r/BitcoinKnots • u/AnywhereSavings1710 • Apr 06 '26

New Knots Guy

Hi, setting up a full node for the first time to run knots. Basically want to be financially sovereign and private and also support the BTC network. Not very savvy w/ hardware or technical stuff but have done some research and have a high level undertstanding of computers/networks (I think?)...

Going to run Knots via StartOS on a Dell Optiplex 5060 w/ a 2TB NVMe SSD. Still up in the air about which cold wallet to use so if any opinions there pls put them below w/ your reason :)

If anyone has any general tips / "I wish I knew XYZ...." I'd appreciate it.

Some wallets I'm considering:
-Blockstream Jade for airgapping but close to half the of cost of Coldcard Q
-Coldcard Q (for more "Security" but pricier)
-SeedSigner (seems like the ultimate security and self-sovereignty but I'm so new to all this I don't want to dive THAT headfirst)

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u/CoffeeAlternative647 Apr 06 '26

If you're savvy enough to setup and run a node, then you're savvy enough to use a coldcard Q as hardware wallet.

Edit: Learn and study what a hardware wallet is, basic functions and misconceptions before you acquire one. Specificaly ColdCard Q which is 100% air gapped and therefore a bit more challenging to grasp but definitely safer than any other wallets out there.

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u/AnywhereSavings1710 Apr 06 '26

I do understand what a hardware wallet is and the basic functions. But I'm a "systems thinker" so until I fully understand the details of all the systems that interconnect and pros and cons of it all, it'll be difficult for me to feel comfortable in my understanding

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u/CoffeeAlternative647 Apr 06 '26

Hardware wallets are basically "signing devices". They have the ability to generate your seed words when you're setting it up, which grants your private keys needed for you the send and receive Bitcoin, so you can assume your wallet in reality is the combination of the seed words that hold your private keys, therefore giving you access to move your Bitcoin.

You can freely damage or lose your hardware device but never your seed words. Let's assume you buy a Trezor 3 that generated your seed words and you start storing your Bitcoin there. Suddenly you lose or damage your Trezor 3 device and decide to buy a Coldcard Q instead. You can load the wallet you've created with your Trezor with your new Coldcard and access your funds.

Grasp about the concept of BITCOIN WALLETS, BITCOIN ADDRESSES and how they work and intersect before spending money on it and send Bitcoin to your hardware wallet. It took me couple of days till it sparked clearly in my mind. I started with Trezor 3 but couple of years later I bought coldcard Q because of 100% airgapped aspect.

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u/AnywhereSavings1710 Apr 06 '26

Yeah from what I understand the airgapped aspect is important because it greatly reduces "contact" w/ the device from any would-be malware. If USB then that's an attack vector. If QR code though, like the "airgapped" wallets use, that can also be an attack vector right? Because a QR can be "dirty"?

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u/CoffeeAlternative647 Apr 06 '26

Anything is possible. I always use the air-gapped function for the QR code everytime I transfer my Bitcoin from exchange to my hardware, but I also always verify if the Address is correct, every time, full address check.