Watch Before You Buy the Keycard Shell

I have been using the Keycard Shell for the past week and there are a few things I wish I had known before buying it. The short video above covers the main ones. Here is the written version.

It Is Fully Air-Gapped

The Keycard Shell does not have USB data, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi. The only way it talks to your phone or computer is through QR codes. You scan a QR from your wallet app to the device, sign on the device, then scan the signed QR back. This is excellent for security, but if you have never used a QR-based hardware wallet before, the workflow takes a few sessions to feel natural. It is not hard, just different from plugging in a USB cable or tapping via NFC.

No Solana Support Yet

This is the biggest limitation to know about before buying. The Keycard Shell works well for Ethereum, L2s, and Bitcoin. If you mainly hold Solana and use Phantom or Solflare, this wallet is not for you right now. The team is working on Solana support, but it is not there yet. If Solana is a minor part of your portfolio, it is manageable. If it is your main focus, look elsewhere.

The Shell Is Stateless

This is what makes the Keycard Shell different from every other hardware wallet I have reviewed. The Shell itself stores nothing sensitive. All the security lives on the Keycards, which are small smart cards with an EAL6+ secure element chip. If your Shell breaks, gets lost, or wears out, you just get a new Shell and slide your Keycards in. Your funds are untouched. You can also use multiple Keycards from the same seed as physical backups stored in different locations.

It Works With Your Existing Wallets

You do not need to use a Keycard-specific app. The Shell connects to MetaMask, Rabby, Sparrow, BlueWallet, Nunchuk, and others through the standard QR hardware wallet flow. If you are already using any of those, the Keycard Shell just becomes the hardware signer behind them. For Bitcoin, Sparrow is the cleanest pairing. For EVM chains, MetaMask or Rabby work well.

The Battery Is Replaceable

The Shell uses a Nokia BL-4C style battery, which is a standard format you can find almost anywhere. This matters for long-term ownership. Most hardware wallets use proprietary batteries that are hard or impossible to replace. With the Keycard Shell, the device can last for years with a simple battery swap. The code is fully open-source on GitHub as well, so even if Keycard as a company disappeared, the community could continue supporting it.

Price and Discount

The starter kit includes the Shell and 2 Keycards for around $135. Use code nordic for 5% off. You can pick it up at keycard.tech. Extra Keycards are worth considering if you want to keep multiple physical backups of the same seed in different locations.

If you want the full breakdown of the device, the Keycard Shell review covers scores, pros, cons, and how it compares to other hardware wallets on the site.