What is Air-Gapped?

Air-gapped means physically isolated from any network connection. An air-gapped wallet or device never touches the internet, Bluetooth, or any online link, so remote attackers have no path to reach the secrets it holds. Transactions are prepared offline and transferred by methods like QR codes or a USB drive that carries only signed data, not the keys themselves.

This matters for high-value security. By removing all network exposure, air-gapping defends against the entire class of remote hacks that plague online wallets.

Example: an air-gapped hardware wallet signs a transaction internally and displays a QR code of the signature, which your online device scans to broadcast, while the private keys never leave the offline device.

Safety note: air-gapping is very strong but only as good as your handling. You must still verify transaction details on the offline device, protect it physically, and back up its seed phrase securely. It defends against remote threats, not against someone stealing the device or tricking you into signing a malicious transaction. Related terms include hardware wallet, cold storage, self-custody, and blind signing.