What Is an Air-Gapped Cold Wallet?
A hardware wallet with no USB data, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or NFC connection. Your private key is generated and stored on a chip that stays offline, and signing happens through QR codes. Here’s how that works.
What Does Air-
Gapped Mean?
An air-gapped wallet is a crypto signing device kept physically isolated from internet-connected hardware. It has no USB data, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or NFC connection. Private keys are generated and stored on a chip inside the device, and signing stays offline.
To authorize a blockchain action, the wallet receives an unsigned signing request and returns a signed result. QR codes carry that data across the gap: the device scans the request, displays the details, signs inside the offline device and shows a new QR code for the App to scan.
Air-Gapped vs USB and Bluetooth
Both approaches can keep private keys inside the hardware wallet. An air-gapped design adds physical separation from connected phones and computers. QR codes carry signing requests and signed results across that gap without opening a direct electronic connection.
| Air-Gapped QR code | USB or Bluetooth Direct connection | |
|---|---|---|
| Where private keys are stored | Inside an offline signing device with no USB data, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or NFC connection. | Inside the hardware wallet, while USB or Bluetooth provides a data connection. |
| How signing works | The wallet scans a request, signs inside the device and displays the result as a QR code. | The wallet receives a request and returns the signed result through USB or Bluetooth. |
| Practical trade-off | Physical separation with a QR scan for each signing step. | Direct communication with fewer manual steps during signing. |
How ELLIPAL Builds It
An air-gapped setup separates the online App from the offline signer. With the ELLIPAL Titan 2.0, each approval uses QR Code Signing.
ELLIPAL Titan 2.0
The ELLIPAL Titan 2.0 holds the private key and signs each request inside the device.
Phone App
The ELLIPAL App prepares the unsigned signing request and broadcasts the signed result after approval. The App does not hold the private key.
Why Use an Air-Gapped Wallet?
Keep your signing device physically separated from phones, computers and network connections. Fewer electronic interfaces. More control over every approval.
Keys never leave the device
Private keys are generated, stored and used for signing inside the offline device.
No USB or wireless session
Exchange QR data without opening a USB or wireless session to the wallet.
Verify before you approve
Review transaction details on a separate screen before you sign.
From Your Phone. To Your Wallet. And Back.
01. Prepare
Create the transaction in the ELLIPAL App and display its QR code.
02. Review & sign
Scan with your Titan, check the details and approve on the offline device.
03. Broadcast
Scan the signed QR code with the app to send the transaction to the network.
Your Questions, Answered.
Does an air-gapped wallet connect to the internet?
No. The Titan signing device has no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC or USB data connection. It exchanges transaction information using QR codes.
Do QR codes expose my private keys?
No. QR codes transfer unsigned requests and signed transaction results. Your private keys remain inside the offline signing device. Always review the transaction details before signing.
Can I recover my wallet if I lose the device?
Your recovery phrase is your backup. Keep it safely stored offline. A compatible replacement wallet can recover your accounts using the correct phrase.
What is the difference between the Titan and X Card?
The Titan uses air-gapped QR code signing and a separate screen. The X Card uses NFC with a compatible phone and is designed for convenient, portable access.
Does the ELLIPAL App hold my private keys?
When paired with a Titan cold wallet, the app prepares and broadcasts transactions. The cold wallet stores the private keys and signs transactions offline.
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