VaultStart — Secure setup for your hardware wallet
Get up and running with a device-grade cold wallet that keeps your private keys fully offline.
This guided start page walks you through unboxing, device initialization, backup best practices,
and safe recovery — all in a layered, tactile experience built to reduce mistakes and increase confidence.
01
Unbox & Inspect
Confirm tamper-evident seals. Physical integrity is the first defense against compromise.
02
Initialize Securely
Create a new seed on the device itself — never on an internet-connected computer or phone.
03
Write Down Your Recovery
Use the included recovery sheet or durable backup — store offline, in multiple secure locations.
04
Test a Small Transaction
Verify you can sign and broadcast a tiny transaction before moving larger balances.
A
Keep firmware up to date. Only install firmware from the official updater and verify checksums before applying.
B
Split backups when needed. Use multi-location backups or a trusted multi-person scheme to avoid single-point loss.
C
Never share your seed. Your recovery phrase is the only key to your funds — never disclose it to anyone or enter it on websites.
VaultStart is designed for people who want a clear, mistake-resistant path to secure their crypto. This page guides you through the practical steps:
confirming device authenticity, initializing a new cold wallet seed on-device, writing and protecting your recovery phrase, verifying backups, and doing a test transaction to confirm everything works end-to-end.
The recommended setup process emphasizes offline operations wherever possible. Initialize your seed directly on the device so that the secret is never exposed to an internet-connected machine.
When recording your recovery phrase, use the supplied durable card or a metal backup system — paper can degrade or be accidentally discarded. Store backups in physically separate, secure locations and consider locking them in a safe or using a professional safety deposit box for long-term holdings.
When choosing a passphrase or PIN, prefer a long, unpredictable value. A PIN protects local access to the device, while an optional passphrase changes the seed derivation and acts as an additional secret factor. Losing a passphrase is equivalent to losing the private keys — treat it as securely as your recovery.
Keep device firmware current. Firmware updates often include security improvements: verify updates by checking cryptographic signatures supplied by the vendor. Only use your official companion app or official update utility and avoid third-party tools that have not been audited.
Finally, when you’re ready to move funds, start with a small amount first. Confirm the send is processed, view confirmations on-chain, and then continue with larger amounts. This reduces the chance of irreversible user error and reinforces your confidence in the full backup-and-restore workflow.
If you need advanced redundancy, consider splitting your seed across multiple secure backups using a Shamir-like scheme or professional custodial alternatives for institutional holdings. For personal use, a simple multi-location backup plus a passphrase provides strong protection.