A crypto wallet is often misunderstood: it does not hold coins the way a physical wallet holds cash. Instead, it safeguards the private keys that let you sign transactions and prove ownership of coins recorded on the blockchain. Wallets come in many forms — mobile apps, browser extensions, desktop programs, and dedicated hardware devices. Choosing the right wallet is a balance of security and convenience, with hardware (cold) wallets best for savings and software (hot) wallets best for spending.