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Block Bitkey or Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5?

The exact editions, side by side: how you’ll use them and the limits to know.

Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5

One edition

Wallet 2

Add a wallet

Wallet 3

Filters

Connection for signing: NFC

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In short

Recorded differences: Controls / Display and Wallet recovery.

Block BitkeyOne edition

Price at Block

Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5One edition

Price at Coinkite

Approve transactions

Computer: Block Bitkey:
Transaction approval not confirmed for your selected criteria; Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5:
Transaction approval not confirmed for your selected criteria
iPhone: Block Bitkey:
NFCBitkey app · Bitcoin; Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5:
NFCNunchuk · Bitcoin
iPhone · Nunchuk · NFC · BitcoinSupport for wallet setup is unconfirmed
Android: Block Bitkey:
NFCBitkey app · Bitcoin; Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5:
NFCNunchuk · Bitcoin
Android · Nunchuk · NFC · BitcoinSupport for wallet setup is unconfirmed

Where they differ

Controls / Display: Block Bitkey:Touchscreen; Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5:Physical buttonsDisplay: Display without touch input
Wallet recovery: Block Bitkey:Phone, hardware and server keys with assisted recovery. Check service and country availability.; Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5:Recovery phrase
Battery: Block Bitkey:Rechargeable; Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5:No battery

What they have in common

Cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin-only
Both

Not fully confirmed

Operating power: Block Bitkey:Not recorded; Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5:USB power

Before you choose

Consider

Block BitkeyTwo of three keys are needed. Recovery involves your phone, cloud storage and the service, rather than a conventional recovery phrase.

Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5Needs USB-C power during use. Check the current seed-generation advisory before reusing an older wallet; updating alone does not repair an affected seed.

Apps and requirements

Show detailsHide details

Connectivity

Block Bitkey

iPhone · Android

Bitkey appNFCBitcoin

Connection requirements

Needs an NFC phone and the Bitkey app. Setup requires a cloud backup and email alerts; recovery depends on the keys and backup access you retain.

Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5

Computer

SparrowmicroSDBitcoinWindows · macOS · Linux

Connection requirements

Sparrow exchanges unsigned and signed Bitcoin transaction files (PSBTs) with Mk5 through microSD. Your computer needs a compatible card reader.

SparrowUSBBitcoinWindows · macOS · LinuxMk5 set up and unlocked · verified current firmware · USB data enabled · data cable

Connection requirements

Start with a Mk5 already initialized under its setup guide, running the verified current recommended standard firmware. Keep Mk5 unlocked, enable USB data and use a data-capable USB-C cable. Then add its wallet to Sparrow and sign Bitcoin transactions over USB.

iPhone · Android

NunchukNFCBitcoinSupport for wallet setup is unconfirmed

Connection requirements

Use Nunchuk on a compatible NFC phone with an already initialized Mk5, powered on and with NFC enabled. Import the wallet’s public account into Nunchuk before exchanging Bitcoin transaction files (PSBTs).

Hardware detailsDifferent: 2 · Same: 1 · Not fully recorded: 6Show details (9)Hide details

Block BitkeyCoinkite COLDCARD Mk5

Display

Display type: Block Bitkey:OLED; Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5:LCD
Screen diagonal: Block Bitkey:Not recorded; Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5:1.54″
Colour mode: Block Bitkey:Not recorded; Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5:Monochrome

Size and weight

Dimensions: Block Bitkey:66 × 60 × 13.6 mmDimensions as listed by the manufacturer; Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5:Not recorded
Device weight: Block Bitkey:79 g; Coinkite COLDCARD Mk5:Not recorded