VEYRNOX · Learn · Software Wallet
Software Wallet
A software wallet is a wallet application that runs on a general-purpose computer or phone. Keys are stored on the device (optionally in hardware-backed storage) and signing happens in the app rather than on a dedicated device.
How it works
The wallet generates keys on installation and stores them encrypted on the device. On modern platforms, the encryption key is backed by hardware — Secure Enclave on iOS, StrongBox on Android — so the raw key material never sits in general memory. Signing happens inside the app, gated by biometrics or PIN. Software wallets are the default form factor for mobile crypto and the on-ramp for most users.
Why it matters
Software wallets remove the friction of a second device and offer the best UX for daily use. Modern hardware-backed key storage narrows the security gap with dedicated hardware wallets, especially on iOS and Pixel Android. The remaining exposure is the app itself — malware, jailbreak, and OS exploits — which is why runtime protections like RASP matter.
Related concepts
- Hardware Wallet — A hardware wallet is a dedicated physical device that stores private keys in tamper-resistant hardware and signs transactions on-device.
- Seed Phrase — A seed phrase — also called a recovery phrase or mnemonic — is a human-readable list of 12 or 24 words that encodes the entropy behind every private key in a wallet.
- Self-Custody — Self-custody is the practice of holding your own cryptographic keys rather than delegating custody to an exchange or custodian.
- RASP (Runtime Application Self-Protection) — RASP — Runtime Application Self-Protection — is an in-app defence that detects tampering, debugging, and hostile runtime conditions while the app is running, and responds by refusing to hold sensitive state.
Frequently asked questions
Is a software wallet safe for large balances?
With hardware-backed keys, biometric gating, and Shamir backup, yes — for typical users, the phone is now a good security surface.
How does a software wallet compare to a hardware wallet?
Hardware wallets add a signed-screen isolation layer. Modern iOS software wallets close much of that gap via Secure Enclave.
Can I use a software wallet without a seed phrase?
Yes — Veyrnox is designed around this. See no seed phrase wallet.
In Veyrnox
Veyrnox is a mobile-native software wallet on iOS, with hardware-bound signing via the Secure Enclave, RASP runtime tamper detection, and no seed phrase in the UI. Android ships next.