Onramp vs SeedSigner — Head-to-Head Custody Comparison

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

Verdict

Quick Verdict

Onramp scores 8.7 vs SeedSigner's 5.4. Onramp leads in 5 of 8 categories.

Onramp is better suited for Family offices, RIAs, HNW individuals. SeedSigner is better suited for DIY enthusiasts, Cypherpunks, Security researchers.

8.7

Very GoodCustody Score

Onramp

5.4

Below AverageCustody Score

SeedSigner

Scores

Score Comparison

Weighted scores across all 8 custody criteria.

Criterion	Weight	Onramp	SeedSigner	Winner
Security	20%	9.5	8.5	Onramp
Insurance	15%	9.0	1.0	Onramp
Regulatory	15%	8.5	1.0	Onramp
Fee Transparency	10%	7.5	10.0	SeedSigner
Track Record	15%	8.0	6.0	Onramp
Withdrawal Flexibility	10%	8.5	8.5	Tie
Reporting & Audit	10%	8.5	1.0	Onramp
Counterparty Diversification	5%	10.0	10.0	Tie
Overall Score	100%	8.7	5.4	Onramp

Visual

Score Radar

Visual overlay of Onramp and SeedSigner across all categories.

OnrampSeedSigner

Deep Dive

Category-by-Category Analysis

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

Security (9.5 vs 8.5)

Onramp uses Multi-institution distributed key management with Varies by underlying custodian in cold storage and regular penetration testing. Compliance: Via underlying custodians (SOC 1 & SOC 2). Incident history: No incidents.

SeedSigner uses Stateless signing device key management with 100% (stateless) in cold storage and no confirmed penetration testing. Compliance: N/A. Incident history: No known compromises.

Insurance (9.0 vs 1.0)

Onramp offers Aggregate coverage across multiple custodian insurance policies via Multiple (via underlying custodians). Each underlying custodian maintains their own insurance. Combined coverage exceeds single-custodian limits.

SeedSigner offers None — DIY self-custody via N/A. DIY project. No company behind it. No insurance possible.

Regulatory (8.5 vs 1.0)

Onramp holds State money transmitter licenses and is a qualified custodian operating in United States. Regulated through underlying custodian partnerships with qualified custodians

SeedSigner holds N/A — open-source project and is not a qualified custodian operating in Decentralized / Open Source. Community-driven open-source project. No company.

Fee Transparency (7.5 vs 10.0)

Onramp charges Contact for pricing in annual custody fees with 0.50% per trade (brokerage) per transaction. Also offers Onramp Finance: lowest-cost Bitcoin brokerage at 50bps, 5% APY on cash, 1.5% cashback card

SeedSigner charges None in annual custody fees with Network fees only per transaction. Build it yourself from off-the-shelf components. Truly zero trust.

Track Record (8.0 vs 6.0)

Onramp was founded in 2021 and is headquartered in Austin, TX. AUM: $1B+. Incident history: No incidents.

SeedSigner was founded in 2021 and is headquartered in Open Source. AUM: N/A (DIY project). Incident history: No known compromises.

Withdrawal Flexibility (8.5 vs 8.5)

Onramp withdrawal fees: Contact for pricing. Minimum account: $100,000. Supported assets: Bitcoin.

SeedSigner withdrawal fees: Network fees only. Minimum account: ~$50 (components). Supported assets: Bitcoin only.

Reporting & Audit (8.5 vs 1.0)

Onramp: SOC compliance is Via underlying custodians (SOC 1 & SOC 2). As a qualified custodian, it meets SEC reporting requirements.

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

Counterparty Diversification (10.0 vs 10.0)

Onramp is a multi-institution custody provider. Key management: Multi-institution distributed custody — keys and assets spread across multiple independent regulated custodians (BitGo, Coinbase, Fidelity, etc.).

SeedSigner is a cold storage / hardware provider. Key management: DIY stateless signing device. Never stores keys. Camera-based QR code signing. Built from Raspberry Pi Zero..

Fees

Fee Comparison

Side-by-side fee breakdown for Onramp and SeedSigner.

Fee Type	Onramp	SeedSigner
Setup Fee	Contact for pricing	~$50 (Raspberry Pi Zero + camera + screen)
Annual Custody	Contact for pricing	None
Transaction	0.50% per trade (brokerage)	Network fees only
Withdrawal	Contact for pricing	Network fees only

Onramp: Also offers Onramp Finance: lowest-cost Bitcoin brokerage at 50bps, 5% APY on cash, 1.5% cashback card

SeedSigner: Build it yourself from off-the-shelf components. Truly zero trust.

Features

Feature Comparison

Checklist of features across both providers.

Feature	Onramp	SeedSigner
1.5% cashback card	✓	✗
5% APY on cash balances	✓	✗
Bitcoin brokerage services (Onramp Finance)	✓	✗
Camera-based QR signing	✗	✓
DIY from off-the-shelf parts	✗	✓
Dice roll entropy	✗	✓
Fully open-source	✗	✓
Institutional-grade security and compliance	✓	✗
Multi-Institution Custody across multiple regulated custodians	✓	✗
No single point of failure	✓	✗
Stateless — never stores keys	✗	✓
White-glove onboarding for institutions	✓	✗
Zero supply chain trust required	✗	✓

Recommendation

Who Should Choose Which?

Onramp is better if you…

✓Are a family offices
✓Are a rias
✓Are a hnw individuals
✓Are a institutions
✓Want: Only provider offering true multi-institution custody — no single point of failure
✓Want: Aggregated insurance coverage exceeds any single custodian
✓Want: $1B+ in assets under custody demonstrates institutional trust

SeedSigner is better if you…

✓Are a diy enthusiasts
✓Are a cypherpunks
✓Are a security researchers
✓Are a ultra-paranoid bitcoiners
✓Want: Stateless — keys never stored on device
✓Want: Build from off-the-shelf components
✓Want: Zero supply chain attack surface

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Onramp or SeedSigner better for Bitcoin custody?

Onramp scores 8.7 vs 5.4 in our weighted Custody Score. Onramp leads in 5 of 8 scoring categories. However, the best choice depends on your specific needs: Onramp is best for Family offices and RIAs, while SeedSigner suits DIY enthusiasts and Cypherpunks.

What is the difference between Onramp and SeedSigner?

Onramp is a multi-institution custody provider, while SeedSigner is a cold storage / hardware provider. Onramp excels in Counterparty Diversification, whereas SeedSigner is strongest in Fee Transparency.

How do Onramp and SeedSigner fees compare?

Onramp charges Contact for pricing annual custody fees with 0.50% per trade (brokerage) transaction fees. SeedSigner charges None annual custody fees with Network fees only transaction fees.

Which is more secure, Onramp or SeedSigner?

Onramp scores 9.5/10 for security while SeedSigner scores 8.5/10. Onramp uses Multi-institution distributed key management, and SeedSigner uses Stateless signing device.