This article explores the best Bitcoin Cash (BCH) wallets on the crypto market in 2024. Here’s what users need to know about every wallet and how it performs across a number of key criteria including security, usability, and features.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
➤ Bitcoin Cash (BCH) is result of a 2017 hard fork in the Bitcoin network.
➤ The network offers fast transactions and allows users to send money globally at a low cost.
➤ Some of the top Bitcoin Cash wallets include Guarda wallet, Trezor and Ledger models.
What are the best Bitcoin Cash wallets?
1. Ledger Nano S Plus (hardware wallet)
Ledger Nano S Plus is a hardware wallet that looks like a USB stick. Although it is small — 21 grams in weight — it’s quite powerful, particularly when combined with Ledger’s software, Ledger Live. With the two, users can manage more than 5,500 crypto assets, store and manage NFTs, interact with DeFi, buy crypto, swap digital assets, and track crypto prices.
You can install approximately 100 apps on your hardware wallet through Ledger Live. The hardware wallet stores the private keys of your crypto assets offline, keeping them safe from online attacks. Ledger Nano S Plus is compatible with Windows, Linux, macOS, and Android.
Advantages
- Private keys are stored offline.
- The wallet offers the choice to secure your device with a pin code.
Disadvantages
- You have to update your device’s firmware.
- The application requires users to be familiar with the concept of hardware wallets.
Get a secure Bitcoin Cash wallet today. Shop Ledger!
2. Trezor Model One (hardware wallet)
Trezor Model One is a hardware wallet that stores crypto assets offline. You can also link the device to the Trezor suite app to send and receive digital assets, buy crypto, swap coins, and organize your assets based on your preference.
Advantages
- The wallet has taproot support, which enhances the privacy of BTC transactions.
- There is cold storage.
- You can add a pin code up to 50 digits long to secure your assets.
- The application has a live chat.
Disadvantages
- Doesn’t support DeFi and NFTs.
- No mobile compatibility at the time of writing.
3. Guarda (desktop & mobile)
Guarda is suitable for anyone that wants a multi-coin crypto wallet. It supports over 400,000 digital assets while allowing users to buy, exchange, stake, and set up multi-signatures. Guarda is compatible with Windows, Ubuntu, macOS, Linux, Debian, Android, and iOS.
Advantages
- A wide range of coins is available.
- It’s compatible with a lot of devices.
- Users can connect Guarda to a Ledger hardware wallet.
Disadvantages
- High in-wallet crypto purchase fees.
4. Bitcoin.com (mobile wallet)
Bitcoin.com is a mobile crypto wallet that allows investors to store their BCH. The wallet also features buy, sell, swap, send, and receive features. Users that want to stay up to date with market data and news can use the tracking feature on the app. Moreover, users can create saving and spending wallets for their crypto assets and include personal notes in their transactions.
Advantages
- Live chat customer assistance is available.
- It’s a beginner-friendly wallet.
- The wallet has a wealth of helpful knowledge articles.
- Cloud backup is integrated into the app.
Disadvantages
- Only available as a mobile app.
- Supports a few coins.
5. Electron Cash (desktop & mobile wallet)
Electron Cash is a Simplified Payment Verification (SPV) wallet for storing BCH. SPV refers to a lightweight client that enables users to view if a transaction is on the blockchain without having to download the entire blockchain. This wallet also allows users to switch their assets to cold storage and set up the requirement to enter two or more signatures before making transactions. Electron Cash works with Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
Advantages
- It’s a lightweight wallet.
- Has the option to move coins in cold storage.
- Allows for a multi-sig setup.
- Works on multiple devices.
Disadvantages
- Does not have an on-site live chat for customer support.
- It only supports BCH.
6. Cash Address (paper wallet)
Cash Address is a website where you can generate a BCH wallet and print it on paper. These wallets are referred to as so-called paper wallets. You can also add a layer of security to your paper wallet by including BIP38 encryption. This means that a passphrase is required to keep your BCH secure.
Advantages
- You can create other different wallets besides a paper wallet.
- Simple to create.
Disadvantages
- Paper isn’t durable.
- It demands extra caution to avoid accidentally exposing your private key.
