Trezor: my personal experience with a "reliable" cryptocurrency wallet

My Introduction to Trezor

When I first heard about Trezor, as a newcomer to crypto, I was immediately attracted by the idea of "cold" storage. The company SatoshiLabs created this thing back in 2013, and since then it has become almost a religious attribute for serious cryptocurrency enthusiasts. But let's be honest – it's not all as rosy as marketers portray.

The treasure works offline – private keys never leave the device. Sounds cool, but is it worth the money? Especially when prices in the Russian market are inflated to absurd levels.

Model Range: Overpaying for Show or Real Differences?

Trezor Model T – the flagship for show?

The most expensive in the lineup is the Model T. Color touchscreen, support for 1800+ coins, Shamir Backup for splitting the seed phrase... Price? About $179! Seriously? For a small plastic box?

Yes, there is integration with DApps and work with MetaMask, but let's be honest – most users never use even half of these features. Instead, they will brag to their friends about their "premium" wallet.

Model One – for the poor, but proud

Model One – budget version for $59. Monochrome screen, two buttons, supports 1450 coins. But without XRP and without TRC-20 tokens! That is, if you hold USDT on Tron, forget about this model. And this is a very popular option due to low fees.

Safe 3 and Safe 5 – new models with questionable advantages

The new Safe 3 models ($79) and Safe 5 ($169) seem to be reinforced with a Secure Element chip for protection against physical attacks. But how many regular users have encountered physical attacks on their wallets? I'm more concerned about whether I will lose my seed phrase when moving!

Purchase: beware of counterfeits!

It is officially recommended to buy only through trezor.io, but delivery to Russia is a separate quest. One has to turn to resellers, where prices range from 5,870 to 26,950 rubles according to Yandex.Market. And how to distinguish the original from a counterfeit? Holographic stickers? Seriously? In 2025, such stickers can be ordered anywhere!

Setup: Not as easy as promised

The setup seems simple – connected to the computer, installed Trezor Suite, created a wallet, wrote down the seed phrase... But try explaining to grandma what a seed phrase is and why it shouldn't be stored in phone notes! And what if something goes wrong during the firmware update? That's when the real fun with tech support begins.

Comparison with Competitors: Isn't Ledger Better?

The Ledger with Bluetooth and mobile app looks more appealing for everyday use. Yes, Trezor has open-source code - but how many of us actually check that code? Let's be honest, we just trust that someone else has done it.

Moreover, the lack of support for TRC-20 tokens by Trezor is a serious drawback in 2025, when many are using this network for transactions.

My verdict: do you need a Trezor?

If you have cryptocurrencies worth more than you are willing to lose – yes, a hardware wallet is necessary. But do not succumb to the hype around specific brands.

Model One for $59 is suitable for beginners with small amounts. Safe 3 for $79 is a decent compromise between price and features. However, Model T or Safe 5 for $170+ is a luxury that you can only afford if you are really working with exotic coins or DeFi projects.

Ultimately, what matters is not what wallet you have, but what you put into it. And remember – no wallet will protect you from your own foolishness when storing your seed phrase!