Tangem emerged onto the crypto scene back in 2017 with a one-of-a-kind hardware wallet that was more portable and secure than most of its competitors. This still stands true in 2025 with the revised version of the Tangem wallet adding some much-requested features while retaining what made the original so good.
But let’s back up a bit. What is the Tangem wallet? In short, the Tangem wallet is a credit-card-shaped cryptocurrency wallet that can be used to secure your crypto assets against thieves and hackers.
For me, the most notable aspect of the Tangem wallet is the hardware card which does not need a battery, screen, or even buttons to function. All you have to do is scan it with the Tangem app on your phone and your crypto assets are secured.
So should you buy this wallet? Join me as I analyze every aspect of the Tangem wallet to answer this question.
Overview of Tangem Wallet
Let’s start this review with the physical design of the Tangem card.
Dimensions
As I mentioned above, the hardware card that stores your private key is shaped just like a credit card. I actually measured its dimensions and they are the same as a standard credit or debit card i.e. 85.6 mm x 53.9 mm.
The card is also extremely thin and weighs only 6 grams. I could easily fit it into my slim wallet without any trouble. This level of portability is practically unmatched as you don’t have to carry anything else besides your phone and wallet/purse to keep your crypto assets safe.
However, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the excellent security features of this wallet.
Security
In my eyes, the security of the Tangem wallet is twofold. First is the hardware wallet itself. Since it doesn’t have a Bluetooth receiver, no one can attempt to hack it by connecting it with a malicious Bluetooth device. The wallet also doesn’t have any USB ports which could lead to potential vulnerabilities.
The only way to interface with the Tangem wallet card is through the mobile app, which is the second key security component in the Tangem ecosystem. While researching for this review, I discovered that the accompanying Tangem mobile app is open-source and each version is published on GitHub.
This open-source nature allows the Tangem user base to review the app’s code for potential vulnerabilities, making it extremely air-tight.
Speaking of the mobile app, my experience with it was as good as it can be. Setting up the wallet was a breeze and I did not face any trouble when receiving or sending cryptocurrencies to my other wallets. The app as a whole is quite easy to use with useful built-in features, like the ability to buy, sell, or swap crypto assets.
With that said, let’s recount my experience with the wallet in a bit more detail.
Setting Up the Tangem Wallet
As I mentioned above, setting up the Tangem wallet for the first time was a breeze. It only took me a few minutes to get up and running as the whole process was quite straightforward. If you want to set up your Tangem wallet just as quickly, here’s a step-by-step guide I created for you:
Remove your Tangem wallet cards from their box;
Install the Tangem app from the App Store if you’re on an iPhone, or from the Play Store, if you’re using an Android phone;
When you open the app, it will prompt you to scan the card;
Tap the card on the back of your phone and the app should recognize the card and initiate the wallet creation process;
Here, you have the option to create a wallet with or without a seed phrase;
If you want to create a seed phrase, click on “Other options” and then “Generate seed phrase”;
The app will then show a 12-word seed phrase. Make sure to note it down in a secure place. You may want to use a secure seed phrase storage device.
Click continue once you’ve noted down the seed phrase and then complete the security check to ensure you’ve written the seed words in the correct order;
Next, click “Create wallet” and tap the card on the back of your phone;
If you don’t want a seed phrase, you can also click “Create wallet” after step five;
After that, you can back up your wallet with the additional card/s by tapping them on the back of your phone one by one;
Lastly, the Tangem app will ask you to create a secure access code which is the password you’ll need for approving transactions.
Once you’re inside the app, you’ll also notice that the Tangem wallet supports thousands of different cryptocurrencies across 37+ blockchain technologies. This should cover most of your crypto assets, even if you’re interested in trading lesser-known crypto tokens like me.
User Interface and Experience
The intuitive UI of the Tangem mobile app was also a welcome surprise for me. I had a hunch that it would be good, but I did not expect it to be this reliable.
The homepage is straightforward with a digital image of the currently selected card on the top and all the connected crypto tokens on the bottom. Adding new tokens for me was as simple as pressing the “Manage tokens” button on the bottom and choosing the one I wanted to add.
The process of sending and receiving crypto assets was just as seamless. Here’s what to do:
Sending
To send a cryptocurrency, all you have to do is click the coin on the homepage and then click the “Send” button on the bottom right. Input the address of the recipient's wallet and the amount you want to send. (Some currencies like BTC also allow you to choose network fees at this step).
