What is Tangem?

Tangem is a technology company based in Switzerland focused on creating secure, intuitive, and elegant self-custody cryptocurrency management and storage solutions. Essentially, Tangem offers hardware wallets that allow users to store their cryptocurrencies without the complexities typically associated with crypto wallets, such as managing seed phrases, handling firmware updates, or worrying about battery life.

Tangem's philosophy is based on simplicity and security. Its hardware wallets use secure element chips and integrated NFC antennas in rings and cards.

What sets Tangem Wallet apart from the competition?

Tangem stands out from other hardware wallets like Ledger, Trezor, and SafePal by several notable features.

  • Form Factor: Two types of devices, card-like devices or rings. Simple and convenient.

  • Setup process: Unlike most wallets that use 12 to 24 word seed phrases for recovery, Tangem offers the option to use a unique multi-card backup system, without the use of a seed phrase.

    This eliminates the need for paper or digital backups of the seed phrase, simplifying the user experience and reducing attack vectors.

  • Battery-free operation: They exclusively use NFC technology to draw power. This design choice enhances durability and security.

  • Security certification: The use of EAL6+ certified secure elements provides a higher security standard than some competitors, who use EAL5+ certification or lower.

  • Durable and excellent warranty: Designed to withstand the most demanding environmental conditions, thanks to its IP69K certification, the highest level of protection available. The warranty is for 25 years.

  • Audited firmware: The firmware integrated into the Tangem chip has been audited and verified by two prominent cybersecurity companies: Kudelski Security and Riscure. Both audits confirmed the absence of backdoors and vulnerabilities.

Form factors of Tangem Wallet: cards and rings

Tangem Card

Cards similar in size to a credit card: thin, durable, waterproof, and easy to carry. A simple tap on an NFC-enabled smartphone opens the Tangem app, where transactions can be authorized, cryptos managed, and DeFi interacted with.

Tangem Ring

Tangem Ring is the world's first hardware wallet in the form of a ring. It is hypoallergenic and made from zirconia ceramic. The ring contains the same secure chip technology as the card and works identically; it allows users to authorize transactions with a simple tap.

This portable approach makes cryptocurrency management convenient, secure, and discreet in public or high-risk environments.

Features and functionalities of Tangem Wallet

Tangem wallets are designed to offer a comprehensive set of features that cater to both new and more experienced users:

  • Support for multiple assets: Users can buy, sell, stake, swap, and store over 16,000 tokens across more than 80 blockchains. They can also interact with decentralized applications (dApps) and manage NFTs.

  • NFC Technology: Transactions are signed simply by tapping the card/ring with an NFC-enabled smartphone, optimizing the user experience. No cables, Bluetooth, or USB.

  • Tangem Express: An integrated service for buying, selling, and swapping that aggregates various providers, including decentralized exchanges (DEX), centralized exchanges (CEX), and blockchain bridges, allowing users to trade and move their funds securely.

  • Security measures: Private keys are generated and securely stored within the device's chip, never exposed externally. The use of EAL6+ secure elements ensures a high level of protection against potential threats.

The next big step: Tangem Pay

Tangem is entering the next phase of its mission for global adoption by more cryptocurrency users, Tangem Pay, an innovative payment solution that integrates with the Visa network. This marks an incredible milestone in merging self-custody of cryptocurrencies with fiat utility.

Tangem Pay will allow users to make payments directly from their crypto wallets at any Visa-compatible terminal worldwide. By using stablecoins like USDT on fast and low-cost blockchains like Polygon, Tangem Pay bridges decentralized finance and traditional point-of-sale systems.

Conclusion

Tangem is pioneering a new era of ownership, security, and usability of cryptocurrencies. With its card and ring-based wallets, NFC simplicity, backups without seed phrases, and soon, real-world payments through Tangem Pay, it is not just a wallet: it is a lifestyle shift towards true ownership of your assets. Tangem is more than a hardware wallet company. It is a gateway to a decentralized future.