A cold wallet (or cold storage) is a method of storing cryptocurrency private keys offline and completely disconnected from the internet. Without internet connectivity, cold wallets are immune to remote hacking, malware, and phishing attacks.

Cold wallet options include hardware wallets (like Ledger), paper wallets (private keys printed or written offline), and air-gapped computers. Cold wallets are the most secure storage method for long-term cryptocurrency holdings.

Cold storage is recommended for large balances not needed for regular transactions. The trade-off is reduced accessibility — signing a transaction from cold storage requires physical access to the device.