When I first started searching about cryptocurrency it created a huge confusion in my head that how the blockchain works and what is mining, etc, etc. I felt that dealing with this currency is just out of the box for me. However, when I got acquainted with the concept of digital wallets or in particular cryptocurrency wallets, it bought a relief and I thought to share how these wallets prove to be advantageous to the common man who is not interested to get into the blockchain concept and just do transactions and earn money. Also, we shall have a look at its cons and how to not fall prey to them. So, let us start with the basic question

What is a cryptocurrency wallet?

A cryptocurrency wallet is nothing but a software program which stores two keys public and private. It interacts with various blockchain which enables users to make transactions in digital currency and can also monitor their balance. So if you want to use a cryptocurrency you need to have a digital wallet. It is kind of similar to your physical wallet with some major and secure differences.

Here's how cryptocurrency wallets work:

There are two requirements to conduct transactions in crypto-currency First, you need the wallet's address sometimes referred to by the name of you private key and the second one is the key that you use to access your private keys.

A public key is similar to your bank account number. You are able to use your account number with other people or institutions to either send or receive funds. In the same way, you can use your public key that is the address for your wallet for receiving the cryptocurrency.

The private key for your crypto wallet may be compared with the password to your bank account or the PIN for debit card. This is private. You shouldn't give your PIN to anyone as it could give them gain access to the bank account.

Private keys are a code that allows you to access your cryptocurrency.

Types of Wallets:

Based on what the users want to do with cryptocurrency there are many alternatives to crypto wallets you can put on the market.

For instance there are many crypto investors who are planning to keep their wallets over a longer time. This is why they may select a wallet with outstanding security features. However those who regularly trade in cryptocurrency may be looking for speed and convenience.

Depending on whether or not the account is able to be linked to Internet and if not it is classified into hot and cold cryptocurrency wallets.

It can be broken into three categories software, hardware, and paper.

1. Desktop wallets: Here the wallets are downloaded and installed on a PC or laptop. They are accessible only through the PC they were installed. A. The downfall is that they can be attacked by virus and your transactions can be manipulated and hence is hackable. B. If no pneumonic code is been generated for your wallet then you can hardly do anything for our backup.

2. Online/Cloud wallets: These run on the cloud and are accessible from any computing device situated at any location. The pros are that they are less secure as your private key can be hacked easily as online wallets store your private keys on cloud

3. Mobile Wallet:  Such wallets run on an app installed on your phone and are also useful because they can be used anywhere. They are smaller and simpler than desktop. These are very much secure as some of them have multi-signature accesses. They have a backup feature so you can create a pneumonic (kind of a phrase)  and if you lose your phone can take a backup to your wallet using the phrase. Also, it is a misconception that your wallet stores cryptocurrency. The truth is that cryptocurrency is stored in a publicly available ledger (a computer file which totals the records of transactions) and what we have in our wallet are its keys.

4. Hardware wallets: Now unlike software wallets these wallets are responsible for storing user’s private keys on a hardware device like a USB. These wallets make transactions online but store them offline which increases security. These wallets are most recommended as they provide additional security.

5. Paper wallets: These are the least recommended ones but are easy to use and provide a high level of security. You can take a print of the public and private key on a piece of paper and store it. There are cons like if you lose it without taking a backup then can cause problems. However pneumonic is available.

Quick hacks to secure your wallet:

• Always have a backup for your wallet

• Update your software

• Add extra security such as two-factor verification (Google authentication is recommended)

5 Best wallets to use:

• Bread wallets:

They are very easy to use and best for the beginners. They provide good privacy, have user-friendly UI, open source software and are free. But it comes with some cons of having less security and easily hackable, lacks good features and has no web or desktop interface. But if you are looking for a minimal amount of transaction then this is a good option.

• Mycelium

This wallet is available for both Android and IOS users and can be downloaded free from the respective stores. They are very good to use for bitcoin transactions. These are little tough to understand for the beginners but the transactions are fairly straightforward. UI is not that attractive as the black and white colour usage makes it look dull and boring. Privacy is maintained and has advanced security features.

• JAXX

The best feature about this wallet is that it is a multi-currency wallet linking across multiple platforms and also it has one of the best UX design and is easy to use, it also has good privacy and freedom. Few cons are that it is not an open source code and can be slow to load. But it is the most go-to multi-currency wallet because of so many pros.

• TREZOR

It is a hardware bitcoin wallet which has a good capacity to store a large number of bitcoins. It has a really good security and privacy. It is never affected by malware and never exposes user’s private keys. It is open source software and at the same time is beginner friendly. However, it is not free and costs $99 and must have devices to send bitcoins.

• LEDGER NANO

It is a multi-currency wallet and is not that expensive as compared to other hardware wallets and is cheapest among the 3 hardware wallets with screens having prices as Ledger Nano: $95, Trezor  & KeepKey: $99. They have 3rd party apps and also have U2F support. But along with pros come cons that it is not as advanced as other two hardware wallets as it has no ability to create hidden accounts and has no password manager. But it is also known for it is easiest to use with very good security.

So, above was a brief summary of wallets and how they can be beneficial to a layman. It was a detailed analysis and their usage is just a suggestion. Thus, have your own opinion as well and invest wisely.