Ellipal X Card Review 2025 – Could This Be the Most Secure Cold Wallet Yet?

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Eliman Dambell

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Eliman Dambell

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Eliman Dambell was a news writer and editor at Bitcoin.com, FXStreet and Investing.com. He commentates on various markets, including Crypto, Stocks and FX.

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April 24, 2025

As the crypto space expands, so does the demand for secure, portable cold storage. The Ellipal X Card is the world’s first fully air-gapped crypto card wallet, combining hardware-level security with minimalist design. In this Ellipal X Card review, we examine how this NFC-based, tamper-resistant device provides offline protection without ever requiring an internet connection.

Positioned uniquely in the market as a fully isolated, card-style wallet, Ellipal aims to redefine mobile-first crypto security with a product that stands apart from traditional hardware wallets. This Ellipal wallet review also examines the X Card’s standout features, compares it with industry leaders such as Ledger and Trezor, and assesses whether it is suitable for both new and experienced crypto holders.

Ellipal X Card Review: Our Analysis

The Ellipal X Card provides a sleek, air-gapped cold wallet solution for users prioritizing privacy and portability. Its credit card-sized design, secure chip (CC EAL6+), and 100% offline architecture create a highly secure environment for storing digital assets.

Transactions are signed offline and completed via NFC (Near Field Communication), minimizing exposure to online threats by increasing the data’s isolation and security. The companion X Card Starter enables seed generation and wallet setup in a fully offline setting, an advantage over online app-based wallets like Tangem. PIN protection and a built-in self-destruct feature, activated after 10 failed attempts, enhance physical security.

With support for over 10,000 tokens across 40+ blockchains, this Ellipal hardware wallet provides broad coverage within a minimalist form factor. Although ideal for experienced users, limitations include the absence of a screen for transaction previews, the requirement of the Starter device for setup, and the lack of open-source firmware.

Despite these trade-offs, the Ellipal X Card stands out in 2025 as a powerful option for mobile-first self-custody. Its strong focus on security, offline operations, and support for multiple wallets and backup cards makes it one of the best crypto wallets for users seeking a compact and safe cold storage solution.

Ellipal Wallet Pros and Cons

Now, let’s cover some of the main advantages and disadvantages of this Ellipal wallet:

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What Makes the X Card Unique Within Ellipal’s Lineup?

The Ellipal X Card is a unique addition to Ellipal’s hardware wallet range, designed for users who prioritize maximum portability without sacrificing security. Unlike the touchscreen-equipped Titan and Titan Mini, the X Card eliminates screens, buttons, and cameras altogether. It functions solely through NFC interaction with its companion device – the X Card Starter, and the Ellipal mobile app.

Built around a Common Criteria EAL6+ secure chip, the X Card stores private keys internally and signs transactions within the chip itself. It never connects to the internet, USB, WiFi, or Bluetooth, significantly reducing its vulnerability to online threats. This makes it a true air-gapped solution, and one of the top non-custodial wallets in the world.

While the Titan series emphasizes standalone operation, this cold storage crypto wallet takes a modular approach. It relies on a smartphone for transaction display and broadcasting, but never exposes private keys in the process. For users seeking a more discreet and affordable hardware wallet, the X Card presents itself as a streamlined alternative, priced at just $69. It’s well-suited for daily use, secondary wallet storage, or as a mobile-friendly companion to the Titan collection.

How the Ellipal X Card Operates

The Ellipal X Card is engineered to maintain complete offline isolation. It uses NFC to interact securely with a smartphone, ensuring that private keys never touch an internet-connected environment. When initiating a transaction, users simply input the details via the Ellipal mobile app and tap the X Card to their device.

The card wakes up through the phone’s wireless energy field, signs the transaction internally, and transmits the signature back, keeping sensitive data fully air-gapped throughout the process.

For crypto wallet creation and recovery, Ellipal includes the X Card Starter, a dedicated device that handles seed generation and PIN setup entirely offline. With its own screen and navigation buttons, the Starter displays the 12 or 24-word recovery phrase without ever requiring internet access, offering a critical layer of privacy during initialization. This makes the X Card a useful option when looking to store cryptocurrency safely.

