KeepKey review
Last reviewed 2026-08-12
Security warning
Do not buy a KeepKey, and if you still keep coins on one, plan your migration to a maintained wallet now. The hardware still signs transactions, but firmware development has effectively stalled, and multiple current security roundups advise against continued use. A hardware wallet is only as good as its ongoing maintenance: vulnerabilities found after updates stop are vulnerabilities forever.
KeepKey launched in 2015 out of Seattle and stood out for one thing: a 3.12 inch OLED screen, the largest of its era, which made verifying addresses genuinely readable. The exchange ShapeShift bought the company in August 2017 and cut the price aggressively to grow its user base. When ShapeShift dissolved into a DAO in July 2021, KeepKey passed to community stewardship, and sustained firmware work never recovered.
If you hold keys on a KeepKey, move your funds to a wallet from a vendor with an active security team, such as a current Ledger device or one of Trezor's Safe models. Generate a fresh seed on the new device rather than importing the old one: the old seed's history is tied to unmaintained hardware and software, and a clean start costs nothing beyond one on-chain transaction.
- Made by
- KeepKey
- Screen
- 3.12 inch OLED, 256 x 64 pixels
- Connectivity
- Micro-USB cable
- Released
- 2015
- Coin support
- A short list of major assets; support is effectively frozen
Pros and cons
What works
- The 3.12 inch OLED screen was the largest of its era and makes address checks easy to read
- Simple, sturdy design that was genuinely beginner-friendly in its day
What to watch
- Firmware maintenance has effectively stalled, so newly found vulnerabilities may never be patched
- Multiple current security roundups advise against continued use
- Supported asset list is short and effectively frozen compared with maintained wallets
- Changed hands twice (ShapeShift in 2017, community stewardship after the 2021 DAO pivot), leaving no accountable security team
Frequently asked questions
Is KeepKey still safe to use?
Treat it as unsafe for anything beyond migrating out. The device still signs transactions, but firmware maintenance has effectively stalled, so newly discovered vulnerabilities may never be patched. Multiple current security roundups advise against continued use.
What should I replace a KeepKey with?
A hardware wallet from a vendor with an active security team: a current Ledger device (Nano S Plus or newer) or a Trezor Safe 3, 5, or 7. Generate a fresh seed on the new device instead of importing your KeepKey phrase.
How do I move coins off a KeepKey safely?
Set up the new wallet, verify a receive address on the new device's own screen, send a small test amount from the KeepKey, confirm it arrives, then send the rest. Only then retire the KeepKey and treat its seed as exposed.
Who owns KeepKey now?
KeepKey launched in 2015 and was bought by the exchange ShapeShift in August 2017. After ShapeShift dissolved into a DAO in July 2021, the wallet passed to community stewardship, and sustained firmware development never recovered.