AirGap: keys, security, fees and reviews
Software wallet
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Key facts
- Wallet type
- Software wallet
- Who holds the keys
- the user (self-custody)
- Developer
- Papers GmbH
- Platforms
- iOS, Android, desktop
- Open source
- yes
- Official site
- airgap.it
Checked on 2026-10-27 against the official site, docs and app-store pages.
What is AirGap
AirGap is a self-custodial, open-source crypto wallet system from the Swiss company Papers. It uses two apps: AirGap Vault, which keeps the private keys on an offline smartphone, and AirGap Wallet, an everyday-phone companion that holds no secrets; transactions pass between them by QR code.
Who holds the keys
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Key control | Self-custodial: private keys are generated and kept in AirGap Vault, offline; the companion Wallet app does not see any secrets. |
| Recovery | Access is recovered with the recovery phrase created at setup; AirGap does not store copies of it. |
| Seed phrase | Supports BIP39 passphrases, BIP85 child entropy and social recovery. |
Features and supported networks
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Platforms | iOS, Android and desktop; can run on two devices or on a single device. |
| Connectivity | One-way communication between Vault and Wallet through QR codes, with no cables. |
| Supported networks | Bitcoin, Ethereum, Cosmos, Polkadot, ICP, Tezos, Coreum, Optimism, Kusama, Aeternity, RSK (rBTC) and Groestlcoin, plus listed tokens such as USDT and USDC. |
| Staking | Staking of Tezos, ICP, Cosmos, Coreum and Polkadot from AirGap Wallet, with one-click delegation. |
| Hardware wallet support | AirGap Vault can act as an offline signer for other wallets, including MetaMask. |
| Secure element | Uses the phone's own secure enclave; the optional AirGap Knox tool locks an Android phone's networking at system level. |
Security and audits
- All AirGap components are open source; the Vault and Wallet apps are published on GitHub under the MIT licence.
- Compass Security reviewed the then-unreleased AirGap Vault mobile apps in July 2019; the report is published in AirGap's GitHub repository.
- The Compass Security report found no attack that would let an external attacker or another app extract the stored secrets while the operating system's security measures are in place.
- AirGap states that all components have undergone multiple third-party security audits.
Fees
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Staking | Validators run by the AirGap team charge commission, e.g. 10% on Tezos; other validators can be chosen. |
History
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 2019 | Compass Security carried out a security review of the AirGap Vault mobile apps before their release. |
| 28 September 2026 | AirGap Vault version 3.35.0 was released on GitHub. |
Risks and caveats
- AirGap does not keep a copy of the recovery phrase; losing it while the device is lost means losing access.
- The security of AirGap Vault depends on the phone's own operating system protections, according to its 2019 audit.
About the developer
- Developer
- Papers, a Swiss software company
- Legal entity
- Papers AG
Official links
- Website: airgap.it
- Source code: github.com/airgap-it/airgap-vault
- Source code: github.com/airgap-it/airgap-wallet
- Security: github.com/airgap-it/airgap-coin-lib/blob/master/docs/audits/report_85096_mobile_app_security_v1.0.pdf
- Support: support.airgap.it/airgap-vault/comparison-of-airgap-vault-with-other-hardware-wallets
Questions and answers
Is AirGap self-custodial?
Yes. Private keys stay in AirGap Vault on an offline phone, and AirGap does not store copies of the recovery phrase.
Is AirGap open source?
Yes. All AirGap components are open source; the Vault and Wallet apps are on GitHub under the MIT licence.
Which coins does AirGap support?
Bitcoin, Ethereum, Cosmos, Polkadot, ICP, Tezos, Coreum, Optimism, Kusama, Aeternity, rBTC and Groestlcoin, plus listed tokens such as USDT and USDC.
Has AirGap been audited?
Yes. Compass Security reviewed AirGap Vault in July 2019, and AirGap publishes the report on GitHub.
Who makes AirGap?
Papers AG, a Swiss software company.
Sources
- airgap.it
- apps.apple.com
- AirGap — Staking
- AirGap — AirGap Knox
- AirGap — Supported Currencies
- Compass Security — AirGap Vault Mobile App Security Review (2019)
- GitHub — airgap-it/airgap-vault
- GitHub — airgap-it/airgap-wallet
- Papers — Home
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