7. Coinomi (desktop & mobile wallet)
Coinomi is a BCH wallet that supports a range of cryptocurrencies and tokens. Besides storing digital currencies, users can swap coins, interact with DeFi protocols, store NFTs, buy crypto, and send and receive digital assets. Coinomi is compatible with macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS.
Advantages
- The wallet has a live chat.
- There is multi-coin support.
- It is DeFi and NFT compatible.
- SegWit supports BTC, LTC, and other coins with this capability.
Disadvantages
- The app is buggy sometimes.
What is Bitcoin Cash (BCH)?
Bitcoin Cash (BCH) is a cryptocurrency that was created through a Bitcoin hard fork in the summer of 2017.
The group behind the split wanted to increase Bitcoin’s block size to allow for more transactions to be processed per second — at least, that was the plan. Not everyone in the community agreed with the move. So, upgrading Bitcoin did not work out. Instead, BCH was formed as a new blockchain. The Bitcoin Cash network supports 32MB blocks compared to Bitcoin’s 1MB. Roger Ver is one of the most notable Bitcoin Cash supporters.
The Bitcoin Cash blockchain underwent further hard forks after splitting from Bitcoin. In November 2018, Bitcoin Satoshi Vision (BSV) forked from Bitcoin Cash. Another hard fork followed in November 2020, where the blockchain split into Bitcoin Cash Node (BCHN) and Bitcoin Cash ABC (BCHA). BCHN was renamed to Bitcoin Cash and retained the ticker symbol BCH.
The Bitcoin Cash network offers fast transactions and allows users to send money globally at a low cost. It supports NFTs and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications through its sidechain, SmartBCH. The project’s sidechain was launched in June 2021.
While Bitcoin Cash differs from Bitcoin in various ways, they share the same supply limit, hash function, and consensus mechanism. That means Bitcoin Cash has a supply limit of 21 million, its hash function is SHA-256, and it uses the proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanism to secure its chain.
What is a Bitcoin Cash wallet?
A Bitcoin Cash wallet is a piece of software (sometimes coupled with hardware) that stores users’ public and private keys. This allows users access to their BCH and facilitates the sending and receiving of the coin.
A public key is the wallet address a user can share to receive BCH. Conversely, a private key gives a user access to their BCH. This key needs to be kept confidential to project one’s BCH. That means users should store it safely to avoid losing their coins forever.
A Bitcoin Cash wallet can be a software or hardware wallet. Software crypto wallets are accessible via desktop, mobile phone apps, websites, and browser extensions. On the contrary, hardware wallets mainly exist as USB-like devices or might look like credit cards. Software wallets generally store digital assets online (hot storage). In contrast, hardware wallets store crypto assets offline (cold storage).
Also, crypto wallets are categorized as custodial or non-custodial. A custodial wallet is what you get when you open an account on a centralized crypto exchange or service provider. The exchange holds the private keys of its users’ wallets, which means it controls their assets. Conversely, a non-custodial crypto wallet is any software or hardware wallet built by a wallet provider where users hold their private keys. That means they have 100% control over their crypto assets at any time.
How to create a Bitcoin Cash wallet address
Creating a Bitcoin Cash wallet address is straightforward. You only need an internet connection and a mobile phone or computer. Here’s a step-by-step process using the non-custodial wallet from Bitcoin.com, though the process is similar for most other BCH-supporting software wallets. Download the Bitcoin.com wallet on your Android or iOS device. Here’s how to get started:
2. If you have one already, tap the “Import Wallet” button. Bitcoin.com will create several wallets for you, including BCH.
3. Tap the settings icon and select “Backup & Security” to secure your private key (aka seed phrase).
4. Next, choose either cloud or manual backup. Manual backup is recommended if you don’t want to store your private key on online cloud storage services like Google Drive and iCloud.
5. If you choose manual backup, write down the BCH wallet’s seed phrase on a piece of paper and store it in a safe place, such as a bedroom safe.
6. To get your BCH wallet address, tap the home icon.
7. Go to your BCH wallet and tap the “Receive’ button.
8. You can now view your BCH wallet address, which you can copy to receive BCH from an exchange account or any other sending party.
Which type of Bitcoin Cash wallet is suitable for you?
