Cryptosteel Capsule Review: A Metal Seed Storage Backup

What Is The Cryptosteel Capsule?

When buying a hardware wallet to protect your bitcoin or altcoins, the provided paper backup presents various vulnerabilities such as susceptibility to burning, water damage, color fading, or easy disposal.

The Cryptosteel Capsule is a real-world solution addressing these concerns. This top-grade stainless steel capsule, featuring a screw-cap mechanism, houses a rod (or core) where separators, fasteners, and character tiles composing your seed phrase can be securely attached.

With its durable design engineered to endure extreme conditions, your seed phrase remains safeguarded from basically every natural disaster, even from prying eyes. Compatible with a wide array of secret sharing and key generation algorithms, the Cryptosteel Capsule ensures robust security for your cryptocurrency assets.

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Cryptosteel Capsule Main Features

The Cryptosteel Capsule Solo is an innovative solution for safely storing passwords or seed phrases within its stainless steel enclosure. This robust capsule can accommodate a seed phrase or password containing up to 24 words, abbreviated to their first four letters for convenience. The following are the main features:

Durability and Dimensions

Weighing a little bit more than 90 grams (0.2 lbs) and measuring 120 mm in length and 16 mm in diameter, the Cryptosteel Capsule Solo it's built with a solid metal construction crafted from 100% stainless steel. Its shell is made from AISI 303 steel, while the core, separators, fasteners, and character tiles are fashioned from AISI 304 steel, ensuring exceptional strength and resilience. Everything is made with high-grade stainless steel in Cryptosteel factory in Europe, Poland to be specific.

Flexible Backup Compatibility

The Cryptosteel Capsule Solo provides comprehensive coverage for different backup types, including the popular BIP39 (both unabbreviated 12-word recovery seeds and 4-letter abbreviations of 24-word recovery seeds), Shamir Backup SLIP39 (4-letter abbreviations of 20-word recovery seeds), BIP32 root keys, WIF private keys, and Monero mnemonic seeds (4-letter abbreviations of 25-word recovery seeds). Additionally, it offers more than 99% coverage for hexadecimal strings up to 123 characters in length and random ASCII strings up to 55 characters, based on an analysis of over 3.5 million samples.

High Flexibility and Improved Security

With adjustable separators and support for all printable ASCII characters, the Cryptosteel Capsule Solo offers enhanced flexibility, allowing for mnemonic seeds of up to 123 characters in length. Also, its deeply stamped character tiles ensure longevity, while passwords remain protected from prying eyes, enhancing security.

Compact and Tamper-Evident

The compact and lightweight design of the Cryptosteel Capsule Solo makes it easy to transport and conceal, providing high mobility and discretion. Moreover, it features tamper-evident properties, allowing for the DIY installation of a fireproof barrier seal and enabling capsule identification.

How The Cryptosteel Capsule Works

The Cryptosteel Capsule works on a quite simple yet highly effective principle, making sure the secure storage of sensitive information such as passwords or seed phrases. Its design centers around a durable stainless steel enclosure, comprising a shell and a core. Within this capsule, where users can insert steel character tiles, each representing a specific letter, digit, or symbol. These tiles are arranged to form the desired password or seed phrase, with separators and fasteners helping to organize and secure the layout.

The process begins with selecting the appropriate character tiles to represent each element of the password or seed phrase. These tiles are then slid onto the core and arranged accordingly. The capsule's adjustable separators aid in maintaining the correct spacing and alignment of the characters. Once the arrangement is complete, the capsule can be securely sealed using its screw-cap mechanism.

This encapsulation ensures that the stored information is protected from physical damage, tampering, or unauthorized access. Additionally, the compact and robust nature of the Cryptosteel Capsule allows for easy transportation and discreet storage, further enhancing its utility as a reliable offline backup solution for critical data.

Cryptosteel Capsule Unboxing

The Cryptosteel Capsule box has an impressive size and it's quite good looking. Wrapped in protective plastic, it has a sleek exterior. Upon removing the plastic wrapping, you can effortlessly slide open the box, unveiling its contents within.

The packaging consists of two boxes nested within each other. To reveal the contents of the package, simply remove the second box, exposing the items stored within.

Within the box, you'll discover a plastic shell containing several essential components:

1. The Cryptosteel Capsule: The core component designed for secure data storage.
2. Character Tiles: Multiple tiles representing various characters to compose passwords or seed phrases.
3. Separators: Purpose-built elements for word division, facilitating easy retrieval during backup.
4. Fasteners: Mechanisms to securely hold the components in place, preventing disarray or loss.
5. A Sticker: Included for labeling or additional security measures.
6. Instruction Manual: Detailed guidelines ensuring proper usage and setup of the Cryptosteel Capsule.

