Gnosis safe is a cryptocurrency wallet specially designed for the Ethereum network to host eth-based cryptos and tokens. The wallet was developed by GNOSIS – an internet technology company in Gibraltar – and is among the first smart contract-based mobile apps. It is available as both a desktop/mobile app as well as a browser extension. This, according to its developers, doesn’t just ensure that the wallet is safer but also gives it the capability to handle a wider range of functions not offered by the traditional blockchain wallets.
The Gnosis safe website refers to the wallet app as “The most trusted platform to manage digital assets on Ethereum for companies/investors/developers/hodlers and DAOs.” It also refers to it as a “Safe Multisig mobile” wallet that helps users monitor their crypto portfolio on the go. It is further described as a transparency and security-focused eth-wallet that seeks to provide wallet users with a balance between safety and ease of use. In this Gnosis Safe smart wallet review, we look at everything you need to know about the eth-based crypto vault while helping you determine if it indeed is the most secure smart contract wallet.
Gnosis safe key features:
Cross-platform: Gnosis Safe is a cross-platform wallet. It is available as a mobile app (for both Android and iOS), desktop app (for both Windows, macOS, and Linux), and an in-browser extension.
Multi-user: Gnosis Safe smart wallet is also a multi-user wallet that provides multiple safes within the wallet. They have separate login credentials and work best for family members, acquaintances, or companies that want to maintain all their crypto assets in one vault.
DeFi focused: Gnosis also integrates some of the most popular decentralized finance apps and protocols maintained on the Ethereum Network.
Address book: Gnosis wallet also features an address book that allows you to either integrate the wallet with your phone’s contact list or save the contact information such as the wallet addresses of individuals you engage regularly.
Integrate Dapps: The fact that Gnosis Safe Smart wallet is built on the Ethereum ecosystem makes it possible to explore the blockchain and interact with different Dapps maintained here.
Gnosis safe security features:
Password: Like most other wallets, Gnosis Safe Smart wallet is password-secured, and you get to set this unique key when creating a user account.
Two-factor authentication: You can always use the Gnosis Safe Authenticator or the Status Keycard to activate the wallet’s 2-factor authentication feature for all outbound transfers.
Recovery seed: During the wallet activation and account creation process, you will be presented with a backup/recovery seed for the wallet. Write it down and keep it safe offline.
Open source: Gnosis Safe Smart wallet is fully open-sourced and users, as well as crypto security experts, are free to view and audit source code for vulnerabilities. Gnosis Labs has also continuously run a bug bounty program for the wallet, and no critical bug or vulnerability has ever been discovered.
Multi-signature: Gnosis Safe Smart wallet is a multi-signature crypto vault. You can activate this feature for the entire wallet if you only run one safe or any number of safes hosted by the wallet.
How to activate/setup the Gnosis Safe Smart Wallet?
Step 1: Start by downloading the Gnosis Safe Smart wallet from either the website or the app store
Step 2: Install and launch the app. Click on the “Create a new wallet” icon
Step 3: Read through and agree to the Gnosis privacy policy and terms of use
Step 4: Create a unique password for the Gnosis Safe wallet
Step 5: Proceed to create the first safe for the wallet. This requires you to deposit Eth or any of the supported tokens, and you will be charged a small fee (about 0.005 ETH) as the cost of deploying the wallet
Step 6: Confirm that you are ready to create a wallet on the pop-up window
Step 7: You will be required to download the web extension that serves as your wallet’s two-factor authenticator. It is also referred to as a Safe Authenticator.
Step 8: Install the browser extension app and upon launching, create a user password. This has to be different from the mobile app password.
Step 9: In the next window, click on the ‘Show QR Code’ icon and scan the QR code with your phone to connect the Safe Authenticator with Gnosis Safe Smart wallet
Step 10: Write down the recovery phrase provided and store it in a safe offline environment. Verify that you have copied it correctly.
Step 11: Pay the wallet deployment fees
Step 12: You will receive a notification via the in-browser app, informing you that the safe wallet has been successfully created and deployed.
Step 13: Your Gnosis Safe Smart wallet is now active and ready to use
How to add/ receive Crypto into Gnosis safe smart wallet:
Step 1: Log in to your Gnosis safe mobile app wallet and click on the ‘Receive” icon
Step 2: If you have multiple safes created, select the safe into which you want to receive the crypto
Step 3: Copy the wallet address or the QR code for the safe and forward it to parties ending you crypto
Step 4: Wait for the funds to reflect in your wallet
How to send crypto from Gnosis safe wallet:
Step 1: Log in to your Gnosis safe Mobile wallet app and click on the “Send” icon
Step 2: Select the safe from which you want to send crypto
Step 3: Select the digital asset you want to send
Step 4: Enter the recipient’s address and the number of coins you wish to send in the transfer window
Step 5: Check that the details of the transaction are correct and click the send button
Step 6: Log in to the Safe Authenticator (in-app browser) to review and authorize the transaction. Click the ‘Submit’ button if satisfied with the accuracy of the transaction details
Step 7: Return to the Gnosis safe smart mobile wallet to initiate the transfer.
Gnosis Safe smart wallet ease of use:
Though one may consider the setup and activation process for the Gnosis Safe Smart wallet app to be too lengthy, it is still quite straightforward. The setup guide is easy to follow, and you do not even need expert help to set up the mobile wallet or link it with the Safe authenticator. The Gnosis Safe wallet website features a wide range of guides that explain how to activate and interact with the Ethereum wallet.
Gnosis Safe smart wallet supported currencies:
Gnosis Safe is an Eth-focused wallet. It will, therefore, only feature Ethereum, Ethereum Classic, ERC-20 tokens, and such collectibles as the ERC-721 tokens.
Gnosis Safe smart wallet cost and fees:
Gnosis Safe wallet is free to download and install. However, you will be required to pay a small wallet deployment fee of ETH 0.005 when creating a wallet. Other fees include the transaction fees charged by the Ethereum network when you send cryptos/tokens to other wallets or exchanges.
What are the pros and cons of using Gnosis Safe smart wallet?
Pros:
- It embraces highly advanced security features
- It makes it possible for you to invest and earn digital assets
- Gnosis wallet has a highly responsive customer support team
- The wallet provides you with a demo version that you can use to test the vault
Cons:
- It will only support Eth based cryptos and tokens
- The wallet is exposed to inherent threats facing hot wallets
- It imposes a ‘wallet deployment’ fee
Verdict: Is Gnosis Safe Wallet secure?
Well, Gnosis Safe Smart wallet embraces several highly effective security measures that its developers believe will play a key role in boosting the wallet’s safety and privacy. The wallet is password secured, outbound transfers from the Gnosis Safe smart wallet must be subjected to two-factor authentication, it is a multi-signature vault, and has also been formally verified by the Ethereum network. Our only concern with the Gnosis Safe Smart wallet is that both the Gnosis safe mobile app and Gnosis Safe Authenticator are online-based and, therefore, exposed to the inherent threats facing hot wallets.