NFC Powered Cold Storage in Card and Ring Form Factors
Tangem takes a completely different approach to hardware wallets by removing screens, batteries, and USB connections entirely. Their wallets use NFC technology in card and ring form factors, allowing you to sign transactions by tapping your wallet against your phone. The Tangem Card and the newer Tangem Ring both contain a CC EAL6+ certified secure element chip with a 25 year lifespan guarantee.
Models
Tangem Card (3 card set)
- Credit card form factor for maximum portability
- No battery, no charging, no cables
- Backup cards provide seed recovery without seed phrases
- IP68 water and dust resistant
Tangem Ring
- Wearable titanium ring with embedded secure element chip
- Tap your finger to a phone to sign transactions via NFC
- Available in sizes 6 through 13 (US sizing)
- IP68 rated - waterproof and dust resistant
- 25 year chip lifespan guarantee, same as the card
- Pairs with Tangem Cards for backup and recovery
- No battery, no charging, no cables ever
Strengths
- CC EAL6+ secure element matches Trezor Safe 5 certification
- No seed phrase needed reduces the most common attack vector
- Card and ring form factors are the most portable hardware wallets available
- 25 year chip lifespan guarantee
- Affordable entry point (3 card set under $60)
Considerations
- No screen means you must verify transactions on your phone
- NFC only limits compatibility with older phones
- No seed phrase means recovery depends entirely on backup cards
- Relatively young company compared to Ledger and Trezor
Our Verdict
Tangem is ideal for users who want cold storage security without the complexity of managing seed phrases. The card is the best value hardware wallet available, and the Ring is a first of its kind wearable that makes daily crypto transactions as easy as tapping your finger.
Tangem Card vs Tangem Ring: Which One to Buy
Tangem Card (3-card set, ~$55)
The Card comes as a set of three - one primary wallet and two backup cards. Each card stores an identical copy of the private key, so losing one card does not mean losing your crypto. You keep backups in separate secure locations. The credit card form factor fits in any wallet or goes into a home safe. This is the better option for most people: lower cost, more straightforward backup strategy, and easier to explain to family members who might need to access funds in an emergency.
Tangem Ring (~$149)
The Ring embeds the same CC EAL6+ chip into a titanium ring you wear on your finger. It runs on the same NFC tap-to-sign method as the card. The Ring does not replace the Card - Tangem recommends pairing the Ring with at least one Tangem Card as a backup. If you lose the ring (sizing changes, loss, damage), the card backup lets you recover access. The Ring makes sense if you want your wallet always on your person and prefer not to carry a card. The higher price reflects the custom manufacturing, not additional security features - the security level is identical to the card.
Using Both Together
Many Tangem users buy the Card set first, then add the Ring later. The Ring and Card share the same wallet, so you can sign with either. The typical setup is: Ring for daily use, one card stored at home, one card stored offsite. This gives you three access points and two physical backup locations. Tangem's app manages all three from a single wallet view.
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