Arculus: keys, security, fees and reviews
In short
- Key control
- Self-custody: private keys are protected by the secure element on the card; Arculus does not store digital assets.
- Fees
- Device price: Arculus Cold Storage Wallet (one card) $99 (as of 31 October 2026).
- Risks and caveats
- Losing the recovery phrase means Arculus cannot help restore access.
- Checked
- 31 October 2026
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Key facts
- Official site
- getarculus.com
Key facts checked on 31 October 2026 against official sources.
What is Arculus
Arculus is a card-shaped cold storage wallet: a metal NFC card with a secure element that works with the Arculus mobile app. It is sold by Arculus Holdings, L.L.C. of Somerset, New Jersey, and is powered by the metal payment-card maker CompoSecure. Access needs three factors: biometrics, a 6-digit PIN and a tap of the card.
Who holds the keys
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Key control | Self-custody: private keys are protected by the secure element on the card; Arculus does not store digital assets. |
| Recovery | A 12 or 24-word recovery phrase restores the wallet on a new card or phone; Arculus cannot retrieve it. |
| Seed phrase | Arculus does not store recovery phrases and has no access to them. |
| Account model | One wallet per card; biometrics, PIN and card tap are all needed to transact. |
| Lost or stolen card | Buy a new card and restore with the recovery phrase, or restore in another wallet app that uses the same derivation paths; a thief would also need the PIN and biometric. |
Features and supported networks
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Supported networks | Bitcoin and more than 10,000 coins and tokens across 27 blockchains, according to Arculus. |
| Connectivity | NFC at 13.56 MHz between card and phone; no cables or batteries. Connects to dApps via MetaMask or WalletConnect. |
| Secure element | Secure element chip similar to those in bank cards and passports, with 512 KB NVM; Arculus displays a Common Criteria EAL 6+ badge but does not name the chip. |
| Staking | Staking for Cardano (ADA), Solana (SOL) and Cosmos (ATOM) in the app. |
| Buy / sell | Buy, sell and swap through partners OnRamper, Transak and Changelly. |
| Multisig | Not a multisig wallet; can act as an owner of a Safe multisig through WalletConnect. |
Security and audits
- Arculus displays 'Common Criteria EAL 6+ Certified' and 'SOC 2 Type II Audited' badges; the chip model and certificate are not named, and no matching entry was found on the Common Criteria portal under Arculus or CompoSecure. Treat both as vendor claims.
- Arculus firmware and app are not published as open source on the official site.
- Arculus warns that it will never ask for the recovery phrase and that phishing attempts target users.
- Three-factor authentication: the card (something you have), a PIN and a fingerprint or face scan are all needed to access the wallet or approve a transaction.
- Three wrong PIN entries in a row on a send transaction lock the card; the wallet can still be restored with the 12 or 24-word recovery phrase.
Security incidents
No security incident is recorded in the sources checked on 31 October 2026 (the company’s own channels and incident databases): getarculus.com, getarculus.com/faqs, support.arculus.co/hc/en-us/categories/150000193, defillama.com/hacks, hacked.slowmist.io/search
Fees
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Device price | Arculus Cold Storage Wallet (one card) $99 (as of 31 October 2026). |
| Wallet | No Arculus fee to send or receive; buy, sell and swap fees are charged by partners and shown before the transaction. |
| Returns | Returns for refund accepted within 15 days of delivery; the card must be wiped first (as of 31 October 2026). |
History
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 2023 | Privacy policy last updated by Arculus Holdings, L.L.C. (site copyright from 2021). |
Risks and caveats
- Losing the recovery phrase means Arculus cannot help restore access.
- Arculus is not responsible for safeguarding private keys or the recovery phrase.
- Buy, sell and swap are third-party services with their own fees.
About the developer
- Legal entity
- Arculus Holdings, L.L.C.
- Headquarters
- 309 Pierce Street, Somerset, NJ 08873, USA.
- Parent company
- Powered by CompoSecure, a maker of premium metal payment cards.
Official links
- Website: www.getarculus.com
- Docs: www.getarculus.com/faqs
- Security: support.arculus.co/hc/en-us/categories/1500001931301-Security
- Download: www.getarculus.com/products/arculus-cold-storage-wallet.html
Questions and answers
Is Arculus self-custodial?
Yes. Keys are protected by the secure element on the card; Arculus does not store assets or recovery phrases.
Is Arculus open source?
No open-source code is published on the official site.
Is the Arculus secure element certified?
Arculus states Common Criteria EAL 6+ certification but does not name the chip or certificate.
Does Arculus charge fees?
No fee to send or receive; partners charge for buy, sell and swap. The card costs $99 (as of 31 October 2026).
Who makes Arculus?
Arculus Holdings, L.L.C. of Somerset, New Jersey, powered by CompoSecure.
Sources
- Arculus — Home
- Arculus — About us
- Arculus — FAQs
- Arculus — Legal notices
- Arculus — Cold Storage Wallet product page
- Arculus Support - What happens if my card gets locked?
- Arculus Support - Return policy
- Arculus Support - Three-factor authentication (3FA)
- Arculus Support - Lost or stolen card or phone
- Arculus Support - Multisig support
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