Best cryptocurrency wallet for Nigerians in 2022

A cryptocurrency wallet is a software program that allows you to store, send and receive digital currencies. Unsurprisingly, many are curious about the best cryptocurrency wallet in Nigeria

Because cryptocurrency doesn’t exist in any physical form, your wallet doesn’t actually hold any of your coins – instead, all transactions are recorded and stored on the blockchain.

Some cryptocurrencies have their own official wallets, while other products allow you to store multiple currencies within the same wallet.

Bear in mind that different digital currencies have different address types and you’re usually only able to send coins between like wallet addresses. This means you’ll need to send Bitcoin to a Bitcoin wallet address, Ethereum to an Ethereum wallet address, and so on. Read our article about buying the dip in our other articles.

How do cryptocurrency wallets work?

Instead of holding physical coins, a wallet has a public key and a private key.

• Public key. This is a long sequence of letters and numbers that forms the wallet address. With this, people can send money to their wallets. It’s similar to a bank account number in that it can only be used to send money into an account.
• Private key. This is used to access the funds stored in the wallet. With this, people can control the funds tied to that wallet’s address. It’s a lot like your PIN number in that you should keep it 100% secret and secure. However, it’s worth noting that not all wallets give you sole ownership of your private key, which essentially means that you don’t have full control over your coins.

As well as storing your public and private keys, crypto wallets interface with the blockchains of various cryptos so that you can check your balance and send and receive funds.

How wallets and blockchains interact

The blockchain of any cryptocurrency contains a public record of all the transactions that have been made since it began. Your wallet address keeps a record of all your transactions and tracks your crypto balance. By following the chain all the way to the present day, a wallet can figure out how many coins you have.

For example, let’s say Faith sends Sean 0.0007 BTC. Once this transaction has been verified and added to the blockchain, the ledger records that the amount of Bitcoin at Alice’s wallet address has decreased by 0.0007 and that the amount of Bitcoin at Bob’s wallet address has increased by 0.0007 BTC.

The amounts sent and received as well as the public wallet addresses are all public information.

Types of cryptocurrency wallets

Now that you know how crypto wallets work, let’s take a closer look at some of the best cryptocurrency wallets in Nigeria. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of security, ease of use, convenience, and a range of other factors.

• Ledger Nano X – Best hardware wallet
• Exodus – Best wallet for beginners
• Ledger Nano S Plus – Best value crypto wallet
• Atomic Wallet – Best desktop wallet
• Trust Wallet – Best mobile wallet
• Coinbase Wallet – Best exchange wallet
• Coinomi – Best multi-crypto wallet
• Trezor Model T – Best wallet for experienced users
• Ledger Nano S Plus – Best wallet for staking
• MetaMask – Best Web3 wallet
• Crypto.com DeFi Wallet – Best wallet for DeFi
• XDEFI Wallet – Best wallet for NFTs

Difference between hot wallets and cold wallets

As you’re researching and comparing a range of wallets, you’ll probably come across the terms “hot wallet” and “cold wallet“, or perhaps the concept of “cold storage.”So, what does temperature have to do with crypto storage?

• Hot. A wallet is hot when it’s connected to the Internet. Nothing on the Internet is 100% secure, so funds kept in a hot wallet are always at a slight risk of theft or loss from software bugs or hackers.
• Cold. A wallet is cold when it’s safely offline and can’t be deliberately or accidentally compromised over the Internet.

How to choose the best cryptocurrency wallet in Nigeria

Now that you know all about the different types of wallets available, it’s time to find a wallet that’s right for you. Finding the best cryptocurrency wallet in Nigeria doesn’t have to be a hassle. You just need to consider your needs and compare a range of wallets based on several key factors, including the following:

• The type of wallet you want. This factor comes down to personal preference. If security is your priority, you’ll probably want to compare hardware wallets. But if your main goal is being able to quickly and conveniently access your coins, a mobile or web wallet may be your preferred choice.
• Ease of use. Sending, receiving, and storing cryptocurrency can be complicated and confusing, particularly for beginners. It’s essential that any wallet you choose suits your tech knowledge and level of crypto experience. So while crypto novices might focus on finding a wallet that is simple to set up and use, experienced holders might look for more advanced features including in-wallet exchange and multi-signature transactions.
• Security features. Find out the security features of the wallet such as 2-factor authentication and multi-signature functionality. Will your private key be stored online or offline? Has the wallet ever suffered any security breaches?
• Other features. Check what other features the wallet includes, such as the ability to exchange between currencies within your wallet or provide easy access to live fiat exchange rates or other market information.
• Supported cryptocurrencies. Are you looking for a wallet that stores just 1 crypto, like Bitcoin, or are you in the market for a multi-currency wallet? Make sure the wallet you choose is compatible with the cryptocurrencies you need to store and remember that some coins and tokens can only be held in an official wallet.
• The team behind the wallet. Next, see what sort of information you can find out about the people behind the wallet. How long have they been in business? What qualifications do they have? Are they continually working to upgrade and improve the wallet?
• Cost. While most crypto wallets are free to use, choosing a hardware wallet means you’ll have to be willing to part with some cash. Consider the upfront price and shipping costs when making your decision. Some wallets charge a fee for every transaction you make, so check the fine print.
• Reputation. What level of community trust does the wallet have? Check out a range of independent online reviews to gauge how other users rate the wallet and whether they would recommend it.

