Paper seed phrases burn, flood, and fade. Metal seed backups protect your Bitcoin wallet recovery words permanently. Here's how Cryptosteel, Seedplate, Stamp Seed, and Bilodeau compare in 2026.
Your hardware wallet generates 12 or 24 words — a seed phrase that controls all the Bitcoin in your wallet. You write these words on the paper card that comes in the box. Then what?
Paper burns. Paper floods. Paper fades. Paper can be found, photographed, and used to steal your Bitcoin in seconds.
For any serious Bitcoin holder, paper is a temporary backup — not a permanent solution. Metal seed backups stamp or engrave your seed words onto steel or titanium plates that survive fire (up to 1,400°C), floods, corrosion, and physical damage that would destroy any paper backup.
This guide compares the best metal seed storage products available in 2026 so you can choose the right one for your holdings.
Fire resistance: House fires reach 600–900°C. Most quality metal backups survive well beyond this — look for testing data from the manufacturer.
Flood/corrosion resistance: Stainless steel (grade 304 or 316) and titanium resist corrosion almost indefinitely. Avoid aluminum (softer, less corrosion-resistant).
Tamper evidence: Can you tell if someone has accessed or modified the backup? Some designs allow adding a security seal.
Word vs. letter storage: Some devices store full BIP39 words. Most store only the first 4 letters of each word (all BIP39 words are uniquely identified by their first 4 letters). Letter-based storage is more compact but requires knowing the BIP39 standard.
Ease of use: Some require a specialized punch tool; others use screws or tiles. Consider your technical comfort level.
Price: Ranges from $30 to $300+. More expensive isn't always better.
Price: ~$80 Material: 304 stainless steel Method: Slides — individual letter tiles inserted into a capsule Capacity: Up to 24 words (4 letters each) Fire rating: 1,400°C (tested)
The Cryptosteel Capsule is the original and remains the most popular metal seed backup. Stainless steel tiles with letters are inserted into a capsule. Once assembled, the capsule is sealed and very difficult to disassemble without deliberate effort — providing a degree of tamper evidence.
Pros: Extremely robust, well-tested, good manufacturer reputation, works with BIP39 seed phrases, passphrase support Cons: Assembly is time-consuming (sorting tiny letter tiles), capsule can be heavy/bulky, premium price
Price: ~$40–60 Material: 304 stainless steel Method: Steel punch set Capacity: 12 or 24 words
Made by Coinkite (the maker of Coldcard), the Seedplate is a simple stainless steel plate with a punch system. You use a metal punch to stamp letters into the plate — a permanent, physical inscription that won't fall out or shift.
Pros: Permanent (stamped, not mechanical tiles), low cost, compact, made by a trusted Bitcoin hardware company Cons: Requires a metal punch set (sold separately, ~$20–30), mistakes cannot be corrected, stamping requires some physical effort
Price: ~$100–150 Material: 316 stainless steel (marine grade) Method: Screw-based tiles
The Bilodeau uses 316L marine-grade stainless steel — a step up from the 304 used by most competitors, with better chloride corrosion resistance. The screw system holds letter tiles securely.
Pros: Marine-grade steel, very robust construction, clean design Cons: Premium price, similar function to cheaper alternatives for most use cases
Price: ~$50–200 (depending on model) Material: 316 stainless steel or titanium Method: Stamped or engraved
Hodlr Swiss specializes in high-quality metal backup devices, including multi-seed models that can store multiple wallets' seed phrases on one device. Particularly useful for users with both a standard wallet and a passphrase-protected wallet.
Pros: Multiple models for different use cases, titanium options, Swiss quality Cons: Some models require professional engraving services
Price: ~$50 (kit with punch set included) Material: Titanium Method: Steel punch (included)
Stamp Seed includes both the titanium plate and the punch set in one kit, making it the most complete DIY solution. Titanium is lighter than stainless steel and equally resistant to fire and corrosion.
Pros: All-inclusive kit, titanium material, compact, one of the lightest options Cons: Slightly smaller letter size than some competitors
Price: ~$30 Material: 304 stainless steel Method: Punch tiles
The Keystone backup is the most affordable quality option on the market. It uses a different tile system than Cryptosteel — letters are punched rather than pre-cast — which reduces cost significantly.
Pros: Most affordable, respectable material, works with 12 or 24 words Cons: Less-tested than established brands, thinner steel than premium options
| Product | Material | Method | Price | Fire Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cryptosteel Capsule | 304 SS | Letter tiles | ~$80 | 1,400°C |
| Seedplate (Coinkite) | 304 SS | Metal punch | ~$50 | 1,200°C+ |
| Bilodeau | 316 SS | Screw tiles | ~$120 | 1,400°C |
| Hodlr Swiss | 316 SS / Ti | Stamp/engrave | ~$80–200 | 1,600°C (Ti) |
| Stamp Seed | Titanium | Punch (included) | ~$50 | 1,600°C+ |
| Keystone | 304 SS | Punch tiles | ~$30 | 1,200°C |
Do the setup offline: Keep your hardware wallet and seed phrase away from cameras, phones, and internet-connected devices during setup.
Work carefully: For punch-based systems, practice on scrap metal first. Mistakes cannot be corrected.
Verify the backup: After creating the metal backup, verify you can read every word/letter clearly before considering the backup complete.
Store separately from the wallet: Your hardware wallet and your metal backup should never be in the same location. If your home burns down with both in it, you've lost your Bitcoin. Store the backup in a fireproof safe, a bank safety deposit box, or at a trusted family member's home.
Don't store the full passphrase with the seed: If you use a BIP39 passphrase (25th word), store it separately from the 24-word seed backup. Both pieces together are equivalent to full access to your funds.
Tell someone where to find it: Your metal backup is useless to your heirs if they don't know it exists or where to find it. Include it in your Letter of Instruction.
Most security experts recommend 2–3 copies of your seed backup in separate physical locations:
For holdings above $100,000, consider multisig (Unchained Capital, Casa) which distributes keys across multiple devices and locations, eliminating single points of failure entirely. See our Bitcoin multisig guide for details.
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