While NFC is the primary communication method, QR code functionality is retained within the Ellipal ecosystem for pairing in certain situations. However, the X Card itself relies solely on short-range NFC taps for transactions. With no firmware updates required post-setup, the device’s static architecture helps minimize future vulnerabilities by design.

Supported Tokens on the Ellipal X Card

One of Ellipal’s strengths has been broad coin support, and the X Card inherits that capability through the Ellipal app. The hardware wallet is compatible with over 40 blockchains and more than 10,000 tokens, supporting essentially any asset that Ellipal Titan supports, as they utilize the same app and coin library. This includes all the major cryptocurrencies and many altcoins and token standards:

Some of the supported tokens on Ellipax X include:

• Bitcoin (BTC)
• Ethereum (ETH)
• Polygon (MATIC)
• Solana (SOL)
• TRON (TRX)
• Avalanche (AVAX)
• Dogecoin (DOGE)

Below is a list of some of the supported blockchains:

• Bitcoin
• Ethereum
• Binance Smart Chain
• Polygon
• Solana
• Tron

Seed Recovery, Card Duplication, and Backup Security

One of the standout features of the Ellipal X Card system is its approach to backups and seed phrase management. Ellipal provides multiple layers of robust protection to ensure users never lose access to their funds:

Seed Phrase Security

The Ellipal X Card utilizes a 12- or 24-word BIP39-compliant seed phrase as its core backup for the hardware wallet. This seed is generated entirely offline by the X Card Starter, minimizing exposure to online threats. Users must securely record the phrase during setup, as it enables full wallet recovery on another X Card, Titan, or any BIP39-compatible crypto wallet.

The Starter itself holds no data after power-off, adding an extra layer of protection, making it one of the best cold wallets for users prioritizing offline security. For enhanced security, users can also set an optional passphrase, which creates a hidden wallet layer. But this must be remembered, as it cannot be recovered.

Backup Card Duplication

The Ellipal X Card allows users to duplicate their crypto wallet onto multiple cards, offering a practical layer of redundancy. During setup or recovery, the X Card Starter can securely clone the same seed phrase onto up to 10 blank cards. These duplicates function identically, allowing users to keep one for daily use and store others safely as backups in different locations.

Each duplicate shares the same PIN and wallet addresses, ensuring easy use across all copies. If one card is lost, stolen, or damaged, access remains intact through another duplicate or the original seed phrase. This setup reduces reliance on a single device and adds flexibility for secure, multi-location storage.

While duplication provides strong peace of mind, users should still treat each card as sensitive, as unauthorized access to any one duplicate could compromise the wallet. To maintain consistency, any changes to wallet configuration, such as resetting the PIN, should be mirrored across all backup cards.

Ease of Use and Interface Design

Despite being fully offline and security-focused, the Ellipal X Card is surprisingly user-friendly. Below, we see how Ellipal has focused on making the setup and daily use as straightforward as possible:

Card Setup

Setting up the Ellipal X Card with the Starter is a straightforward, fully offline process. After powering on the Starter and inserting the card, users can generate the seed phrase directly on the device. No internet or computer is involved, making the process air-gapped from start to finish.

The Starter also allows for optional backup card duplication during setup. The entire experience takes about five minutes and prioritizes user privacy and security.

App Experience

The Ellipal app offers a clean and intuitive interface that simplifies cryptocurrency management, even for first-time users. The dashboard displays the portfolio and allows users to easily access their coin balances, transaction history, and Send/Receive options.

Beyond basic cold wallet functions, the app supports swaps via integrated third-party services, staking for select assets, and DApp access through WalletConnect. Overall, the app strikes a balance between simplicity and advanced functionality for everyday crypto use.

In-Depth Look at Security Protocols

Security is the cornerstone of the Ellipal X Card’s design. Below, we look at the security aspects of the Ellipal X Card.

App Hardware

At the heart of the X Card is the EAL6+ certified secure element chip. This is a very high level of security certification for a microcontroller. The chip has built-in countermeasures against side-channel attacks and voltage tampering.

Furthermore, the X Card is completely air-gapped and has no physical or wireless interface that can be remotely accessed. The NFC interface is passive and only becomes active when the device is very close to a reader. There’s no way to push data to the card from the internet. This drastically reduces the attack surface.

