Losing your seed phrase is every crypto holder’s worst nightmare. It’s the ultimate point of no return, where your digital assets are lost to the blockchain abyss with no way to retrieve them. Protecting your seed phrase isn’t just important; it’s absolutely non-negotiable.
In this review, we’ll take a closer look at the Cryptotag Loki, the latest addition to the Amsterdam-based Cryptotag family. We’ll cover its features, pros and cons, and pricing, as well as see whether it makes a compelling choice for you.
What Is Cryptotag Loki?
Designed as a more accessible and budget-friendly alternative to the rest of the Cryptotag lineup, Loki offers a simple yet effective solution for securely storing your seed phrases without breaking the bank.
The Loki is a state-of-the-art seed phrase storage device that combines security, durability, and affordability. Built from titanium, it ensures that your recovery phrases are protected from physical damage such as fire, water, and corrosion.
It is designed for ease of use, allowing crypto enthusiasts to engrave their seed phrases with precision and keep them safe from prying eyes and unexpected disasters. The titanium plate can store up to 24 words, meaning one 24-word seed phrase or two 12-word seed phrases.
As the more cost-effective sibling of the Cryptotag Zeus, the Loki comes at $79 and delivers the same trusted quality in a streamlined package that appeals to both budget-conscious users and those new to crypto security.
Specification | Parameter |
Number of Plates | 1 (one) |
Storage Capacity | 24 words, 12 per side |
Material | Titanium |
Size | 3.8 x 2.5 x 0.11 in (9.7 x 6.3 x 0.3 cm) |
Weight | 5.3 oz (150 grams) |
Material | Aerospace-grade Titanium |
Heat Resistance | 3029 °F (1665 °C) |
Compatibility | BIP39 & SLIP39 wallets (Ledger, Trezor, BitBox, Trust Wallet, MetaMask, and Phantom, and more) |
How Do Seed Phrase Backup Devices Work?
Seed phrase backup devices, like the Cryptotag Loki, are designed to replace paper backups and provide a secure and long-lasting way to store your cryptocurrency recovery phrases. These devices typically use materials like titanium, chosen for their resistance to fire, water, corrosion, and other physical threats. Users manually transfer their seed phrase onto the device, often through an engraving or stamping process, ensuring the information is permanently and securely recorded.
The process begins with preparing the device using a specialized tool, such as an engraving pen or a letter stamping kit, both commonly included in the package. Each word of the seed phrase is carefully imprinted onto the surface, following the correct sequence provided by the user’s crypto wallet. This ensures the phrase is tamper-proof and resistant to environmental damage.
Once completed, the engraved device can be safely stored in a secure location, providing peace of mind that even if digital backups fail, the seed phrase remains accessible. By offering a physical, offline storage solution, these devices eliminate risks like hacking and unauthorized access, making them an essential tool for serious crypto investors.
What’s In the Box?
Cryptotag Loki comes in a compact 5.7 x 4.5 x 1.1 in (14,5 x 11,3 x 2,8 cm) package that includes:
- 1 titanium plate
- 2 privacy covers
- 1 high-quality center punch
- 1 pencil
- 2 ear plugs
- 1 setup guide card
This kit offers everything you need to quickly and effortlessly engrave and store your seed phrase. Cryptotag paid extreme attention to the feel of the unboxing, as the entire process is on par with opening a brand-new Apple device.
Note: while you can buy your Loki kit as a standalone, you can also bundle it with a Ledger Nano S Plus, or a Trezor Safe 3 device.
Cryptotag Loki: Supported Wallets
The Cryptotag Loki is compatible with a wide range of hardware and software wallets that support the BIP39 and SLIP39 standards.
On the BIP39 front, popular hardware wallets such as Ledger devices or software wallets like Trust Wallet, MetaMask, and Phantom are all supported. This offers flexibility, enabling users to either safely store their hardware wallet-generated seed phrase or enhance their mobile or desktop wallet security.
For those requiring SLIP39 compatibility, the Loki pairs effortlessly with advanced wallets like the Trezor devices, which support Shamir’s Secret Sharing for enhanced security. Similarly, the Keystone Pro, another SLIP39-compatible cold wallet, offers robust support for seed phrase management.
On the software side, Loki supports wallets like Rabby, Electrum, BlueWallet, and more.
By supporting such a broad spectrum of wallets, the Cryptotag Loki ensures comprehensive utility for crypto enthusiasts seeking durable and secure seed phrase storage.
Is Cryptotag Loki Safe?
The Cryptotag Loki is designed to provide a high level of safety when storing your cryptocurrency seed phrases. Constructed from titanium, it offers exceptional durability and resistance to physical damage, including fire, water, and corrosion.
