a 3rd party platform that you can purchase crypto with your bank account or credit card. I have not tried this feature yet, but I plan to shortly. This is just another great design decision where you have a platform with both on and off-ramp needed for users or all levels.

As you can see in the screenshot, you can buy Bitcoin, Ether, or DAI to get started and you will have an array of options to trade with directly on the platform once you’ve completed this process. Now, you can easily receive any amount of crypto with any of the supported assets on this list directly to your KeepKey (or without) that you have at another address. You also can receive any amount to the platform and once you connect the KeepKey, your private keys will automatically be transferred onto your device, and will update the dashboard when it syncs.

One thing that really makes this trading platform special is the fact that you are not restricted to trading pairs. for instance, when you are wanting to trade multiple coins and you’re on Binance for example, you need to first get BTC, then from there you can trade into any altcoin they support. Here, if you have a supported coin, you can directly swap it for another and not have to default back to BTC in order to pull the trigger. That’s a game changer for me.

 

STABLE COINS (EASTER EGG)

shapeshift

This was a pleasant surprise to find that assets are able to be converted into various stable coins directly in the system. This is especially helpful if you are trying to lock in profits on a recent trade and have it stand idle until you either decide to invest your profits into another asset or simply wait for another trade.

Unlike the Ledger Nano S that only lets you hold a handful of apps on your device at one time, this allows you to have any assets private keys on a single device at any given time. As seen above, they also feature DAI (Ethereum’s Stable Coin) as well that is a very welcome addition to the stable coin list.

Below are some caveats and things that will hopefully be added over time. I am already thrilled by how my beta experience has been so far and I know that it will only continue to get better and better.

 

[One Caveat: You cannot complete any trades unless your device is there to sign and confirm the transaction.]

 

WISH LIST:

  • It would be nice to facilitate a trade from the ShapeShift mobile app to lock in a trade price on the go and then sync the private keys when I logged in via the web app
  • Support multiple browsers: Currently the WebUSB function in the beta only supports Chrome as a browser. I hope they widen this to Firefox (No pun intended), and hopefully Brave soon. I understand they do not currently support WebUSB yet, but the request has been put in.
  • Allow me to view my balance with “Satoshis” instead of fiat. At very least you should be able to toggle between the denominations and should support us looking at pricing in those terms.
  • The ability to label certain accounts on transactions. For instance, if I receive a transaction from another exchange or wallet to my KeepKey as in coming transaction, it would be nice to customize and label the transaction for my records. (i.e. savings/day-to-day spending/groceries, etc….)

At this point, these are just nice-to-have’s and with that said, this is just the first iteration of the beta. I am sure there are many new features and integrations planned for the future to make this even better, but that takes time and developer resources to properly implement them.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE KEEPKEY DIRECTLY FROM SHAPESHIFT!

 

CONCLUSION:

 

I don’t think I’ve been this excited when using my hardware wallet, since I first discovered them in 2016. There is no doubt that I have a new favorite user experience and I plan on helping improve this process in any way that I can to help inform people the best and easiest way to manage their portfolio and private keys.

 

CLICK HERE TO RESERVE ACCESS TO THE NEW SHAPESHIFT

 

You will be BLOWN away.

 

(PRO-TIP: Once you sign up via my link, you will get your own referral link. If you refer 5 people via your link and they sign up for a ShapeShift account, you will be given a code for a FREE KeepKey, in case you don’t already have one.)

 

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.

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