Cake Reveals Challenge to Hardware Wallets: Cupcake Turns Spare Phones Into Free, Air‑gapped Cold Storage

Cake Wallet has launched Cupcake, a free, open‑source app that turns a spare smartphone or tablet into an air‑gapped cold‑storage device to provide hardware‑level crypto security without shipping, cost, or personal data collection.

Cupcake stores private keys offline while pairing with Cake Wallet in a view‑only mode; users create transactions on the online app, transfer them via QR code to Cupcake for offline signing, then return signed transactions for broadcasting. Cake Wallet positions Cupcake as an alternative to traditional hardware wallets, citing faster access, plausible deniability, no shipping or geographic restrictions, and reduced supply‑chain risks, and recommends hardened devices and airplane mode for stronger protection. Cupcake currently supports bitcoin and monero, is touted as suitable for retail users and privacy advocates, and is aimed at those who want immediate, bank‑grade cold storage without buying dedicated hardware.

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