BitBox02 review
Updated September 28, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.
Our verdict
BitBox02 is a USB-C hardware wallet from Shift Crypto AG that keeps your keys in self-custody, which suits anyone holding coins for years rather than trading daily. It is open source, sits near the €69.28 price for this category, and backs up with a plain seed.
Key facts
- Best for
- A USB-C hardware wallet for long-term holders who want open source firmware and self-custody.
- Wallet type
- Hardware↗
- Custody
- Self custody↗
- Coins supported
- from 1,500↗
- Secure element
- ATECC608B↗
- Open source
- Yes↗
- Connectivity
- USB-c↗
- Backup options
- Seed↗
- Legal entity
- Shift Crypto AG↗
- Headquarters
- Switzerland↗
- Founded
- 2015↗
- Support channels
- Email, Help-centre, Community↗
- Features
- Self-custody
- Official website
- shiftcrypto.ch
Facts checked September 26, 2026, 4 sources
Apps and profiles
- Elsewhere
- TrustpilotLinkedInXgithub.com
Pros and cons
Pros
- Keys stay in self custody with you rather than with an exchange or provider.
- Open source firmware built around an ATECC608B secure element.
- Coin support of from 1,500, well above the 345 across hardware wallets.
- Backed by Shift Crypto AG, founded in 2015 and based in Switzerland.
Cons
- Connection is usb c, so there is no wireless option and the device needs a computer.
- Recovery rests on a single seed backup rather than a split scheme, so one written copy carries the risk.
- Help runs on email, help centre and community, with no phone line among them.
Who it suits
- Long-term holders who want their coins in self-custody rather than sitting on an exchange.
- You who read firmware and want to check the code behind the wallet.
- Desktop users with a usb c port who hold a manageable set of coins.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants someone else to hold the keys: bynex is custodial.
- Phone-only users: Bit2Me is a mobile wallet rather than a hardware device.
- Long-tail coin hunters: Trezor lists 8,000 coins.
How BitBox02 compares
9.1 vs 9.4
9.1 vs 9.0
9.1 vs 8.2
9.1 vs 9.7
9.1 vs 9.5
9.1 vs 9.6
9.1 vs 9.0
9.1 vs 9.0
9.1 vs 9.0Another self-custody hardware route, with a longer coin list at 8,000.
9.1 vs 8.2
9.1 vs 9.7
9.1 vs 9.5
9.1 vs 9.4
9.1 vs 9.3
9.1 vs 9.2
9.1 vs 9.2
9.1 vs 9.1
9.1 vs 9.0
9.1 vs 8.8
9.1 vs 8.7
9.1 vs 8.7
9.1 vs 8.6
9.1 vs 8.5
9.1 vs 8.5
9.1 vs 8.5
9.1 vs 8.3
Where BitBox02 is available
- Available
- Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, United States
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How much does a BitBox02 cost compared with other hardware wallets?+
It is a one-time device purchase, not a subscription. Across hardware wallets on HodlCue the median price is €69.28, with the middle of the group starting around €52.24. Coins stay in self-custody, so the device is the main outlay you make.
Who holds the coins in a BitBox02?+
You do. Custody is self custody, so the keys never sit with Shift Crypto AG, the company behind the device, which is based in Switzerland and founded in 2015. The firmware is open source, and key handling happens on an ATECC608B secure element inside the device.
What happens if I lose the BitBox02?+
Recovery runs through the seed backup, so you write your recovery words down and keep that copy safe. A replacement device restores access from the same seed. Because it is a single seed backup, that written copy is the one thing standing between you and your coins, so store it offline and well.
Does the BitBox02 work with a phone?+
Connection is usb c, so there is no wireless option for signing from a phone alone. You need a computer with that port. If you manage coins only on a handset, a mobile wallet such as Bit2Me, a mobile wallet, is the closer fit.
How many coins can the BitBox02 hold?+
Support covers from 1,500 coins, above the 345 seen across hardware wallets on HodlCue. Trezor lists a longer roster at 8,000, so the gap matters mainly for long-tail tokens. Most people keep a handful of major assets, so the head of the list is what counts day to day.
How do I get help with a BitBox02?+
Support runs on email, help centre and community, so you can email, read the help centre or ask the community. There is no phone line among email, help centre and community, which matters if you are stuck mid-setup and want someone on a call. Documentation is the main route for a device like this.
Is a hardware wallet better than a mobile wallet for beginners?+
It depends on how you trade. A hardware wallet keeps keys in self custody and signs on the device, which suits holding for years. A mobile wallet is quicker for everyday swaps. BitBox02 is open source and priced near the €69.28 midpoint, so the extra step buys control rather than extra features.
Who makes the BitBox02?+
It comes from Shift Crypto AG, a Swiss company based in Switzerland and founded in 2015. The brand publishes its firmware in the open, so the code behind the wallet can be read by others. Support is handled by the same company through email, help centre and community.
Sources
- shiftcrypto.ch checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Backup options, Open source, Support channels
“In addition, you can always write down your 12 or 24 recovery words manually, which are compatible with other wallets.”
- shiftcrypto.ch/en/about checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded
“The BitBox hardware wallet line started by Douglas Bakkum and Jonas Schnelli in 2015 with the original BitBox01, formally known as the Digital BitBox.”
- shiftcrypto.ch/en/bitbox02 checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Coins supported, Connectivity, Secure element, Wallet type
“Supports Bitcoin, Litecoin, Cardano, Ethereum, Chainlink, BAT and 1500+ ERC20 tokens.”
- shiftcrypto.ch/en/imprint checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Custody, Features, Headquarters, Legal entity
“Shift Crypto AG does not provide financial, investment, or custodial services.”
Compiled from 4 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Price.
BitBox02
A USB-C hardware wallet for long-term holders who want open source firmware and self-custody.