Within the box shell, you'll also find a convenient quick-start guide. You can basically find all the instructions here, allowing for a quick setup without the need for extensive guides. However, for a detailed walkthrough on utilizing the Cryptosteel Capsule, stay tuned as we'll provide comprehensive guidance shortly.

On the flip side of the box, you'll see a "map" detailing the characters housed within the Cryptosteel Capsule. It's remarkable to note that this map includes not only letters but also numbers and special characters. This versatility means that the Cryptosteel Capsule isn't limited to storing just 12-24 word seed phrases; it can securely hold passwords and various other types of data as well.

How To Use The Cryptosteel Capsule

Getting started with the Cryptosteel Capsule is quite easy from a technical standpoint. With everything you need conveniently provided in the box, including the capsule and accompanying tools, the process is fast.

In fact, there is no need for manually stamping letters onto the metal or using a pen to scribe them. Simply prepare your seed phrase or desired information, gather the character tiles, separators, and fasteners, and follow the step-by-step procedure we'll describe in the following instructions.

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Entering a Recovery Seed Phrase Into A Cryptosteel Capsule

In this section, I'll demonstrate how to input a 12-word seed phrase into the Cryptosteel Capsule. While I'll only cover one word for the sake of brevity, the process is identical for all 12 words. If your seed phrase comprises 12 words, you can back up the entire sequence.

Alternatively, if you're using a 24-word phrase, Cryptosteel allows you to back up the first 4 letters of each word. This method is still effective because the BIP39 mnemonic system employs a unique set of words, with their first 4 letters being distinct from one another. Moreover, most software and hardware wallets recognize these words upon input.

Unscrew the cap and extract the core from the Cryptosteel Capsule. Take out the ribbon labeled "Remember to put the fastener." Flip the core upside down; this orientation will facilitate sliding the letter tiles onto it with the characters facing upward.

The core of the Cryptosteel capsule is now ready to hold the tiles. Let's get started.

I've prepared a sample seed phrase to demonstrate a way to organize yourself for this procedure. Ensure you're in a secure location, away from cameras and other individuals, before proceeding with this operation. Retrieve your backup paper or any other medium where you've stored your seed phrase previously.

Begin by selecting the tiles corresponding to the first word of your seed phrase, in this case, "auction." Lay them down in the order you would read the word on the tile, and to the right of the last tile, add a separator as needed to separate words from each other.

Next, select the first tile corresponding to the initial letter of the first word and slide it down the core with the characters facing upward. Each letter tile features two sides, one capitalized and the other not. Given that BIP39 doesn't distinguish between capitalization for the seed phrase and typically uses uncapitalized letters, you can proceed as you prefer. In this instance, I recommend sliding all of them with the uncapitalized letters facing upward. The same procedure applies for all the other letters of the word.

When you have done with a word, ensure to consistently insert the separator after the final letter of each word in your seed phrase, whether it's a 12 or 24-word seed phrase. This step is crucial for organization. The separator tile stands out from the others, resembling a flower with a sliding hole in the center. Its purpose is to distinctively separate each word, making each word easy to read.

Once you've inserted all the words of your seed phrase, the last tile to add is the fastener. It's distinguishable from the other tiles, resembling a "T," and can be found at the bottom right of the tiles box.

Before inserting the fastener, fold it at a 90-degree angle.

Slide it like in the photo.

Close it by folding it again, but this time back towards the upper part of the core, resembling the eye of a needle, as shown in the photo up here. This ensures that the tiles placed before in the core will remain securely in place.

After checking that all the tiles are securely stored in the core and the fastener will keep them in place, place the frame of the Cryptosteel Capsule back on top of the core.

Rotate it clockwise and tighten it securely. For added security, consider applying an anti-tampering sticker (similar to a security seal available online) between the cap and the capsule frame. This ensures that your seed phrase remains protected from unauthorized access.

With your seed phrase securely stored in the Cryptosteel Capsule, you're prepared for the long haul. If you had a paper backup previously, consider destroying it to eliminate additional points of failure. With Cryptosteel, relying on this single backup is reasonable, given its ability to withstand fire, water, explosions, and various other agents.

Now, the question arises: where to store or hide it? This decision is entirely up to you, and I can't offer specific guidance. However, consider various options such as within a wall, in a safe, tucked away in a drawer with a double secret compartment, or even buried in a time capsule in your garden. Use your imagination and find the perfect solution that gives a sense of security for you.

