Metal vs. paper backup: protecting your seed long-term
Paper burns at 233°C, ink fades, water destroys it. A metal plate resists 1500°C, water, and time. To protect a seed for 20 years, it's the only reasonable choice.
When you buy a hardware wallet, you usually receive a small paper card to write down your seed phrase. This is enough to get started — but in the medium term, it can be greatly improved.
The limitations of paper
Paper is fragile against three well-known enemies:
- Fire: paper ignites at 233°C. A household fire easily exceeds 800°C.
- Water: water damage or prolonged dampness will erase the ink and alter the sheet.
- Time: over 10 or 20 years, ink fades, paper yellows, and becomes brittle.
Most compromised paper seeds are not due to an attacker — but to forgetfulness, humidity, or a house move. A risk that materializes silently, until the day it's needed.
The metal alternative
A metal backup is a stainless steel or titanium plate on which you engrave (or assemble with letters) your seed phrase. The result:
- Resists over 1,500°C.
- Impervious to water, humidity, and corrosion.
- Practically unlimited lifespan.
Which format to choose?
Two main families of metal backups coexist on the market:
Engravable plates
Cryptosteel Capsule style: you strike letters into the metal with a dedicated tool. This is more laborious but ultra robust. No moving parts, no risk of disassembly.
Assemblable plates
Trezor Keep Metal or Ellipal Mnemonic style: you insert pre-stamped letters into slots. Faster to set up, and just as solid once closed.
For most users, an assemblable format is more than sufficient and saves 1 to 2 hours of setup time. The time saved is significant when multiple copies need to be made.
Best storage practices
Whatever the format, keep three principles in mind:
- At least two copies, in two different geographical locations.
- Never next to the wallet they protect — otherwise a burglary takes everything at once.
- Not with someone incompetent in security — prefer a bank vault to a relative who might misplace the plate.
"A metal backup costs €50 to €150. It's the life insurance of your crypto assets. The math is simple."
Protect your seed from time
Stainless steel plates, titanium capsules — resistant to fire, water, and time.
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