COLDCARD Q / Mk5
Display-equipped Bitcoin hardware signers. They create or hold wallet keys and independently show transaction details before signing.
Compare COLDCARD
Coinkite product family
Canadian-built tools for
Canadian-built tools for
keys, signing, and physical bitcoin.
COLDCARD, TAPSIGNER, and SATSCARD may sit in the same store, but they do very different jobs. This page separates the models clearly.
The key distinction
Signer, card, or bearer instrument?
Start with the role—not the form factor.
TAPSIGNER
A reusable NFC signing key that stays with one owner. The companion wallet displays transaction details because the card has no screen.
Understand TAPSIGNERSATSCARD
A physical bearer Bitcoin card with ten independent slots. The funded card itself can change owners.
Understand SATSCARDOPENDIME & backups
Physical bearer USB tools, steel seed backups, and accessories that support a wider custody plan.
See related toolsCompare
Products that should not be confused
| Product | Job | Where you review | Backup / exit | Changes owner? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COLDCARD Q | Full-featured Bitcoin signer | Large device screen | Recovery words, encrypted backup, documented export options | No |
| COLDCARD Mk5 | Compact Bitcoin signer | Device screen | Recovery words and encrypted microSD backup | No |
| TAPSIGNER | Reusable NFC signing key | Companion wallet; card has no screen | Encrypted backup file + separate printed key + wallet configuration | No |
| SATSCARD | Physical bearer bitcoin | Compatible app verifies card state and funding | Unseal current slot and sweep; ten independent slots | Yes |
| OPENDIME | USB bearer bitcoin | Computer verifies address and balance | Break physical seal to expose key and sweep | Yes |
Bitcoin hardware signers
COLDCARD Q and Mk5
Both models are Bitcoin-only signers built around dual secure elements, verifiable firmware, extensive PIN controls, PSBT workflows, microSD, NFC, and USB-C. They are designed to keep private keys on the device while letting you choose how transaction data moves.
Choose Q when
- You want a 3.2-inch display, full QWERTY keyboard, built-in QR scanner, dual microSD slots, and AAA battery operation.
- You use long BIP39 passphrases or frequent QR-based workflows.
- You want the clearest COLDCARD interface for advanced multisig and policy work.
Choose Mk5 when
- You want the same core security philosophy in a pocketable form.
- microSD and NFC signing fit your workflow and a QR camera is not required.
- You prefer a compact keypad device with fewer physical extras.
Reusable NFC signer
TAPSIGNER
TAPSIGNER keeps one BIP32 private key on a credit-card-sized NFC card. A compatible wallet constructs and displays the transaction; you tap the card and enter its PIN to authorize a signature.
What it improves
- The phone does not normally hold the unencrypted master private key.
- No battery, cable, or seed-word entry is required for routine signing.
- Works as a single-signature key or one key in a multisig setup with compatible wallets.
The honest trade-off
- There is no display on the card. You must trust your companion wallet to show the correct amount, destination, fee, inputs, and change.
- Recovery requires the encrypted backup file, the separate printed key, and the wallet configuration. Plan and test this before funding.
Physical bearer bitcoin
SATSCARD
SATSCARD has ten independent slots. You verify and fund the current sealed slot, then the card can be handed to another person without an on-chain transfer. The recipient can keep it sealed, pass it again, or unseal the slot and sweep the bitcoin into a normal wallet.
Good use cases
- Giving actual bitcoin before the recipient has chosen a wallet.
- Teaching the difference between possession, a sealed key, and an on-chain transaction.
- Small, deliberate physical transfers after the recipient verifies the card and funding.
Do not mistake it for
- A debit card, Lightning tap-to-pay card, exchange account, or recommended vault for large savings.
- A TAPSIGNER: SATSCARD is meant to change owners; TAPSIGNER is a reusable signing key that stays with one owner.
- A reusable address after unsealing. Sweep the full balance and never fund an exposed slot again.
OPENDIME, SEEDPLATE, COLDPOWER, and BLOCKCLOCK
OPENDIME
A small USB bearer instrument. Fund it and pass it physically while sealed; break the seal to reveal the private key and sweep. Treat possession as control.
SEEDPLATE
A steel recovery-word backup. It improves fire and water resistance, but it does not solve theft, passphrase loss, poor storage, or an untested recovery plan.
COLDPOWER
A 9-volt battery adapter that provides power without USB data—useful when operating a signer away from a computer port.
BLOCKCLOCK
A Bitcoin data display for block height, price, and related network information. It is a display product, not a custody device.
Supply-chain rule
Coinkite recommends buying from its store or an authorized reseller and inspecting security products for tampering. A discount is not worth uncertainty about who handled a signing device.
Product details checked against Coinkite, COLDCARD, TAPSIGNER, SATSCARD. Features, availability, and pricing can change. Links checked August 6, 2026.