Bitcoin {hardware} wallet manufacturer Coinkite has launched a new product. The Coldcard Q1 includes a QWERTY keyboard and a QR code scanner and utilizes the same safety model as the Coldcard Mk4.
Coinkite Releases Coldcard Q1
Over the last three months, firms have been introducing new {hardware} wallets to securely store cryptocurrency assets. In December 2022, Ledger launched its StaxDesign, designed by iPod creator Tony Fadell. The following month, decentralized exchange (dex), aggregation service 1inch Network announced plans to launch a {hardware} wallet.
This month, Coinkite announced the launch of a “high-end” Coldcard. Presently, customers can pre-order from the company and the bitcoin signing machine, the Neue Coldcard Q1, is a battery-powered machine that does not need an electrical supply or connection to a laptop. It features a 320×240 pixel LCD display, which is about 4 times bigger than the Coldcard Mk4 display. The Neue Coldcard also includes a QWERTY keyboard and a QR code scanner with built-in LED lighting.
The device has two MicroSD slots, and NFC capabilities for near-field communication (NFC) similar to the Coldcard Mk4. According to Coinkite’s documentation, USB and NFC data can be permanently blocked. It is worth noting that the QWERTY keyboard allows one to easily enter BIP39 passphrases and the triple A batteries provide air-gapped durability. Coinkite points out that all the Mk4 features are available on the Q1, but many of them are easier to access due to dedicated keys.
“For example, the dedicated ‘QR’ key allows you to view many values as a QR code ready to be imported into your phone. The same goes for the dedicated ‘NFC’ key that activates NFC export/import depending on the context,” Coinkite notes.
The Coldcard Mk4 costs $147.94 each, while the Q1 costs $199.99. Customers can receive a 5% discount when paying with bitcoin (BTC) on the Coinkite website with a promo code. Competition in the bitcoin {hardware} wallet manufacturing market is really heating up with a new {hardware} wallet being launched each month for the last three months.
