BitBox02 vs Coldcard — Head-to-Head Custody Comparison

An independent, data-driven comparison of BitBox02 and Coldcard across security, insurance, fees, regulatory compliance, and more.

Verdict

Quick Verdict

BitBox02 scores 5.9 vs Coldcard's 5.9. BitBox02 leads in 2 of 8 categories.

BitBox02 is better suited for Privacy-focused users, Swiss quality seekers, Bitcoin-only users. Coldcard is better suited for Bitcoin maximalists, Security experts, Air-gap enthusiasts.

5.9

Below AverageCustody Score

BitBox02

5.9

Below AverageCustody Score

Coldcard

Scores

Score Comparison

Weighted scores across all 8 custody criteria.

Criterion	Weight	BitBox02	Coldcard	Winner
Security	20%	9.0	9.5	Coldcard
Insurance	15%	1.0	1.0	Tie
Regulatory	15%	2.0	1.0	BitBox02
Fee Transparency	10%	9.5	9.5	Tie
Track Record	15%	7.0	8.0	Coldcard
Withdrawal Flexibility	10%	9.5	9.0	BitBox02
Reporting & Audit	10%	2.0	2.0	Tie
Counterparty Diversification	5%	9.0	9.5	Coldcard
Overall Score	100%	5.9	5.9	Tie

Visual

Score Radar

Visual overlay of BitBox02 and Coldcard across all categories.

BitBox02Coldcard

Deep Dive

Category-by-Category Analysis

A deeper look at how each provider performs in every scoring criterion.

Security (9.0 vs 9.5)

BitBox02 uses Dual-chip hardware wallet key management with 100% in cold storage and regular penetration testing. Compliance: Open-source audited. Incident history: No known compromises.

Coldcard uses Air-gapped hardware wallet with secure element key management with 100% in cold storage and regular penetration testing. Compliance: N/A. Incident history: No known compromises.

Insurance (1.0 vs 1.0)

BitBox02 offers None — self-custody hardware via N/A. Hardware wallet. Full user responsibility.

Coldcard offers None — self-custody hardware via N/A. Hardware wallet. Full user responsibility.

Regulatory (2.0 vs 1.0)

BitBox02 holds N/A — hardware manufacturer and is not a qualified custodian operating in Switzerland. Shift Crypto AG — Swiss-registered company.

Coldcard holds N/A — hardware manufacturer and is not a qualified custodian operating in Canada. Coinkite Inc. Bitcoin-focused hardware company.

Fee Transparency (9.5 vs 9.5)

BitBox02 charges None in annual custody fees with Network fees only per transaction. Swiss quality. Bitcoin-only edition available for maximalists.

Coldcard charges None in annual custody fees with Network fees only per transaction. Bitcoin-only by design. Air-gapped signing via microSD.

Track Record (7.0 vs 8.0)

BitBox02 was founded in 2019 and is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. AUM: N/A (hardware manufacturer). Incident history: No known compromises.

Coldcard was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. AUM: N/A (hardware manufacturer). Incident history: No known compromises.

Withdrawal Flexibility (9.5 vs 9.0)

BitBox02 withdrawal fees: Network fees only. Minimum account: ~$149 (Multi) / ~$129 (Bitcoin-only). Supported assets: Bitcoin, Ethereum, 1,500+ (Multi edition).

Coldcard withdrawal fees: Network fees only. Minimum account: ~$148 (Mk4) / ~$99 (Q1). Supported assets: Bitcoin only.

Reporting & Audit (2.0 vs 2.0)

BitBox02: SOC compliance is Open-source audited. Not classified as a qualified custodian.

Coldcard: SOC compliance is N/A. Not classified as a qualified custodian.

Counterparty Diversification (9.0 vs 9.5)

BitBox02 is a cold storage / hardware provider. Key management: Dual-chip hardware wallet. Open-source. Swiss-made. Touch slider interface..

Coldcard is a cold storage / hardware provider. Key management: Air-gapped Bitcoin-only hardware wallet. Secure element. MicroSD transaction signing..

Fees

Fee Comparison

Side-by-side fee breakdown for BitBox02 and Coldcard.

Fee Type	BitBox02	Coldcard
Setup Fee	$129-$149 (device purchase)	$99-$148 (device purchase)
Annual Custody	None	None
Transaction	Network fees only	Network fees only
Withdrawal	Network fees only	Network fees only

BitBox02: Swiss quality. Bitcoin-only edition available for maximalists.

Coldcard: Bitcoin-only by design. Air-gapped signing via microSD.

Features

Feature Comparison

Checklist of features across both providers.

Feature	BitBox02	Coldcard
Air-gapped operation	✗	✓
Bitcoin-only edition	✓	✗
Dice roll entropy	✗	✓
Dual-chip architecture	✓	✗
Duress PIN	✗	✓
MicroSD backup	✓	✗
Multisig native	✗	✓
Open-source firmware	✓	✗
PSBT support	✗	✓
Secure element	✗	✓
Tor support via BitBoxApp	✓	✗
Touch sliders	✓	✗

Recommendation

Who Should Choose Which?

BitBox02 is better if you…

✓Are a privacy-focused users
✓Are a swiss quality seekers
✓Are a bitcoin-only users
✓Are a minimalists
✓Want: Swiss-made quality and security
✓Want: Dual-chip architecture
✓Want: Fully open-source

Coldcard is better if you…

✓Are a bitcoin maximalists
✓Are a security experts
✓Are a air-gap enthusiasts
✓Are a advanced users
✓Want: Gold standard for Bitcoin hardware security
✓Want: True air-gapped operation
✓Want: Duress PIN and security features

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is BitBox02 or Coldcard better for Bitcoin custody?

BitBox02 scores 5.9 vs 5.9 in our weighted Custody Score. BitBox02 leads in 2 of 8 scoring categories. However, the best choice depends on your specific needs: BitBox02 is best for Privacy-focused users and Swiss quality seekers, while Coldcard suits Bitcoin maximalists and Security experts.

What is the difference between BitBox02 and Coldcard?

BitBox02 is a cold storage / hardware provider, while Coldcard is a cold storage / hardware provider. BitBox02 excels in Fee Transparency, whereas Coldcard is strongest in Security.

How do BitBox02 and Coldcard fees compare?

BitBox02 charges None annual custody fees with Network fees only transaction fees. Coldcard charges None annual custody fees with Network fees only transaction fees.

Which is more secure, BitBox02 or Coldcard?

BitBox02 scores 9.0/10 for security while Coldcard scores 9.5/10. BitBox02 uses Dual-chip hardware wallet key management, and Coldcard uses Air-gapped hardware wallet with secure element.