Keystone vs Tangem: Air-Gap Screen vs NFC Cards
Keystone is an air-gapped hardware wallet built by Yanssie HK Limited that signs transactions using QR codes and a four-inch touchscreen. Tangem is a card-based hardware wallet developed by Swiss-based Tangem AG that connects through NFC and operates without batteries, cables, or an integrated display.
The two devices differ fundamentally in communication and verification. Keystone keeps private keys isolated from radio signals, relying on camera-based QR codes and microSD transfers. Its color screen allows on-device review of transaction addresses and amounts before signing with three secure-element chips. In contrast, Tangem relies on a phone's screen and NFC antenna to transmit transaction data to a Samsung EAL6+ secure element. While Keystone supports 5,500 assets and offers an optional Bitcoin-only firmware, Tangem covers more than 14,100 assets across 90 blockchains and uses sets of two or three physical cards for seedless backups.
Quick verdict
The choice centers on verification versus portability. Keystone requires a $149 investment for an air-gapped workflow where you verify every transfer on a four-inch display. Tangem eliminates screens and batteries entirely, relying on linked cards and tapping against an NFC phone to manage assets.
Choose Keystone for independent visual checks. It provides air-gapped QR signing, an onboard display for transaction details, and dedicated Bitcoin-only firmware with multisignature support. This setup fits signers who connect to external software wallets like MetaMask or BlueWallet and prefer traditional BIP39 recovery phrases or steel backup plates.
Tangem suits users wanting a slim card. It slips into a physical wallet without charging cords, serving multi-chain portfolios spanning up to 14,100 tokens across 90 blockchains and users who prefer seedless card backups over writing down seed phrases.
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | ||
| Our score | 4.0/5 | 4.3/5 |
| User rating | No reviews yet | No reviews yet |
| Security | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Build & design | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Ease of use | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Coin support | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Value for money | 3.0 | 3.5 |
| Specs | ||
| Price from | $149 | Not disclosed |
| Connectivity | QR code (air-gapped), microSD | NFC |
| Secure element | Yes | Yes |
| Firmware | Fully open source | Partially open source |
| Display | Touchscreen | No screen |
| Air-gapped signing | Yes | No |
| Bitcoin-only | No | No |
| Supported assets | 5,500 | 14,100 |
| Battery | Not disclosed | No |
| BIP39 passphrase | Yes | Yes |
| Multisig support | Yes | Not disclosed |
| Companion app | 45+ integrated software wallets, including MetaMask, OKX Web3 Wallet, BlueWallet and Keplr | Tangem app |
| Touchscreen | Yes | No |
| Backup options | Three recovery phrases, SLIP-39 mnemonic sharding, Keystone Tablet, Keystone Tablet Plus | Two-card backup, Three-card backup, Optional recovery phrase |
| NFC | Not disclosed | Yes |
| Company | ||
| Founded | 2018 | 2017 |
| Headquarters | — | Switzerland |
| Investors | Not disclosed | Shima Capital, SBI Digital Asset Holdings |
| Strengths and weaknesses | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Best for | Long-term self-custody, Air-gapped transaction signing, Multi-chain wallet holders | Long-term self-custody, Seedless wallet backups, NFC phone users |
Highlighted cells show the stronger value in each row. Data comes from each provider's site and public sources; check details before you sign up.
FAQ
How do Keystone and Tangem sign transactions?
Keystone signs transactions through air-gapped QR codes or microSD cards, while Tangem signs transactions via NFC taps against a mobile phone. Keystone displays transaction details directly on its 4-inch touchscreen for verification. Tangem has no display, so users verify transaction details on their phone screen.
Can you use a recovery seed phrase with both wallets?
Keystone requires BIP39 recovery phrases and supports up to three separate phrases on a single device. Tangem defaults to a seedless setup where two or three cards act as physical backups, though it also offers an optional recovery phrase mode during initialization.
Which wallet supports more cryptocurrencies?
Tangem supports more assets, listing over 14,100 tokens across 90 blockchains. Keystone supports over 5,500 assets and also provides a specialized Bitcoin-only firmware option.
Are Keystone and Tangem open source?
Keystone operates with fully open-source firmware, whereas Tangem uses partially open-source code with factory-installed firmware that cannot be altered or updated. Both devices hold security audits, including a Keylabs audit for Keystone and audits from Kudelski Security, Riscure, and Cure53 for Tangem.