NGRAVE ZERO Review – Best Hardware Wallet to Secure Your Bitcoin

A hardware wallet is a physical device that stores cryptocurrencies offline, safeguarding private keys from online threats. Unlike software wallets, hardware wallets like the NGRAVE ZERO are designed to be immune to remote attacks due to their air-gapped nature. In this article, we delve into the features and security measures of the NGRAVE ZERO, a leading hardware wallet in the cryptocurrency market.

About NGRAVE

NGRAVE is a digital asset security company based in Belgium. Its mission is to provide users with the safest and most user-friendly cryptocurrency security solutions.

Ngrave’s product suite is built in close collaboration with the world-leading institution in nanotechnology, Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (IMEC), along with the research group for applied cryptography, The Computer Security and Industrial Cryptography (COSIC), and many other top tier partners.

The NGRAVE product suite includes

• NGRAVE ZERO: A fully offline, tamper-proof hardware wallet.
• NGRAVE GRAPHENE: A stainless steel, encrypted backup solution for your private keys.
• NGRAVE LIQUID: A mobile application that facilitates transaction management without compromising security.

NGRAVE ZERO Review: Summary

Physical Appearance

The NGRAVE ZERO boasts a sleek and robust design with the following specifications:

• Dimensions: 125mm (W) x 70mm (H) x 13mm (D)
• Weight: 214g
• Display: 4-inch LCD capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels and brightness of 600 Cd/m²
• Camera: 640 x 480 resolution with a built-in light sensor
• Fingerprint Sensor: 12 x 12 mm
• Materials: Constructed from a customized alloy of zinc, aluminum, magnesium, and copper for optimal durability
• Water and Dust Resistance: IP55 certified

Connectivity

The NGRAVE ZERO is a fully air-gapped device, meaning it has no connectivity options such as USB (for data), Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth, or 4G. This design choice eliminates potential digital attack vectors.

• USB-C Port: Used solely for wall charging and secure firmware updates. Firmware updates are conducted in a secure boot mode, ensuring the integrity of the device.

Interaction with NGRAVE LIQUID App

The NGRAVE LIQUID app serves as the bridge between the offline ZERO wallet and the online blockchain network. All communications between the ZERO and LIQUID app are conducted via one-way QR codes, ensuring that private keys never leave the device.

NGRAVE ZERO: Security Review

Security is at the core of the NGRAVE ZERO’s design

• Certifications: The device boasts EAL7, CE, FCC, and RoHS certifications. EAL7 is the highest security certification level, indicating formal verification of the device’s security features.
• Processor: Equipped with an STM32MP157C microprocessor, offering enhanced performance and security over traditional microcontroller units.
• Tamper Resistance: The device features multiple layers of tamper protection, including a custom operating system developed from scratch to eliminate vulnerabilities associated with third-party OSes.
• First-Time Use Verification: Upon initial setup, users perform a cryptographic attestation to ensure the device has not been tampered with during shipping.

Key Generation: The NGRAVE Perfect Key

Users have two options for key generation:

1. Standard Seed Phrase: Choose a 12, 18, or 24-word recovery seed phrase.
2. NGRAVE Perfect Key: A 64-character hexadecimal key generated using a combination of:

• PIN Code: A 4–8 digit code chosen by the user.
• Biometric Data: Fingerprint scans integrated into the key generation process.
• Ambient Light: Utilizes the device’s light sensor to introduce additional entropy.
• User Interaction: Real-time key visualization allows users to interact and personalize their key, enhancing security and ensuring uniqueness.

NGRAVE GRAPHENE Plates: Backup Your Keys

The NGRAVE GRAPHENE offers a durable and secure method to back up your private keys

• Design: Comprises two stainless steel plates — a unique upper plate and a blank lower plate.
• Backup Process: Users punch holes through the upper plate into the lower plate using an embossing pen, encoding their Perfect Key.
• Security: The upper plate’s configuration is unique to each user, and both plates are required to reconstruct the key, eliminating single points of failure.
• Durability: Resistant to extreme conditions, including temperatures up to 1375°C (2507°F), water, corrosion, and physical shocks.

Recovery Options

In case the upper plate is lost

• Ultimate Recovery Code: Users can request a replacement upper plate by providing this code, ensuring recovery without compromising security.
• Privacy Option: Users may opt out of having their upper plate configuration stored by NGRAVE, in which case recovery is not possible.

NGRAVE ZERO: Hardware Review

The NGRAVE ZERO is engineered for maximum security

• Tamper-Proof Design: Features multiple layers of physical protection, including a metal casing that shields against electromagnetic attacks.
• Secure Boot and Firmware: The device’s firmware is designed to detect unauthorized access attempts and can initiate a self-wipe to protect private keys.
• No Debugging Access: Eliminates the possibility of firmware modification or unauthorized access.

