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Keycard Shell vs Krux DIY

What Shell does better (11) and where DIY wins (15) — every spec side by side.

Keycard Shell
Keycard · 2025Shell
5.0Score
11 advantages≈ €110
vs
Krux DIY
Krux · 2022DIY
7.1Score
15 advantages≈ €50
Higher score
9.2Security4.0
5.9Open source5.9
2.6Bitcoin features9.2
4.0Ease of use7.8
9.2Connectivity7.8

Why is Shell better than DIY?

  1. Secure Element chipYes · DIY: No
  2. Anti-klepto (anti-exfil) signingYes · DIY: No
  3. Secure bootYes · DIY: No
  4. Duress PIN / decoy walletYes · DIY: No
  5. Wipe after failed attemptsYes · DIY: No
  6. Shamir backup (SLIP-39)Yes · DIY: No
  7. NFC backup cardYes · DIY: No
  8. USBYes · DIY: No
  9. NFCYes · DIY: No
  10. QWERTY keyboardYes · DIY: No
  11. Battery capacity800 mAh vs 520 mAh+54%

Why is DIY better than Shell?

  1. 100% air-gappedNo · Shell: Yes
  2. TaprootNo · Shell: Yes
  3. MiniscriptNo · Shell: Yes
  4. TouchscreenNo · Shell: Yes
  5. Screen size2″ vs 3.5″+75%
  6. Compatible third-party wallets7 vs 12+71%
  7. Bitcoin-only firmware / editionNo · Shell: Yes
  8. Anti-phishing wordsNo · Shell: Yes
  9. Seed XORNo · Shell: Yes
  10. BIP85 child seedsNo · Shell: Yes
  11. microSD backupNo · Shell: Yes
  12. User-added entropy (dice)No · Shell: Yes
Specifications

Side by side

Keycard ShellKeycard Shell≈ €1105.0
Krux DIYKrux DIY≈ €507.1
Security
Secure Element chipYesNo
Secure Element certificationEAL6+—
Air-gapped signingYesYes
100% air-gappedNoYes
Supply-chain & tamper protectionYesYes
Secure bootYesNo
Anti-klepto (anti-exfil) signingYesNo
Firmware & open source
Open-source firmwareYesYes
Source code availableYesYes
Reproducible buildsYesYes
Firmware licenceMITMIT
Upgradable firmwareYesYes
Firmware update viaUSBUSB, microSD
Bitcoin-only firmware / editionNoYes
Device lock
PIN lockYesYes
PIN entered on the deviceYesYes
Fingerprint unlockNoNo
Duress PIN / decoy walletYesNo
Brick / wipe PINNoNo
Wipe after failed attemptsYesNo
Time-delayed unlockNoNo
Anti-phishing wordsNoYes
Keys & backup
BIP39 passphraseYesYes
Shamir backup (SLIP-39)YesNo
Seed XORNoYes
BIP85 child seedsNoYes
24-word seedYesYes
SeedQR backupYesYes
microSD backupNoYes
NFC backup cardYesNo
User-added entropy (dice)NoYes
Stateless use (no stored keys)YesYes
Multiple seeds on one deviceYesNo
Bitcoin features
MultisigYesYes
TaprootNoYes
MiniscriptNoYes
Message signingNoYes
Coin controlYesYes
Own node connectionYesYes
Tor supportYesYes
Replace-by-feeYesYes
Silent PaymentsNoNo
Spending limitsNoNo
TestnetYesYes
Supported assets
Altcoins & tokensYesNo
Bitcoin onlyNoYes
Connectivity
Signing connectivityUSB-C, NFC, QR codeQR code, microSD
USBYesNo
USB-CYesYes
BluetoothNoNo
NFCYesNo
QR code cameraYesYes
Animated QR (UR)YesYes
microSD signingNoYes
Screen & input
ScreenYesYes
Screen size2″3.5″
Screen typeTFT IPSTFT
Screen resolution240 × 320320 × 480
TouchscreenNoYes
Colour screenYesYes
Gorilla GlassNoNo
ControlsButtonsTouch Screen
QWERTY keyboardYesNo
Battery & power
Built-in batteryYesYes
Battery capacity800 mAh520 mAh
Removable batteryYesNo
Wireless chargingNoNo
Design
Weight—150 g
Length105 mm104.3 mm
Width65 mm63.3 mm
Thickness19 mm16.5 mm
MaterialsABS PlasticPlastic
Water / dust resistance—No
Several colours availableNoNo
Warranty (months)0—
Assembled inChina—
DIY build possibleYesYes
Apps
Desktop appNoNo
Mobile appNoNo
Works with wallet appsBitcoin Safe, Nunchuk, Cove, Sparrow, Specter Desktop, BlueWallet, BullBitcoin Safe, Zeus, Nunchuk, Cove, Electrum, Sparrow, Specter Desktop, Blockstream Green, BlueWallet, Bitcoin Keeper, Bull, Liana
Compatible third-party wallets712
Other features
FIDO2 / U2F security keyNoNo
Password managerNoNo
To compare: 0up to 4 models
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