Coldcard is a Bitcoin-only hardware wallet designed for secure self-custody.
This guide covers the basic setup process for beginners getting started with Coldcard for the first time.
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📦 Before You Start
Before setting up your Coldcard, make sure you have:
your Coldcard device
a secure place to store your seed phrase
a microSD card (optional)
⚠️ For security reasons, it is strongly recommended to buy hardware wallets directly from the manufacturer whenever possible.
🔌 Step 1: Power On the Device
Connect the Coldcard to power using the provided cable.
Follow the on-screen instructions to begin the setup process.
Take your time during setup and read each screen carefully before continuing.
🌱 Step 2: Create a New Wallet
Choose:
“New Wallet”
The Coldcard will generate a seed phrase (also called a recovery phrase).
⚠️ Write the recovery words down carefully and store them securely offline.
Never:
take screenshots of the seed phrase
store it online
save it in cloud storage
share it with anyone
Anyone with access to your seed phrase can access your Bitcoin.
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📝 Step 3: Confirm Your Seed Phrase
Coldcard will ask you to confirm certain words from your recovery phrase.
This step helps verify:
the backup was written correctly
the words are in the correct order
your wallet can be recovered later if needed
Take your time and double-check carefully.
🔐 Step 4: Set a PIN
Create a secure PIN for your device.
Choose a PIN that is:
difficult for others to guess
easy for you to remember
not reused elsewhere
Your PIN helps protect the device if it is lost or stolen.
📲 Step 5: Connect a Wallet App
Coldcard is commonly used with compatible Bitcoin wallet apps such as:
Sparrow Wallet
Nunchuk
BlueWallet
The wallet app allows you to:
view balances
receive Bitcoin
send transactions
Coldcard stores the private keys securely while the wallet app manages the interface.
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🧪 Step 6: Send a Small Test Transaction
Before transferring large amounts of Bitcoin:
send a small test transaction first
confirm it arrives successfully
then transfer larger amounts if needed
This helps confirm:
your wallet is set up correctly
addresses are verified properly
everything is working as expected
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⚠️ Important Beginner Reminder
Coldcard is designed for self-custody, which means you are responsible for:
securing your recovery phrase
protecting your device
verifying transactions carefully
There is usually no password reset or recovery option if your seed phrase is lost.
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