Near Wallet

What is NEAR protocol wallet?

NEAR protocol wallet or simply NEAR wallet is an app or a device, which purpose is to safely store users' NEAR private keys. Private keys are needed to sign a transaction (sending your crypto assets from one wallet to another wallet or a platform), while public keys represent your account on the blockchain. In other words, a public key is your address. Before diving into the world of wallets, let us first take a look at the asset itself.

What is NEAR Protocol?

NEAR Protocol is a scalable layer-1 blockchain, utilizing sharding and Proof-of-Stake technologies. It started in 2020 as a decentralized cloud hosting solution for decentralized applications (DApps). 

NEAR is the native token of the NEAR Protocol used to cove the network and data storage fees. NEAR investors can also stake their tokens and compatible assets in a NEAR wallet to receive rewards or use them for governance.

NEAR ecosystem includes cross-chain interoperability, allowing users to bridge ERC-20 tokens and assets from the Ethereum blockchain to the NEAR Protocol network, insuring higher throughput and lower transaction fees. You can learn more about NEAR here.

How to choose a NEAR protocol wallet?

In order to choose the best NEAR wallet for you, you must first figure out what exactly you are looking for. Perhaps you are only looking for a way to securely store your NEAR coins and not use them too often? Or maybe you're the opposite, want to use it every day, hoping to cash in on a price swing and get a profitable exchange? Or you're a NEAR Protocol enthusiast and are looking for something in between?

Types of wallets

There are many types of crypto wallets with features for different users, so you'll surely find a NEAR Protocol wallet that suits you best.

Hardware wallet

This is a physical device allowing you to keep your crypto assets' private keys offline, separate from the gadget that is constantly online. To sign the transaction and send your NEAR tokens to someone, you need to connect the hardware wallet to your PC (or a smartphone). Since your private keys are stored offline, it is very difficult to hack.

The drawback is that it may not be the most convenient solution for everyday usage since you need to connect it whenever the crypto assets should be sent. Besides, if you are careful about your security, you can securely store your funds without additional protection. Finally, the devices are not cheap and may set their users back anywhere between $50 and $400.

Web wallet

Web wallets are accessible as an extension for your browser, or via a separate website. A web wallet is easy to use since they don't require you to download anything on your PC or mobile. Simply setting up an account is enough. These wallets work best for quick, regular transactions.

A web wallet is considerably easier to hack since all of your information is kept on the website itself or the browser. Keep in mind, that some web wallets are custodial wallets, meaning users don't even get direct access to their private keys.

Desktop wallets

A desktop wallet is a type of software wallet that you download and install on your computer. Your sensitive data, especially private keys, are stored directly on your device, instead of on a server. So if your desktop is not connected to the Internet, it becomes a hardware wallet!

Of course, that's not how most of us use a desktop computer. Since your computer is constantly connected to the Internet (and a software wallet needs that connection to work), there is a risk of a virus or a targeted attack on your computer that may steal the data and, by extension, your funds.

Still, if your desktop remains offline and you only plug it in from time to time to send out your funds, it can be extremely safe.

Mobile wallets

Whether Android or iOS, these wallets work fairly similarly to desktop ones, so the pros and cons will also be very similar. With these wallets, your sensitive info is usually stored on your device, locally. Mobile wallets are also considerably more convenient for sending out crypto on the go than wallets for desktops.

Keep in mind, that mobile devices interact with public networks. Public WiFi or mobile data are prone to security breaches, making your crypto less safe. The solution would of course be to either keep your phone always offline or try to secure your connection by using a VPN or any other means. There is also a chance you lose your phone or break it. This risk can, of course, be mitigated by keeping backups in a safe and secure place.

Atomic NEAR Wallet

In Atomic NEAR Wallet you can purchase NEAR Protocol, Bitcoin, and many other coins and tokens. Atomic also allows you to stake, send, receive, track value, and swap crypto with full protection of your crypto, while also getting cashback on your operations. Moreover, all user data is secured by a password (you can also set up fingerprint scanning login into the app), and all your keys are encrypted and saved on your device, providing you with complete control over your assets. While you keep your mnemonic seed in a safe place, no one can gain access to your money.

Atomic NEAR Wallet is a non-custodial wallet, which means you are the only one in control of your crypto. It's a heck of a responsibility, but you're in crypto and you should take care of your money, the same way you hold the keys from your home. Judging by the sheer number of features Atomic Wallet provides, it's certainly one of the best NEAR wallets out there.

Atomic NEAR Wallet is available on a variety of platforms, including Android, iOS, Windows, Ubuntu, etc. The full list of platforms is available on the download page. We don't use a traditional account system, so you can access an existing wallet with a different platform, using your 12-word phrase.

If you ever have any questions about how a certain feature of Atomic works, feel free to contact our customer support which is available 24/7 by filling out this form.

Create your NEAR wallet today

If you are interested in becoming one of the NEAR investors, the best way of managing it in a secure and decentralized way is a wallet. Indeed, having your crypto on a decentralized swap might sound more convenient for day trading. But if you are interested in a long-term investment and considering staking your crypto, a wallet will be the best solution.

Choosing the Atomic NEAR wallet to hold your NEAR Protocol coins in, allows you to easily create a wallet, purchase NEAR (and many other tokens or coins), and swap it if need be, in an app with a user-friendly interface. You can also swap NEAR on another platform by using Wallet Connect (available only on mobile) if you prefer.