Arculus is a self-custody crypto wallet built around a physical “Key Card” and a companion mobile app. The product is designed to keep private keys offline on a secure element embedded in a metal card, while allowing users to manage assets and authorize transactions on an NFC-enabled smartphone. Arculus positions the wallet for users who want cold storage protections with a mobile-first experience for assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other supported networks and tokens.
Arculus uses a card-and-app model rather than a USB-connected hardware device. The Arculus app runs on iOS and Android and is used to view balances, initiate sends and receives, and access features such as swaps and fiat purchases where available. Transaction authorization requires possession of the Arculus Key Card and local device authentication, which is intended to reduce reliance on browser extensions or always-online hot wallets.
Arculus was created by CompoSecure, a company known for manufacturing secure cards used in payments and identity applications. The Arculus wallet adapts that card-based security approach to digital assets by storing cryptographic keys inside a secure chip embedded in a metal card, with a companion application handling the user interface and blockchain interactions.
Arculus emphasizes “true cold storage” by keeping private keys on the card’s secure element rather than on the phone. The wallet uses a three-factor authentication model: something the user has (the Arculus card), something the user knows (a PIN), and something the user is (a biometric check, such as face or fingerprint, depending on the phone). The card is designed to be battery-free and does not use USB or Bluetooth, with NFC used for tap-to-authorize interactions.
From a hardware standpoint, Arculus describes its secure element as CC EAL6+ certified, and it states that private keys never leave the secure chip. The company also states the card can hold multiple accounts for different cryptocurrencies, and it references on-card memory capacity as a factor in how many keys can be stored. On the software side, Arculus promotes broad coverage across coins, tokens, and blockchains, and it highlights custom token support on major EVM networks, including Ethereum, Polygon, and Binance Smart Chain.
Arculus is commonly positioned as an everyday-carry cold storage option for users who want hardware-backed signing without a dedicated USB device. Typical use cases include long-term self-custody of major assets, holding a multi-chain portfolio with a single mobile interface, and interacting with on-chain services through WalletConnect when needed. The card form factor can also appeal to users who prefer a minimalist setup and do not want to manage cables, batteries, or desktop-only software.
For users active on EVM ecosystems, Arculus may be used alongside networks such as Arbitrum, Optimism, and Base, depending on the wallet’s supported blockchains and token coverage at a given time. Arculus also promotes NFT management in-app, which can be relevant for users who hold collectibles on supported networks.
| Feature | Details (from Arculus official materials) |
|---|---|
| Cold storage with a Key Card | Private keys are generated, encrypted, and stored on a secure element embedded in a premium metal card, not stored online or saved on the phone. |
| 3-factor authentication (3FA) | Access and transaction approval require a biometric on the phone, a user-created PIN, and possession of the Arculus Card. |
| Mobile-first wallet experience | The Arculus app is used to buy, sell, swap, send, and receive supported crypto assets; the app is available on iOS and Android. |
| Web3 connectivity | Connects to DeFi platforms and Web3 apps using MetaMask workflows or WalletConnect. |
| NFT support | The app includes an NFT viewer and supports managing NFTs on supported networks. |
| Staking in-app | Supports both native staking and liquid staking for select assets (see “Staking support” table below). |
| Multi-card management | The app supports adding, removing, and switching between paired cards; each Arculus Card can be paired with one wallet at a time. |
| Area | Specification | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Secure element | Hardware classification | CC EAL6+ Secure Element hardware classification; private keys are designed not to leave the secure chip. |
| NFC security | Communication model | Uses encrypted, proprietary NFC communication with constantly changing keypairs; the NFC communication is described as not containing address or amount information. |
| PIN security | PIN length and handling | Wallet setup includes creating a 6-digit PIN; PIN attempts are tracked on-card. Official documentation describes a protective reset behavior after repeated failed PIN attempts. |
| Recovery phrase | Backup and restore | Wallets can be restored with a 12-word or 24-word recovery phrase; recovery words must be stored securely by the user. |
| Custody model | Self-custody | Arculus states it does not retain or store customers’ recovery phrases. |
| Firmware model (Key Card) | Update approach | Official “How it works” documentation describes the card as shipped locked, with code on the card not designed to be updated. |
| Category | Specification | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | Key Card | Premium metal card with an embedded NFC-enabled secure element. |
| Power | No charging required | Official materials describe no cords, no Bluetooth, no charging required; the NFC card is designed to not run out of power. |
| Primary interface | NFC | Card-to-phone communication uses NFC; official materials emphasize a short NFC range of only a few centimeters. |
| Card construction (official “How it works” document) | Component layers | Documented components include treated stainless steel, an NFC-enabled secure element, antenna inlay, PVC inlay, and a polymer protective layer. |
| Area | Specification | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Supported platforms | Mobile | iOS and Android. |
| Asset coverage | Blockchains and tokens | Official materials describe support for 20+ blockchains and thousands of tokens; the support center maintains an updated list of supported assets and networks. |
| Custom token support | Manual token addition | Support documentation describes adding custom tokens on a set of networks, including Ethereum, Arbitrum One, Avalanche C-Chain, Base, BNB Smart Chain, Optimism, Polygon, Solana, Tron, and others listed in the Arculus support center. |
| Swaps | Swap provider model | Arculus states swap fees are charged by its liquidity partners; official support content references Changelly for crypto-to-crypto swap processing. |
| Fiat on-ramp and off-ramp | Provider integrations | Arculus states buy and sell services use third-party liquidity partners, including OnRamper and Transak. Support documentation also describes a MoneyGram cash-in and cash-out integration for USDC on Stellar only. |
| Staking type | How it works (as described by Arculus) | Examples of supported assets |
|---|---|---|
| Native staking | Classic staking flow that can include choosing a pool, unstaking, redelegating, and claiming rewards; the user does not receive a different token in return. | ADA, SOL, ATOM, CORE, DYDX, INJ, OSMO, SEI (SEIv1), TIA, POL on ETH (and other assets listed in the Arculus staking support article). |
| Liquid staking | Described as a swap from a native token to a staked token representation, with protocol-defined unbonding and withdrawal mechanics. | stETH, rETH, sAVAX, sTRX (as listed in the Arculus staking support article). |
All images, branding and wording is copyright of Arculus Wallet. All content on this page is used for informational purposes only. CryptoSlate has no affiliation or relationship with the product mentioned on this page.
