Are metal backups the safest way to backup your seed phrase?

Team Cypherock
Team Cypherock
7 min read
Are metal backups the safest way to backup your seed phrase?

Are metal backups the safest way to backup your seed phrase?

When it comes to safeguarding your valuable crypto assets, one of the most crucial decisions you’ll make is how to back up your essential seed phrase. While jotting it down on a piece of paper might seem like the simplest option, it’s far from the safest. Let’s dive into why metal backups became so popular and the inherent problems they still carry. Plus, we’ll introduce you to an innovative solution, the Cypherock X1, which redefines seed phrase security.

Why Metal Backups Gained Prominence

In the early days, individuals would simply write down their seed phrases on paper and keep them secure. However, paper isn’t the most secure option. It can be vulnerable to theft, damage, and environmental hazards such as fire and water. Additionally, if you use a standard pen, the ink may fade or even spread over time. This is where metal backups came into the spotlight as a reliable solution.

Metal backups are known for their durability, designed to withstand the harshest treatment. They’re fire-resistant, impact-resistant, and some even resist stains and corrosion, depending on the type of metal used. Stainless steel, titanium, and aluminum are popular choices. Your seed phrase gets etched or engraved onto this robust medium, making it nearly indestructible. Sounds impressive, right?

The Challenge with Metal Backups

However, there’s more to the story. Metal backups may resolve some of the issues associated with paper backups, but they don’t address all concerns. Sure, they’re sturdy and resistant to various environmental factors but the method of storing the seed phrase on metal remains the same as with paper backup, they are basically just a hardened and tamper proof paper. However, the critical issue here is data security.

You see, not only the where and what of storing your seed phrase are crucial, but how it is stored is also equally important. Your seed phrase is etched onto the metal in its raw form, any mistakes while engraving the words on the metal could lead to confusion and difficulties in accurately recovering crypto assets.

Even more concerning, your seed phrase remains exposed on that metal plate. Anyone who gains access can potentially compromise your funds. If you lose your metal backup, it could mean saying goodbye to your crypto assets.

To top it off, it’s essential to understand that even though a metal backup is an improvement over paper, it still has limitations in safeguarding your funds. Storing your seed phrase within a metal sheet or piece still doesn’t solve the issue of your seed phrase being the single point of failure. A breach or loss of one physical object could potentially jeopardize access to your valuable crypto assets.

Cypherock X1 as a Seed Phrase Vault

Now, let’s introduce you to a more advanced yet simple, secure alternative: the Cypherock X1. The Cypherock X1 is a hardware wallet cum seed phrase vault which offers a more convenient and secure solution. The Cypherock X1 uses Shamir Secret Sharing to divide your BIP-39 seed phrase into five distinct parts.

These five parts are then securely distributed across four X1 cards and the X1 vault, which serves as the central device equipped with a built-in screen. You can set a unique PIN to protect each of these parts (seed phrase) individually on these five hardware components (the X1 vault and four X1 cards), adding an extra layer of security. This approach ensures that all five parts of your seed phrase remain encrypted and well protected, so even if someone gains unauthorized access to any of these cards or the vault, they will not have access to the seed phrase. Store each of these four cards in four different locations, and your funds are safe.

Since the Cypherock X1 employs Shamir Secret Sharing to split the seed phrase, it enables the reconstruction of the full seed phrase with just any two out of the five parts. This is achievable through the two-of-five threshold scheme that Cypherock X1 uses. Users can utilize any two of the X1 cards or combine an X1 card with the X1 Vault to recover the full seed phrase. This ensures that even if a user were to lose one or two parts, such as a card or the vault, they would not lose access to their funds.

Bid Farewell to Paper and Metal

With the Cypherock X1, there’s no need to write down your seed phrase on paper or etch it onto metal plates. This innovative solution eliminates the single point of failure issue, keeping your seed phrase secure and offline by decentralizing it across the X1 vault and X1 cards. Plus, it’s BIP-39 compatible, making it easy to store and back up existing seed phrases from your other wallets like MetaMask, Ledger, Trezor, and more.

It’s important to highlight that, in contrast to numerous other hardware wallets, the Cypherock X1 can manage up to four distinct BIP-39 wallet accounts, saving you from the hassle of handling multiple paper or metal backups. It’s your all-in-one solution, whether you need a personal hardware crypto wallet or a dedicated seed phrase backup manager for multiple wallets.

Your crypto assets deserve the best protection, and the Cypherock X1 delivers just that. Say farewell to the old, vulnerable ways of backing up your seed phrase. Embrace the future of secure crypto storage and embark on a worry-free journey with the Cypherock X1. Your keys, your control, your peace of mind – it’s time to elevate your crypto security game. Say goodbye to loss of crypto with Cypherock X1.

We are live for orders @ www.cypherock.com/product/cypherock-x1

Connect with us:

Twitter: twitter.com/CypherockWallet

Telegram: t.me/cypherock