Once you’ve entered the correct info, click “Send” again. After that, type in your access code, tap the physical Tangem card on the back of your phone, and you’re done.
Receiving
Receiving crypto assets is even simpler. Simply click on the currency you want to receive and click “Copy” to copy your wallet address for that token. You can also click “Share” to send that address to someone through SMS, Email, or several other methods.
When someone sends any crypto assets to that wallet address, you will receive the tokens in your Tangem wallet without any hassle.
Security Features
By this point, I was quite impressed by the seamless user experience of the Tangem wallet, so it was time to dig deeper into its security. After all, an insecure wallet is useless, no matter how well it functions.
I’ve already mentioned the open-source app which is much more resilient to malicious attacks than many closed-source systems. But, that is not all.
As it turns out, the security on the hardware Tangem card is also top-notch. The chip used to store the private key on these cards is manufactured by Samsung. For reference, the same chip is used in things like passports and credit/debit cards.
Comparison to other wallets
From what I’ve gathered, this level of security is on par with the largest players on the market like Ledger or Trezor.
One potential downside of Tangem could be that it is not completely air-gapped, as it does have an NFC connection. But realistically, that should not pose any issues as I did not find any record of vulnerabilities stemming from this NFC connection.
During my research, I also discovered that the Tangem firmware was audited by a third-party Swiss security company by the name of Kudelski Security. According to their report, Tangem’s firmware does not have any backdoors or other vulnerabilities, which is quite reassuring.
Physical security
Not only is the Tangem wallet secure from hackers and malicious actors, it is also quite resilient against physical damage. The card is advertised to be IP68 water and dust-resistant. I tested this water resistance by placing the wallet in a bucket of water, and it worked completely fine afterwards.
The chip inside the wallet is also rated for 25 years of use, which is why Tangem offers a mind-blowing 25-year warranty on their hardware wallets. Suffice it to say, you won’t have any issues with its physical construction under normal use.
Pros and Cons
- Top-tier security from intrusive and non-intrusive attacks
- Open-source app for better security
- Seamless user experience and intuitive app UI
- Extremely portable and can be stored in a slim wallet
- The physical card is quite resistant to physical damage
- Comes with a 25-year warranty
- You can buy, sell, and swap crypto assets directly from the Tangem app
- Requires a phone to use and does not have web or desktop compatibility
- Can potentially get lost easily due to its small size
The good news is that both of these cons can be a non-issue with a little consideration. For starters, most people carry their phone with them at all times so the first downside shouldn’t cause any trouble.
Also, if you’re worried that the small size of this wallet will make it easy to lose, just keep it alongside your credit/debit cards. Plus, you also get one or two backup cards in case you lose the first one.
Customer Support and Community Feedback
The custom support quality of a company is a major consideration for me when choosing to buy a new wallet. Luckily, Tangem did not disappoint in this aspect either.
During my testing, their response on both the social media channels as well as the live chat option on their website was quite fast. The support agent talking to me was professional and answered all of my queries correctly.
Not only that, but I also found detailed written resources on Tangem’s help center that contain the answers to the most common issues a customer might face.
Speaking of customers, how does the crypto community at large view the Tangem wallet?
From what I’ve seen, feedback from my fellow reviewers, as well as general customers is quite positive. I even scoured social media and found similar results.
Though, I should mention that there are some negative reviews on Trustpilot but most of them seem to be rare edge cases.
Price and Availability
Before I approve or disapprove of the Tangem wallet, we should look at one of the most important factors — cost. I found that the Tangem wallet is quite affordable, especially when compared to alternatives like Ledger Nano X or Trezor Model T. The Tangem Wallet is priced as follows:
As stated, this pricing is significantly lower than many other hardware crypto wallets on the market. Here’s how Tangem compares to other top-tier options:
Wallet | Price |
|---|---|
Tangem (two cards) | 54.90 USD |
Ledger Nano X | 149 USD |
Trezor Model T | 219 USD |
NGRAVE Zero | 398 USD |
BC Vault ONE | 119.72 USD |
Conclusion
All things considered, the Tangem wallet gets my seal of approval. It is a well-designed hardware crypto wallet that provides a hiccup-free user experience without compromising security.
The portability of its credit-card-like design cannot be overstated either. I’ve known some people who refuse to get a hardware wallet because they don’t want to carry another device around with them. Tangem is the perfect solution for them as it slips easily into your wallet.
Visit the Tangem website and see if it is the right option for your needs.