How to Read the Cryptosteel Capsule

Reading the backup stored in the Cryptosteel Capsule is quite easy. Simply unscrew the cap by rotating it counterclockwise, and with the assistance of a finger, pen, or sharp object, slide the tiles to reveal the words. You can discreetly read the words from bottom to top by sliding them onto the core individually.

Cryptosteel Capsule Design

This is far from an Aliexpress purchase. Made in Europe, specifically in Poland, the Cryptosteel Capsule boasts top-notch quality despite its compact size.

Notably hefty, the fastener is impressively sturdy; once folded onto the core, it resists removal by hand. This feature is quite important, as it prevents inadvertent interference with the device by external parties.

The decision to indent the stainless steel adds to the Capsule's utilitarian design, offering both a secure grip (free from fingerprints) and aesthetic appeal.

Is The Cryptosteel Capsule Safe?

Among all the metal cold storage solutions I've tested so far, the Cryptosteel Capsule emerges as arguably one of the safest option. Firstly, all the words, and consequently, the letters, are shielded within the capsule, thwarting prying eyes from accessing your information merely by sight, a vulnerability present in simpler metal plates, for instance.

Moreover, the capsule boasts exceptional durability. While it offers water and explosion resistance, its fireproof capabilities are particularly impressive, withstanding temperatures up to 1400°C/2500°F. Even compared to top-ranked safes with a UL Class 350 4-hour fire rating, the Cryptosteel Capsule prevails.

Furthermore, the steel material is less detectable when concealed within walls compared to titanium, and its compact size allows for versatile hiding options. Additionally, the fastener, the final tile placed after the seed phrase, provides excellent security as it's nearly impossible to remove with bare hands. This feature mitigates the risk of accidental tile mixing, especially in households with children.

However, the safety of your storage depends significantly on where and how you store it. For instance, if you place the Cryptosteel in a location where you might forget it, such as when selling your house and moving, it may not be the ideal solution. Therefore, careful consideration of storage location is crucial.

Lastly, it's essential to conceal the capsule in a secure place to prevent unauthorized access. The easily unscrewed cap presents the only potential weakness in an otherwise robust product.

Cryptosteel Capsule Alternatives

Several alternatives to the Cryptosteel Capsule offer different approaches and materials for metal cold storage. We've explored a range of options on blockdyor, highlighting some of the most interesting ones.

Stamp Seed: For those who prefer titanium over stainless steel and desire a more hands-on approach, the Stamp Seed presents an appealing alternative. Featuring squared titanium plates and a comprehensive kit for stamping (complete with a hammer), the Stamp Seed ensures uncompromised durability. However, it may be more challenging to use due to the need to physically hammer the letters with metal stamps, requiring a degree of practicality.

Black Seed Ink Cold Wallets: This solution provides metal plates that allow manual scribing with a specialized pen. Users can stack multiple plates, enabling not only the inclusion of seed phrases but also passwords and other information. By stacking two or more plates and fastening them with included screws, the Black Seed Ink Cold Wallets offer versatility and security.

Cryptosteel Capsule Pros & Con

Bottom Line

In conclusion, the Cryptosteel Capsule emerges as a top-tier cold storage solution, offering unparalleled security and durability. With its robust construction and fireproof capabilities, it provides peace of mind for safeguarding sensitive information like seed phrases and passwords.

The inclusion of adjustable separators and fasteners enhances usability, while its compact size allows for versatile hiding options. While the unscrewable cap presents a minor vulnerability, careful storage in a secure location mitigates this risk. Overall, the Cryptosteel Capsule stands as a reliable choice for long-term cryptocurrency storage, earning high marks for both functionality and peace of mind.

👉 Click here to get the Cryptosteel Capsule for a special price.

Cryptosteel Capsule Evaluation

Security: The Cryptosteel Capsule offers maximum security and privacy, with its enclosed tiles making it challenging for external attackers to access the stored information. It's arguably the best solution in cold storage wallets. (Rating: 5/5)

User-friendliness: With everything needed to create a backup already included in the box and clear user instructions, the Cryptosteel Capsule is easy to use. (Rating: 5/5)

Compatibility: The capsule provides ample space for various standards like BIP32, BIP39, BIP44 Hardware Wallets, Exchanges, and Password Managers. However, it may lack sufficient tiles for a 24-word seed phrase plus passphrase. (Rating: 4/5)

Reputation: This reputable Polish company has built a strong reputation over time, offering peace of mind with its reliable return policy. (Rating: 5/5)

Cost: Falling within the medium price range, the Cryptosteel Capsule offers an excellent quality-to-price ratio. (Rating: 5/5)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)