Cryptocurrency Support

As of the latest update, the NGRAVE ZERO supports the following cryptocurrencies:

• Native Support: Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Binance Coin (BNB), Zcash (ZEC), XRP, Dogecoin (DOGE), Dash (DASH), MultiversX (EGLD), Tezos (XTZ), Litecoin (LTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Avalanche (AVAX), Stellar (XLM), Solana (SOL), Polygon (MATIC), and Groestlcoin (GRS).
• Token Support: All ERC20 tokens and ESDT tokens.
• NFT Support: Ethereum-based NFTs.

Additionally, through integrations with MetaMask and Rabby Wallet, users can access over 112 EVM-compatible chains.

Compatibility with Other Apps

The NGRAVE LIQUID app enhances the functionality of the ZERO wallet

• Account Management: Scan a QR code on the ZERO to sync accounts with the LIQUID app.
• Transaction Signing: Initiate transactions in the LIQUID app, sign them on the ZERO, and broadcast them via the app, all without exposing private keys.
• Real-Time Data: Fetches real-time transaction data without compromising security.

How Does NGRAVE ZERO Work?

To complete a transaction using the NGRAVE ZERO and LIQUID app:

1. Initiate Transaction: Create a transaction request in the LIQUID app.
2. Scan QR Code: Use the ZERO to scan the transaction QR code displayed in the app.
3. Verify and Sign: Review transaction details on the ZERO and sign the transaction.
4. Broadcast Transaction: The ZERO generates a signed QR code, which is scanned by the LIQUID app to broadcast the transaction to the blockchain.

This process ensures that private keys remain offline and secure throughout.

NGRAVE ZERO: Pricing Review

• NGRAVE ZERO: Priced at $398 USD.
• NGRAVE GRAPHENE: Priced at $148 USD.
• Combo Pack (ZERO + GRAPHENE): Priced at $498 USD.

Prices may vary based on region and retailer.

NGRAVE ZERO: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is the NGRAVE ZERO truly offline?

Yes. NGRAVE ZERO is a 100% air-gapped device. It does not support Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, or USB data connections. It only interacts with the outside world using one-way QR codes, ensuring your private keys never leave the device.

2. What makes the NGRAVE ZERO different from other hardware wallets like Ledger or Trezor?

Unlike most hardware wallets, NGRAVE ZERO is fully air-gapped and comes with EAL7 security certification — the highest level of assurance globally. It also features biometric authentication, ambient light-based entropy, and a completely unique key-generation system (the “Perfect Key”).

3. Can I use the NGRAVE ZERO without the NGRAVE LIQUID app?

No. While the wallet holds your keys and signs transactions offline, the NGRAVE LIQUID mobile app is required for broadcasting transactions and managing accounts. The app serves as the intermediary between the wallet and the blockchain.

4. What happens if I lose the NGRAVE ZERO device?

As long as you have backed up your keys using the GRAPHENE plates (or securely recorded your recovery seed), you can restore your funds on a new NGRAVE ZERO device or any compatible wallet. The private keys are never stored on the app or cloud.

5. What is the NGRAVE GRAPHENE and do I really need it?

The GRAPHENE is a high-durability stainless steel backup for your Perfect Key or seed phrase. It replaces paper backups, offering extreme resistance to fire, water, corrosion, and physical damage. It’s strongly recommended for long-term crypto asset security.

6. What cryptocurrencies does the NGRAVE ZERO support?

NGRAVE ZERO supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, Binance Smart Chain, Litecoin, Tezos, XRP, Dogecoin, and many others. It also supports all ERC20 and ESDT tokens, plus NFTs on Ethereum. Support for more chains is expanding regularly.

7. Is the NGRAVE ZERO open source?

As of now, the firmware is not fully open-source but NGRAVE has announced plans to open portions of the codebase for community review and increased transparency.

8. Can the fingerprint sensor be used to unlock the device?

No. The fingerprint sensor is not used for authentication. It is used during the key creation process to add entropy and uniqueness to your cryptographic key, enhancing its security.

9. What is the battery life of the NGRAVE ZERO?

The device has a 1200mAh battery with ultra-efficient power management. It can last several days to weeks on a single charge depending on usage. It is charged using a USB-C cable (charging only, no data transfer).

10. What should I do if I lose one of the GRAPHENE plates?

If you lose the lower plate, you can create another copy easily if you have the upper plate. If you lose the upper plate, recovery depends on whether you opted in to NGRAVE storing the configuration during setup. If not, recovery is not possible.

Note: All information is accurate as of June 2025. For the most current details, please refer to the official NGRAVE website or authorized retailers.

Let us know your thoughts on the NGRAVE ZERO in the comments below.

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