Tangem: keys, security, fees and reviews
In short
- Key control
- Non-custodial: private keys are generated, stored and used for signing inside the card; Tangem has no way to extract them.
- Fees
- Device price: 2-card set $54.90, 3-card set $69.90, Ring with 2 cards $160.00, during a promotion ending 2 November (as of 31 October 2026).
- Risks and caveats
- Losing all backup cards without a recovery phrase means losing access; Tangem cannot recover keys.
- Checked
- 31 October 2026
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Key facts
- Official site
- tangem.com
Key facts checked on 31 October 2026 against official sources.
What is Tangem
Tangem is a Swiss hardware wallet in the form of NFC cards (and a ring) that work with the Tangem mobile app; there is no screen, cable or battery. It is made by Tangem AG in Zug, founded in 2017. Keys are created inside a secure element on each card, and a set of 2-3 cards backs up the same wallet instead of a mandatory seed phrase.
Who holds the keys
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Key control | Non-custodial: private keys are generated, stored and used for signing inside the card; Tangem has no way to extract them. |
| Recovery | Backup is made by linking 2-3 cards holding the same wallet; a seed phrase is optional. |
| Seed phrase | Optional; it exists only if the user generates it, and then allows restoring access in other compatible wallets. |
| Custodian | Tangem's systems never receive or store private keys, recovery phrases or passwords. |
Features and supported networks
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Platforms | NFC cards and a ring used with the Tangem app for iOS and Android. |
| Supported networks | More than 90 blockchains and 14,100+ tokens. |
| Secure element | EAL6+ certified chip developed with Samsung Semiconductors. |
| Connectivity | NFC only; no batteries, cables or screen. |
| Swaps | Buy, sell, swap and stake through integrated third-party providers in the app. |
| Other products | Tangem Pay, a non-custodial Visa card built into the wallet (2025). |
Security and audits
- The secure element is certified to Common Criteria EAL6+, according to Tangem; the chip model and certificate number are not named on Tangem's pages.
- Kudelski Security audited the card firmware (v1.28) in August 2018; Riscure evaluated the wallet firmware in 2023 (only a summary is published); Cure53 audited the Android and iOS SDKs in Q4 2025 and found no Critical or High issues.
- App and SDK code is public on GitHub under a proprietary licence that Tangem states is not an open-source licence.
- On 27 December 2024 Tangem released an app fix for a bug in app logs affecting users who activated with a seed phrase and contacted support in-app within seven days of activation.
Fees
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Device price | 2-card set $54.90, 3-card set $69.90, Ring with 2 cards $160.00, during a promotion ending 2 November (as of 31 October 2026). |
| Network fees | Blockchain network fees apply; the total cost of a transaction is shown in the app. |
History
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Tangem founded in Zug, Switzerland. |
| 2018 | First product, Tangem Note, a single-asset NFC card. |
| 6 August 2018 | Kudelski Security audit of the smartcard firmware. |
| 2022 | Tangem Wallet v1 with a 3-card backup system. |
| 2023 | Tangem Wallet v2 with multi-asset support and optional seed phrase backup. |
| 2024 | Tangem Ring launched. |
| 2025 | Tangem Pay non-custodial Visa card launched. |
Risks and caveats
- Losing all backup cards without a recovery phrase means losing access; Tangem cannot recover keys.
- Tangem cannot reverse a submitted transaction.
- Swaps, on/off-ramps, staking and yield are third-party services with their own terms, KYC and pricing.
About the developer
- Legal entity
- Tangem AG, Reg. No CHE-390.112.525.
- Headquarters
- Baarerstrasse 10, 6300 Zug, Switzerland.
- Founded
- 2017
- Leadership
- Andrey Lazutkin (CTO); Andrey Kurennykh (board member and co-founder); Konstantin Shulga listed first among leadership.
- Licence / registration
- Not regulated as a financial services provider or exchange; crypto transaction services come from third parties.
Official links
- Website: tangem.com/en
- Security: tangem.com/en/security
- Docs: tangem.com/en/security/audits
- Source code: github.com/tangem
- Support: tangem.com/en/help-center
- Blog: tangem.com/en/blog
Questions and answers
Is Tangem self-custodial?
Yes. Keys are generated and kept inside the card's secure element; Tangem never receives private keys or recovery phrases.
Does Tangem need a seed phrase?
No. Two or three linked cards hold the same wallet as backup; a seed phrase is optional.
Is Tangem open source or audited?
Its app code is public but under a proprietary licence, not open source. Kudelski Security (2018), Riscure (2023) and Cure53 (Q4 2025) audited it.
How much does Tangem cost?
$54.90 for 2 cards and $69.90 for 3 cards during a promotion (as of 31 October 2026); network fees are extra.
Who makes Tangem?
Tangem AG, a company in Zug, Switzerland, founded in 2017.
Sources
- Tangem — Home
- Tangem — Security
- Tangem — Security audits
- Tangem — Security changelog
- Tangem — Company
- Tangem — Pricing
- Tangem — Terms of Service (PDF)
- Kudelski Security — Audit of Tangem's smartcard wallet code (2018 summary)
- Riscure — Audit of Tangem Wallet firmware (2023 summary)
- Cure53 — Summary report: Tangem mobile wallet (Q4 2025)
- GitHub — tangem/tangem-app-ios LICENSE
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