BitBox

BitBox is a range of self-custody wallets from Shift Crypto AG, based in Switzerland, where the devices are also designed and built. The brand says its wallets have been going for more than ten years, according to its own pages, checked on 5 August 2026. Two units are on sale, the BitBox02 and the newer BitBox02 Nova, each in a Bitcoin-only or a Multi edition; the Multi handles Litecoin, Cardano, Ethereum and what the maker calls 1500+ tokens.

Choosing between them is mostly about the phone in your pocket. In the shop the BitBox02 was priced at 149 euros and the Nova at 175 euros, both with a reduction applied on the day we looked. The Nova adds a glass screen described as scratch resistant, three colours, and Bluetooth for use with an iPhone or iPad. The older one connects over USB and runs with Windows, macOS, Linux and Android. Shift Crypto says the cheaper model is just as safe.

Underneath, both pair an ordinary microcontroller with a separate security chip carrying EAL6+ certification. Three secrets are needed to unlock the stored seed: one on that chip, one on the microcontroller, and the password that exists only in your head. The wallet code and the desktop app are open source with reproducible builds, examined by the community project WalletScrutiny. Physically, the chips are covered in epoxy and the casing pins snap if the shell is prised open.

If the thing is lost or stolen, recovery is straightforward. Setup writes a backup to a microSD card, and you can also display and copy 12 or 24 recovery words that the maker says work in other wallets, so you are not tied to this brand. Password guessing is capped at ten tries. Shift Crypto AG states that it offers no financial, investment or custodial service, which is why no financial regulator is involved; your protection comes from consumer sales law and the published warranty and refund terms.

One thing is worth knowing before you read reviews elsewhere. The maker's own site is dense with promotional codes tied to named podcasters and reviewers, typically five percent off with codes such as RELAI21, BTCMENTOR or ALLINBITCOIN, while the footer links to an affiliate programme and a reviewers page. That is a normal arrangement and not a flaw, but much of the warm coverage you will find carries a commercial link. Look for at least one source with no code to hand out.