This ensures that your recovery phrases remain intact even under extreme conditions. By allowing users to engrave their seed phrases onto the titanium plates, the Loki creates a permanent and tamper-proof record, safeguarding against loss or unauthorized access.
According to Cryptotag, the kit boasts of substantial damage tolerance, including but not limited to:
- Fire: Blocktorch, blacksmith fire, open fire, Closed fire
- Physical damage: Pneumatic hammer, profile bending, metal roller, high-pressure testing, Beretta 9MM (shooting distance 10m), Glock 9 MM (shooting distance 10m), CZ Scorpion SMG (shooting distance 10m)
For more proof of the durability of the kit, see Cryptotag’s testing facility page or check out various tests conducted by independent third parties.
Its compatibility with both BIP39 and SLIP39 standards further enhances its versatility and security, making it a reliable choice for protecting your digital assets.
However, it’s important to note that, when using a software wallet, your seed phrase will also be stored on the wallet itself. This provides a potential entry point for hackers. In this case, it’s better to keep the majority of your holdings on a hardware device and pair it up with Cryptotag Loki for additional protection.
Is Cryptotag Loki User-Friendly?
The Cryptotag Loki is designed with user-friendliness in mind, making it accessible to both newcomers and seasoned cryptocurrency enthusiasts. Its streamlined design simplifies the process of securely storing seed phrases. The kit includes a QR code that leads you to a tutorial page with clear instructions, as well as all necessary tools, such as an engraving pen or letter stamping kit, to facilitate the engraving process.
Users can accurately imprint their seed phrases onto the titanium plates, ensuring a permanent and tamper-proof record. The Loki’s compatibility with both BIP39 and SLIP39 standards further enhances its versatility, allowing seamless integration with a wide range of hardware and software crypto wallets. This thoughtful design ensures that users can confidently protect their digital assets without encountering unnecessary complexity.
Cryptotag Loki vs. Other Seed Phrase Backup Devices
Let’s take a look at the Cryptotag kit lineup, and see which one might suit you best.
Feature | Loki | Zeus | Thor | Odin 3 |
Price | €79 / $79 / £69 | €129 / $129 / £114 | €350 / $350 / £309 | €199 / $199 / £174 |
Wallet Compatibility | BIP39 and SLIP39 | BIP39 and SLIP39 | BIP39 and SLIP39 | SLIP39 only |
Word Capacity | 24 words | 24 words | 48 words | 20 words per share (3, 5, or 7 shares) |
Suitable For | Budget-conscious users, beginners | Everyday use, secure backups | Heavy-duty backup, large phrase storage | Advanced security, multi-share storage |
Note: Most BIP39 wallets like Ledger and Trezor devices come with 12-word seed phrases, meaning you can store 2 phrases on one Loki plate. The same comes for Zeus as well, while Thor enables you to store up to 4 seed phrases. Odin works slightly differently, and its capacity depends on how you intend to distribute your seed phrase shares.
How to Use Cryptotag Loki? Step-By-Step Guide
While finding your seed phrase is slightly different with all the wallets (be it hardware or software wallets), the Loki engraving process remains the same. In this example, we’ll use a combination of a Ledger wallet device and Cryptotag Loki.
- Step 1: During your Ledger wallet setup, write down your 12-word or 24-word seed phrase on a piece of paper.
- Step 2: Place the titanium plate, pen, and paper with the seed phrase written in front of you.
- Step 3: Use the pen to mark the letters that you want to punch in. This will prevent mistakes later on. Note that Loki only has a place for four letters – this is because only the first four letters of each word are enough for your seed phrase retrieval.
- Step 4: Once all the words are marked, you can proceed to punch them in with the engraving tool. Make sure you use earplugs, and place the titanium plate on a solid surface.
- Step 5: Place your engraving tool on the desired letter, and then place your hand above the tool. Pushing the tool down will engrave the letter in titanium.
- Step 6: Once all the words are engraved, cover your plate in privacy covers, store it in a safe spot, and destroy the paper copy of the seed phrase.
The entire process should take you no longer than 15 minutes. Once everything is set, you will have a fully secure backup of your seed phrase, as well as peace of mind when it comes to your crypto holdings.
Cryptotag Loki Review: Closing Thoughts
If you’re looking for a virtually indestructible way to secure your seed phrase, the Cryptotag Loki is the solution for you. Built from aerospace-grade titanium, this backup solution can withstand extreme heat, crushing forces, and even corrosion, ensuring your keys are safe no matter what.
With its precision-engineered design and straightforward punch-tool system, setting up your Loki is both quick and reliable. It’s a cost-effective choice without compromising on the security and resilience you need.
Ditch unreliable paper backups—upgrade to the Cryptotag Loki and protect your keys with a backup solution that’s as tough as your commitment to securing your crypto.