Cold Wallet
A wallet whose keys are generated and stored offline, cutting off the remote attacks that target connected devices.
Keep the private key somewhere with no internet connection and remote attackers can't reach it. That's the whole idea. A cold wallet might be a hardware device, or just keys written on paper and locked in a safe.
Signing still works: you build the transaction, sign it offline, then broadcast the signed result from an online machine. The trade-off is friction. Cold storage suits long-term holdings, not the coins you trade weekly.
Related terms
A crypto wallet kept connected to the internet for fast access, trading the convenience against higher exposure to theft.
Hardware WalletA dedicated physical device that holds your private keys and signs transactions without exposing them to your computer.
Cold StorageKeeping crypto keys completely offline for long-term safekeeping, out of reach of malware and remote attackers.
Private KeyThe secret number that proves ownership of crypto and authorizes spending it; whoever holds it controls the funds.