Today we have a really good review for you guys. We’re going to be talking about the D’CENT Biometric Wallet, one of my new favorite hardware wallets.
At some point, you might think hardware wallets and cold storage devices all become similar, but I’m constantly surprised to discover how many new innovations and products are entering the market, like the D’CENT Biometric Wallet.
Who Is D’CENT
One of the most important things to know before buying a hard wallet is knowing who the company behind it is.
D’CENT was formed under the parent company, IoTrust, which has over 20 years of experience in the fields of security, software, and hardware engineering.
The D’CENT Biometric Wallet had its commercial launch in 2018.
IoTrust (and D’CENT) are headquartered in Seoul, South Korea.
Key Features
Every hard wallet has something that sets it apart from the pack, and an ideal wallet does multiple things well.
In this case, the D’CENT Biometric Wallet does plenty that warrants further inspection.
Lets see some of the most important features of this cold storage device:
Biometric Scanner
peace of mind for users who want to really keep their crypto assets safe.
The biometric scanner is located in the middle of the devices ring of buttons used for navigation. Authorization with a fingerprint is a great way to provide fast transaction signing.
Specs for the biometric finger scanner are:
Mobile App
At this point in the life cycle of crypto and hard wallets, you would expect most of these cold storage devices to support mobile apps and cross-platform use, but sadly, not all do.
Thankfully, D’CENT Biometric Wallet does have a mobile app so you don’t need to bust out the laptop or use your computer everytime you want to manage your assets.
D’CENT’s mobile app interface is very clean and easy to use, and it supports all of your D’CENT wallets (hard wallet, card wallet, and software wallets) in one convenient place.
It even supports dApps and NFT management for added functionality.
Private Key Generation
No connection-necessary private key generation is a must for a hard wallet these days and the D’CENT Biometric Wallet allows you to create private keys without having to be connected to any external software.
External software in this case means the desktop or mobile app, but it’s imperative that you can create keys within the wallet itself to stay as secure as possible, and that’s doable thanks to D’CENTs commitment to security.
Bluetooth Connectivity
Some disagree that Bluetooth is important for a hard wallet given that it can be an unsecured type of connection, but I would disagree on this matter and say that having multiple forms of connectivity is helpful for various reasons.
Not having access to your USB cable is one factor that makes Bluetooth helpful, the other is the fact that it’s so convenient, which is what a hard wallet should be along with being secure. The Bluetooth connectivity of the D’CENT Biometric Wallet is very much a welcome feature.
Security
Plenty of the key features that the D’CENT Biometric Wallet can be lauded for are focused around its focus on security, and for that, it warrants its own section to discuss the security of the device.
As mentioned, the fingerprint biometric scanner is an amazing feature that allows for users to make sure they’re the only ones able to access the device if it’s lost or falls into the wrong hands.
Private in-wallet key generation is another valuable security feature.
Those two are hardly the only security features that make the D’CENT special. It has an EAL5+ secure element rating, which is 5 out of 7 in the certified security ranking. In short, EAL5+ is incredibly secure.
On top of that, it uses Multi-IC architecture and a microprocessor embedded OS chip too.
Basically, what all of this means is that it’s a very secure hard wallet, and makes it an excellent choice for safe coin storage.
Supported Coins
Aside from the security of the device, one of the most important aspects of a hardware wallet is the list of the supported coins.
Luckily, the D’CENT Biometric Wallet supports a wide range of coins and tokens. Some of the supported coins include:
Along with that list of some of the most popular coins, the D’CENT supports over 1000 tokens, many of them being ERC-20 tokens.
D’CENT’s software wallet (mobile app) supports all of the same coins and tokens that the hardware wallet does, while the Ethereum card wallet supports all of the ERC-20 tokens and the Klatyn card wallet supports KTC tokens.
Dimensions and Design
Truly one of the most inspiring aspects of the D’CENT Biometric Wallet is its design, and by virtue of that, the dimensions.
Bulky hardware wallets often allow for features such as large touchscreens, but the D’CENT Biometric Wallet doesn’t compromise on-screen functionality in favor of a portable device.
While I wouldn’t suggest using it in extreme temperatures, this hardware wallet is rated for a range 0~40°C.
Looking at those measurements, the D’CENT is very size consciously designed, and it still has a 1.1in OLED display (128x128 pixels), making it easy to use but convenient enough to stick in your pocket and head out the door.
Portability is never an issue when it comes to the weight too. Coming in at only 36g (or 1.27 oz), it’s incredibly light.
This is in addition to the 4-button wheel for navigation through the device, with the Biometric scanner in the middle of the button wheel.
I never had a problem reading the screen and found it well-lit and the buttons were responsive too.
Setup and Use
Getting my hands on the D’CENT Biometric Wallet was the main goal here so I can describe the set up process and how it felt to use it.
I can safely assure that both of these processes get two-thumbs up from me.
D'CENT provide an excellent to use and easy to follow online setup guide for you to view, along with the manual that comes in the box with your hardware wallet.
Adding my biometric signature, aka my fingerprint, made me feel really secure knowing that the wallet had that additional layer of protection.
Entering my PIN and passphrase was also a breeze and the D'CENT Biometric Wallet buttons were responsive which was nice too.
Finally getting to trade and add funds was simple and connecting the wallet to my phone (Android OS) was a little more complicated than I'd like it to be, especially if someone is new to hardware wallets, but it was only a few more steps than adding a new Bluetooth device.
Regardless, the additional steps to connect are there for security reasons for a protected connection on Bluetooth between your phone and your hardware wallet.
All in all, it shouldn't be a culture shock for someone who's using the D'CENT Biometric Wallet as their first crypto wallet, and it'll be a walk in the park for crypto-veterans.
Price and Where to Buy
The D’CENT Biometric Wallet retails for $119.00 USD, on sale from the regular $159.00 price.
D’CENT also offers a Biometric Wallet 2x package where you will receive 2 D’CENT Biometric Wallets for $199.00 USD.
You can also purchase an Ethereum Card Wallet package and a Klatyn Card Wallet package both for $23.00 USD (regular $26.00), where you will receive the token wallet + a backup card.
You can find these products on the D’CENT official website store.
Bottom Line
It can be easy to see all of the hardware wallets and cold storage devices out there and assume they’re all the same.
Most of the time, many of the features are found in a lot of similar devices.
As for the D’CENT Biometric Wallet, it’s not here to reinvent the wheel, but it’s certainly a welcomed addition to the growing family of hard wallets.
Using a fingerprint scanner is a much-needed security feature for hard wallets.
In addition to the compact size and smart design, the plethora of coins supported, and the integrated hardware security, the D’CENT Biometric Wallet is a cold storage device that any crypto-enthusiast would feel comfortable using.
