TangemTangem Use Cases
Tangem supports self-custody storage and in-app asset management. Hardware keeps signing keys off the phone, while Mobile Wallet works without a physical device. Third-party providers supply swaps, purchases, and sales, subject to the selected service’s limits.
- Hardware Requirements
- A card or ring, the app, and a phone with full NFC support. The phone must run Android 6.0 or later or iOS 15.0 or later.
- Mobile Entry Options
- Create an app-only wallet or import an existing wallet using a seed phrase. Quick-start creation does not include an initial backup.
- Trading Limits
- Buying, selling, and swapping limits depend on the service or provider. Mobile Wallet and Hardware Wallet share the same provider-dependent limits.
Storage and Signing Requirements
A hardware wallet fits a requirement to authorize transactions with a separate physical device. The card or ring has no screen; the phone supplies the display and app interface. The device signs internally after the app sends an unsigned transaction through NFC.
Hardware signing requires both the physical device and a compatible phone. Mobile Wallet provides the alternative when managing assets without a card or ring takes priority. Its encrypted keys remain on the smartphone, so it does not provide the same separation from the phone.
Recovery arrangements also affect storage suitability. An unbacked quick-start Mobile Wallet risks losing its keys after phone loss, damage, or app removal. A standard seedless hardware setup uses backup devices, whose availability matters for recovery.
Asset Tasks and Service Boundaries
| Task | Required Fit | Outcome, Responsibility, and Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Sending and receiving crypto | Support for the intended asset and blockchain network. | The app displays balances and initiates transfers; hardware signs outgoing transactions when used. Transactions go to public blockchain nodes or API services. For a planned transfer involving an unsupported asset or network, a wallet supporting both is the relevant alternative. |
| Swapping holdings | An asset pair offered by an available in-app provider. | The provider supplies the exchange and sets its applicable limits. Centralized swap providers may require identity verification under their own terms. Switching wallet type does not bypass those limits. Another suitable exchange provider may fit when the available service cannot handle the intended trade. |
| Buying or selling crypto | A provider supporting the intended purchase or sale, the asset, and a payment method available in your country. | The provider’s payment options and limits govern the transaction. Selling through the integrated provider may also require identity verification. Holding an asset in the wallet does not establish access to every purchase or sale method. Another provider may fit when its payment options meet the task. |
| Earning asset rewards | An asset and blockchain network supported by the selected staking or Yield Mode feature. | Native staking can earn network rewards through integrated providers, subject to asset-specific terms and any applicable unbonding period. Yield Mode supplies supported assets to Aave lending pools at variable interest rates. Tangem charges 15% of earned yield in Yield Mode; network fees also apply. Storage support alone does not establish support for either earning method. A separate service may fit when it supports the required asset and earning activity. |
| Using decentralized services | A decentralized application (dApp) supporting the intended activity through WalletConnect on a network supported by Tangem’s WalletConnect integration. | The app provides dApp access for lending, swaps, staking, and other decentralized services. The chosen dApp supplies the service, and you authorize its requests. Disconnecting does not revoke token approvals; unwanted approvals require separate revocation. For an exchange-only task, in-app swaps provide another option without a separate dApp interaction. |
Tangem for Storage and Swaps: When Does It Fit?
- Storage and Signing Requirements
- Asset Tasks and Service Boundaries
- Adding Hardware While Keeping Mobile Wallet
Adding Hardware While Keeping Mobile Wallet
Creating a separate Hardware Wallet keeps both wallet types available in this hypothetical case. Assume the app contains only Mobile Wallet, and the owner has a compatible NFC phone and a new hardware set. Keeping Mobile Wallet available is part of the owner’s requirement.
The “Create new wallet” option generates separate keys inside the hardware device. The Mobile Wallet remains in the app, producing two wallets with different keys. Moving funds from the mobile wallet to this separate hardware wallet requires transfers and network fees.
The “Upgrade current wallet” option imports the existing mobile key into the hardware chip. The app then erases that key from the phone, leaving only the Hardware Wallet. If retaining Mobile Wallet stops being necessary, upgrading fits the revised requirement without changing addresses or transferring funds. Before completing the upgrade, the app prompts the owner to back up the recovery phrase if needed. Afterward, the app removes any cloud backup and no longer displays the phrase.
What readers ask about Tangem
Can I Create a Mobile Wallet After Setting Up a Hardware Wallet?
The Tangem app does not allow Mobile Wallet creation when it already contains a Hardware Wallet. You can add further Hardware Wallets in that setup.
Does the Wallet Type Limit the Balance I Can Hold?
Neither Mobile Wallet nor Hardware Wallet imposes a wallet-type-specific storage cap. Provider limits on buying, selling, and swapping are separate from how much the wallet can hold.
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