Anti-Tamper Safeguards

The X Card requires the user’s 6-digit app PIN protection whenever it’s used to sign. If an incorrect PIN is entered 10 times, the card will permanently wipe all sensitive data. The card never outputs the private key or seed. It only outputs signed transactions. Even the NFC communication is encrypted.

Security Comparison: Ellipal vs Ledger and Trezor

Just like Ellipal, Ledger devices also utilize a secure element and rely on a closed-source operating system. Ledger’s notable difference is its connectivity via USB and Bluetooth. The Ellipal X Card’s completely closed nature arguably makes it more secure against remote exploitation.

Trezor is open-source and fully transparent; however, it does not utilize a secure chip, so if someone physically gains access to it, they may be able to extract the holder’s private keys. The Ellipal X Card, on the other hand, utilizes a secure chip and self-destruct technology to protect keys even if they are stolen.

How to Begin Using the Ellipal X Card

Setting up the Ellipal X Card is a smooth, beginner-friendly process, while still retaining the sophistication expected from high-security cold wallet technology. Here’s how to get started in just four steps:

Step 1: Buy the X Card

To use the Ellipal X Card, you’ll first need to purchase it through the official Ellipal website. The Ellipal X Card comes with the Starter device, which is required for initializing the Card, as it does not have a screen or physical input capabilities.

After adding the Ellipal X Card to your cart, please enter your email address, delivery address, card information, and confirm the purchase. The Ellipal X Card is currently priced at $69, reduced from its original $79.

Step 2: Install the Ellipal App

Next, download the official Ellipal mobile app, available for both Android and iOS. This app functions as the wallet’s central control center. Through it, users can initiate account setup, manage assets, track balances, sign transactions, and interface with the X Card using QR codes and NFC. Ensure that the app is always up to date for the latest security patches and features.

Step 3: Generate the Seed Phrase

Once the Starter device is connected to the app via NFC, generate a seed phrase. Insert the X Card into the Starter and select “Create Wallet.” Choose a 12 or 24-word seed phrase, which will be shown one word at a time, and write it down carefully.

After verifying a few words, set a 6-digit PIN using the Starter’s buttons. After confirmation, the Starter will save this PIN to the card and finalize setup.

Note: It’s crucial to back up your seed phrase offline and never store it digitally.

Step 4: Sign and Verify Transactions

Ellipal’s unique signing process ensures full air-gapped protection. When sending crypto, the mobile app generates a QR code representing the unsigned transaction. Users then scan this QR with the X Card Starter, which signs it securely and sends back a confirmation QR code.

This gets scanned by the app to complete the transaction. At no point is the private key ever exposed to the internet or stored in a connected device.

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Customer Experience and Community Insights

Ellipal provides customer support via email and through its website’s Help Center. They also have an online chat on their site during business hours. The support team can assist with device-related questions, such as setup issues, troubleshooting, and warranty inquiries.

Since Ellipal never stores users’ private keys, it cannot help retrieve a lost seed phrase or PIN, as these are by design unrecoverable for security reasons. Ellipal also has an active user community, with over 5.2K followers on its Official Reddit page, where users share constant tips and feedback.

Final Thoughts

Our review has analyzed everything, from the price and setup instructions to the main features of this new hardware wallet. The Ellipal X Card achieves an impressive combination of security and convenience in a hardware wallet.

Utilizing a truly air-gapped approach in a slim card form factor provides the kind of robust protection typically reserved for more extensive, clunkier cold storage devices. It is also easy to carry and use with a smartphone. For those seeking the best hardware wallets of 2025 and prioritizing privacy, this Ellipal wallet review shows that the X Card is worth a close look.

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Our Review Methodology

At Cryptonews, we aim to empower crypto users with accurate, impartial, and practical reviews that help them make smart decisions in an evolving digital asset landscape. Whether you’re new to crypto or a seasoned investor, our product reviews are designed to be clear, comprehensive, and user-focused.

To evaluate the Ellipal X Card, we assessed various factors, including security architecture, ease of use, supported cryptocurrencies, offline functionality, backup and recovery methods, and overall value for money.

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