A Steelwallet is a physical backup device made of stainless steel that allows you to permanently store your wallet recovery words (also called recovery phrase or seed phrase).
Instead of writing your recovery words on paper, you imprint them into metal.
This creates a durable backup designed to survive environmental damage such as fire, water, corrosion, and physical impact.
Your recovery words are the master key to your funds.
Anyone who has access to them can restore your wallet — even without your device.
Important
A hardware wallet protects your private keys during daily use.
The Steelwallet protects your recovery words if the device is lost, damaged, or destroyed.
Why a physical backup is essential
Your hardware wallet (for example the BitBox02) stores private keys securely and offline.
However, the device itself is not the backup — the recovery words are.
If the device stops working, is lost, or stolen, your funds can only be restored using the recovery words created during setup.
Paper backups are vulnerable to:
- Fire
- Water damage
- Ink fading
- Mold and humidity
- Accidental disposal
- Physical wear over time
A metal backup exists to eliminate these risks.
Security principle
The durability of your Bitcoin storage is determined by the durability of your backup — not by the durability of the hardware wallet.
For a deeper overview of cold-storage practices, see the collection of articles by Jameson Lopp:
Cypherpunk Cogitations - cold storage solutions
How the Steelwallet protects your recovery words
The Steelwallet is made from stainless steel (AISI 304).
This material was chosen because it resists common environmental threats that destroy paper backups.
-
Protection against heat
It withstands temperatures far beyond those reached in typical residential fires. -
Protection against water
It does not rot, dissolve, or smear when submerged. -
Protection against corrosion
Stainless steel prevents rust and long-term degradation. -
Protection against impact
Stamped markings remain readable even after strong mechanical stress.
Independent stress tests comparing metal Bitcoin backups have shown strong durability results:
Metal Bitcoin Seed Storage Reviews
Compatibility with recovery words (BIP39)
The Steelwallet supports the industry standard BIP39 recovery words used by most wallets.
Supported formats:
- 12 words
- 18 words
- 24 words
This includes the 24-word backup generated by the BitBox02.
Why only four letters per word are needed
The BIP39 word list contains 2048 unique words.
It was intentionally designed so that the first four letters of every word are unique.
This means:
- No two BIP39 words share the same first four letters
- Four letters are sufficient to identify the correct word
- The backup process becomes faster and more reliable
Example:
| Word | Stored letters |
|---|---|
| escape | esca |
| amount | amou |
| evolve | evol |
Because of this design, the Steelwallet can store the complete backup while minimizing space and human error.
Where to store a Steelwallet
After creating the backup, the storage location becomes part of your security model.
Recommended practice:
- Keep the Steelwallet separate from your hardware wallet
- Choose a private location only you can access
- Avoid obvious or labeled storage places
Common options:
- Home safe
- Bank safety deposit box
- Hidden secure location
Best practice
Theft risk and disaster risk should not affect both your device and backup at the same time.
Separation significantly increases security.
What the Steelwallet does NOT protect against
A Steelwallet protects against physical damage — not against exposure.
If someone sees or copies your recovery words, they can access your funds.
Critical warning
Never photograph, scan, upload, or type your recovery words into a computer or smartphone.
FAQ
Do I still need the hardware wallet if I have a Steelwallet?
Yes. The Steelwallet is only a backup.
You use it only to recover funds if the hardware wallet is unavailable.
Can I store multiple wallets on one Steelwallet?
No. Each backup plate should contain only one recovery phrase to avoid confusion and mistakes during recovery.
Is a photo or password manager backup safe enough?
No. Digital copies expose your recovery words to malware, cloud leaks, and unauthorized access.
A recovery phrase should always remain offline.
Can BitBox recover my funds if I lose both the device and Steelwallet?
No. Bitcoin wallets are non-custodial.
Without the recovery words, nobody — including the manufacturer — can restore access.
Should I keep the paper backup as well?
You may keep it temporarily during setup verification, but long-term storage should rely on a durable medium such as metal.