How to use a crypto wallet

You’ve chosen your wallet and completed the setup process. Now it’s time to learn how to use it, so check out the step-by-step instructions below on what you’ll need to do.

How to send cryptocurrency from your wallet

To send funds from your wallet, you’ll need a wallet address (the recipient’s public key). These addresses are given in 1 of 3 ways:

• A long alphanumeric string (numbers and letters)
• A QR code (for smartphone wallets)
• A URL-like web link (clickable – opens your wallet automatically)

Once you have this address, you will need to do the following:

1. Log in to your wallet.
2. Click on “Send”.
3. Enter the recipient’s wallet address. Please note that you can generally only send and receive coins. For example, you can only send Bitcoin to Bitcoin or Ethereum to Ethereum. You can’t send Bitcoin to an Ethereum wallet address.
4. Specify the amount (and possibly the currency) you want to transfer.
5. Check any transaction fees that apply, making sure you have enough coins in your wallet to pay the fees.
6. Review the details of the transaction to make sure you’ve correctly entered all the information.
7. Click on “Send”.

Please note that the exact process will vary depending on the type and brand of wallet you choose. Hardware wallet users will typically need to connect their wallet device, enter a PIN or password and manually verify the transaction on the device itself.

How to keep your crypto wallet safe

Getting the best cryptocurrency wallet in Nigeria isn’t enough, you have to secure it. Wallet security is a crucial consideration for any crypto owner, so keep these tips in mind to ensure you keep your funds as safe as possible:

• Research before you choose. Don’t just choose the first crypto wallet you come across. Thoroughly research the security features and development team behind a range of wallets before making your final decision.
• Enable 2-factor authentication. This is a simple security feature available on an increasing number of wallets. It’s simple to use and provides an extra layer of protection for your wallet.
• Pick your password carefully. Don’t be lazy when choosing a password. Make sure all usernames, PINs, and passwords related to your crypto wallet are as strong as possible.
• Consider a multi-signature wallet. Multi-signature wallets require more than 1 private key to authorize a transaction, which means another user or users will need to sign each transaction before it can be sent. Though this means it’ll take a little longer to send funds, you may find that the extra peace of mind is well worth the minor hassle.
• Update your antivirus protection. Make sure your PC, laptop, smartphone or tablet has the latest antivirus and anti-malware software installed. Make sure to set up a secure firewall on your computer and that you never install software from companies you don’t trust.
• Update your wallet software. Take care to update your wallet software regularly so that you always have the latest security upgrades and protections installed.
• Make a backup. Ensure that you have a wallet backup stored in a safe place so you can recover your crypto funds if something goes wrong, like if you lose your smartphone.
• Check the address. When sending or receiving funds, make sure you’re using the correct wallet address. Similarly, if using an online wallet, make sure it is secure (i.e. check that its URL starts with “https://”)
• Don’t use public Wi-Fi. Never access your wallet over a public Wi-Fi network.
• Split your holdings. Consider splitting your crypto coins up between online and offline storage. You can keep a small portion of your funds in online storage for quick and convenient access, and store the bulk of your holdings offline for extra security.
• Private key protection. Remember – you can’t access your coins without your private key, so don’t disclose it to anyone. Check whether the wallet you choose allows you to retain full control of your private keys, or whether you’ll have to surrender ownership to a third party such as an exchange.

Bottom line

There’s no such thing as a one size fits all “best crypto wallet”. The right wallet for you will match your needs, so if security is your number one concern, you’ll probably end up choosing a different wallet than someone who wants fast and easy access to their coins.

The key thing to remember is to do your research and compare a range of wallets first. Bitmama is the right platform to create the best cryptocurrency wallet in Nigeria. Download it on iOS or Android. Read on how to open and fund a Bitcoin wallet in Nigeria