Today, I will be introducing you to some wallets, and each of them is considered the best crypto wallet for under 18. But first, let us digress.
Most crypto wallets prevent those under 18 from opening an account with them by setting their minimum age requirements to 18; thus ruling out minors. This is unfair since there is no minimum age to understand cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Binance (BNB), etc.
In my opinion, the best time to buy crypto as an under 18 is NOW. Why? Take this scenario as an example. According to CoinMarketCap, on January 1st, 2021, Bitcoin’s price was sitting at around $29,000 plus. But as of November 9th, 2021, the value of BTC had grown 2.34 times, worth a whopping $68,000. That means, if you had bought this crypto in January 2021, you would have 134.5% ROI (return on investment or profit) 10 months later. Now, imagine you missed that opportunity because of a no crypto wallet for under 18 rule. It is unfair!
What to Know About using Crypto Wallet as an Under 18
There are two types of crypto wallets based on control, and how much freedom you have over your assets. The two types of crypto wallets are:
- Centralized Wallets
- Decentralized Wallets
Centralized Wallets
Centralized wallets are crypto wallets that are controlled, and managed by a third party or an exchange. They are referred to as custodial wallets. Here, you have to open an account and complete a KYC form. You will also have to provide some form of identification to raise some transactional limits.
The problem with centralized wallets is that they won’t allow underage to register, so they are not the best crypto wallet for those under 18. Well, unless you use a fake ID which is not advisable.
Examples of centralized crypto wallets that are no-go areas for under 18 investors or minors are Kraken, Crypto.com, Binance, Coinbase.com (different from Coinbase Wallet), etc.
Decentralized Wallets
These are crypto wallets that require no KYC to register. They are also called non-custodial wallets. Here, you just download an application, and you will create a crypto wallet even if you are under 18. These types of wallets give you total control over your assets; no limits or ID verification is involved. You will also have access to your private keys and recovery phrases and can set pin codes or passwords for transactions.
Decentralized wallets also come in two types; hot (app or software) wallets and cold (hardware) wallets.
Hot (Software) Crypto Wallets for Under 18
Hot wallets are the most popular type of decentralized wallets used by people all over the world. They are free and easy to create from anywhere in the world and anybody including those under 18 or minors. Most of them require you to use either a mobile or desktop app, and you can access some only through their websites.
You will have also complete access to your private keys and they will be managed by you only. The wallet’s company has no access to it. You can use these keys to access your crypto assets anytime.
Here are some of the best hot crypto wallets for under 18:
Trust Wallet (Mobile App)
Trust wallet is the most popular non-custodial crypto wallet that under 18 kids can use to store assets. It is a multi-purpose wallet that can be used to store all sorts of popular cryptos, NFTs, and custom tokens for HODLING. Here is how to create a crypto wallet (Bitcoin, ETH, BNB, etc.) on Trust Wallet:
- Search for “Trust Wallet” on Play Store or App Store and download
- After downloading, open your Trust Wallet and tap on ‘Create a new wallet’
- Choose the type of wallet; single coin or multi-coin. I recommend multi-coin
- Accept all the terms and conditions
- When your 12-word recovery phrases are displayed, copy and paste them into a private area
- Click on “confirm” and tap the recovery phrases on the screen in their correct arrangement
- Finally, tap “Create wallet”
- You now have a crypto wallet even though you are a minor. You can now begin to stack your crypto assets in it.
MetaMask Wallet (Mobile App)
MetaMask is another self-custody wallet that can be used by those under 18 to store crypto. One notable attribute of the wallet is that it supports many networks; giving you the ability to store as many coins, and tokens as you like.
To use the app, download it from Play Store or App Store and follow the on-screen instructions to open a wallet.
Other non-custodial crypto wallets under 18 kids can use are:
- Coinbase Wallet
- Atomic Wallet
- Coinomi
- Exodus
Cold (Hardware) Crypto Wallets for Under 18
Cold wallets or hardware wallets are the best wallets to store crypto by someone under 18, or anyone. They are called cold wallets because they are not on the internet. This makes them immune to hacking, unlike software or hot wallets.
Hardware wallets come like a device, in the shape of a Pen drive, or a Car remote. The most advanced of them have a display screen, and buttons, where you can see your coins and their balance, and control other things.
Overall, hardware wallets are very secure as no one can access them even if they have your device, but no private keys. They are quite suitable for long-term investments, where you can just buy some promising crypto coins, and save them for the future.
Here are some of the best cold crypto wallets under age investors can use:
Ledger Wallets
Ledger hardware wallets are one of the leading cold crypto wallets today. They have a display and buttons for easy control and navigation and come with a secure chip (CC EAL5+) to protect your valuable crypto assets in the device.
Since they are cold wallets, Ledger Wallets come with both Bluetooth and USB cables as a means of communicating with the internet. You can receive coins even if your device is offline, but you have to connect it to a supported wallet before you can send out crypto and install Decentralized Apps (Dapps). Alternatively, you can download the official Ledger application from their websites to manage your device and assets.
Here are the Ledger Hardware wallets:
- Ledger Nano S Plus for $79
- Ledger Nano X for $149
Trezor Wallets
Like Ledger, Trezor is also a hardware wallet and can be the best crypto wallet for those under 18 looking to make short or long-term investments in cryptocurrencies.
There are two models of Trezor wallets; the Trezor Model One goes for €69, and Trezor Model T goes for €249. The only notable differences between the two are the number of coins they support. But, you may not even need that as long as it supports your targeted coins and tokens. So, you can go for the cheaper one to cut your budget, or consider the alternative; Ledger.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, of course, you can buy crypto if you are under 18 or whatnot, as you know what you’re doing. And of course, you are not using it for fraud, or to make stolen money untraceable.
Yes, a 16 year old can have a crypto wallet as there is no legal age for that. However, you can only open crypto wallets on decentralized wallets since they do not require KYC. On the other hand, custodial wallets will require you to be at least 18 to enter a legal relationship with you.
As an under 18, the only places you can buy crypto are on a peer-to-peer (P2P) platform or over-the-counter (OTC). Non-custodial or decentralized wallets do not sell coins, and custodial wallets or exchanges require you to be 18 before doing business with them. Some notable P2P are LocalBitcoins, Paxful, etc. You can find OTC outlets in your area.
First, you need to get a decentralized wallet and then find a P2P platform that supports your country or currency. Make sure you know the crypto you want and how to get your wallet address, then make a transaction with someone you deem trustworthy according to their reviews, length, and volume of operations. Voila! That is how to buy crypto if you are under 18.
Conclusion
A decentralized wallet is the best crypto wallet for those under 18 since they do not require KYC information during registration. They are two types of decentralized wallets you can use; software and hardware wallets. The software wallets work online only, are prone to hacks, and are suitable for the short-term storage of cryptocurrency. On the other hand, hardware wallets are devices that work both offline and online. They are more secure than software wallets and are recommended for long-term storage of cryptocurrencies or HODLING.