Choosing the right wallet depends on specific factors like crypto experience and investment amount. First-time users looking to purchase or store a small amount of BCH may opt for a mobile or web wallet that offers a good balance of safety and user-friendliness. Conversely, experienced users might prefer a hardware wallet for enhanced security. Ultimately, it’s essential to conduct your own research to find the wallet that best meets your needs and lifestyle.
Choose your Bitcoin Cash wallet with care
The market has many non-custodial BCH wallets for users to choose from, but it all comes down to preference. The best Bitcoin Cash wallet for you will depend on personal criteria. Whatever your taste, caution is the number one requirement for anyone considering downloading or investing in a new wallet. Always keep in mind that you’re the only one that is ultimately responsible for your assets. Therefore, you should always take the security of your private keys seriously.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice.
Frequently asked questions
A Bitcoin Cash wallet is software or a physical device that stores your private and public keys. Note that a crypto wallet stores keys and not the assets themselves. Crypto assets are stored on the blockchain.
Yes, many Bitcoin Cash wallets are designed to facilitate regular transactions. You can use your Bitcoin Cash wallet to pay for goods and services with merchants that accept Bitcoin Cash as a payment method. The wallet interface typically allows you to scan a QR code or enter a merchant’s address to complete a transaction. Be sure to check for low transaction fees and fast transfer capabilities when choosing a wallet for everyday use to ensure a smooth payment experience.
When evaluating security protocols for your Bitcoin Cash wallet, you should look for features such as two-factor authentication (2FA), multi-signature support, and consistent software updates. It’s also wise to select a wallet with a secure seed phrase recovery system. For additional security, a wallet that allows integration with hardware wallets can provide an extra layer of protection against online threats. Always ensure that the wallet’s development team has a strong reputation for security and user privacy.
If your goal is to store Bitcoin Cash long-term, a hardware wallet may be ideal. However, hot wallets like Coinomi, Coinbase Wallet, and Guarda are suitable for those that are regularly making crypto transactions.
You can create a Bitcoin Cash wallet by downloading a mobile app or desktop software that supports BCH. Next, back up the randomly-generated seed (mnemonic) phrase that you’ll receive so that you can always access the crypto assets you store in this wallet.
To send BCH to another wallet, use the “send” button in your non-custodial wallet. To cash out BCH, send the coins to an exchange account under your name and then sell them to receive fiat money. If you want to withdraw BCH from an exchange account, click ‘withdraw” and then enter the receiving wallet address.
You can store Bitcoin Cash on a hot wallet like Guarda, Coinomi, Coinbase Wallet, Electron Cash, and Bitcoin.com. On the contrary, you can use a cold wallet like Ledger Nano S Plus and Trezor Model One.
Most wallets support multiple coins, including Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash. Nonetheless, the main difference is in the wallet address. For instance, the Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash wallet addresses in your Guarda wallet are different.
Bitcoin Cash is not the same as Bitcoin since these are two separate cryptocurrencies running on different blockchains. When Bitcoin Cash hard forked from Bitcoin in 2017, a new cryptocurrency was created. Bitcoin Cash is, therefore, an altcoin.
Coinbase Wallet is a non-custodial Bitcoin Cash wallet that also supports many other crypto assets. This is a different wallet from what you’ll get when you create an account on the Coinbase exchange. The exchange wallet is custodial, while the Coinbase Wallet is non-custodial. You can use the Coinbase Wallet even if you’re not a customer of Coinbase.
A Bitcoin wallet is designed specifically for storing, sending, and receiving Bitcoin (BTC), whereas a Bitcoin Cash wallet handles Bitcoin Cash (BCH). Due to network congestion, Bitcoin wallets often face higher transaction fees and slower processing times. In contrast, Bitcoin Cash wallets benefit from lower fees and faster transactions because of larger block sizes in the BCH network.
Disclaimer
In line with the Trust Project guidelines, the educational content on this website is offered in good faith and for general information purposes only. BeInCrypto prioritizes providing high-quality information, taking the time to research and create informative content for readers. While partners may reward the company with commissions for placements in articles, these commissions do not influence the unbiased, honest, and helpful content creation process. Any action taken by the reader based on this information is strictly at their own risk. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
