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Trezor vs. Unchained: Open-source hardware alone, or inside collaborative custody.

Last reviewed Common questionsMethodology

About Trezor

Custody

Trezor (made by SatoshiLabs) is a Czech company that produced the first commercial bitcoin hardware wallet in 2014. Its firmware is fully open-source, and the Safe 7 device contains TROPIC01, the first commercially available open-architecture secure element. Trezor supports multi-asset custody and offers Shamir Backup (SLIP39) to split a seed phrase across multiple shares. Trezor devices are compatible with Unchained vaults as one or both of the client keys in a collaborative multisig setup.

Who each is for

Trezor is for

Holders who want a hardware wallet with fully auditable open-source firmware and the option to split their seed phrase across multiple Shamir shares for redundancy.

Unchained is for

Holders who want their Trezor to be 1 of 3 keys in a collaborative multisig where a single lost device is recoverable, with optional access to integrated financial services.

Trezor
Unchained
Trading fee
Not applicable
1.00% standard tier. 0.75% Signature tier.
Minimum purchase
Not applicable
$2,000
Recurring / DCA
Not applicable
Not offered
OTC / large trades
Not applicable
Primary buy channel for all vault clients.
Settlement
Not applicable
Into your multisig vault.
Custody model
Singlesig self-custody
Collaborative multisig
Key distribution
User holds the only key.
Client holds 2 keys, Unchained holds 1 key.
Default structure
1-of-1
2-of-3
Other configurations
Shamir Backup (SLIP39) splits the seed phrase into N shares, with M required to reconstruct it. The active key remains singlesig.
Quorums up to 15-of-16 are supported on the Signature tier. Connections allow sharing keys with trusted parties.
Recovery if a key is lost
Loss of the key is permanent. Under Shamir Backup, loss of all required shares plus the device means key loss. Shamir reduces but does not eliminate this risk.
Loss of 1 key is recoverable. The remaining 2 keys still meet the 2-of-3 threshold.
Hardware wallets
Trezor only
Ledger, Trezor, Coldcard, BitBox, Blockstream Jade
Annual cost
No annual fee. The device is a one-time $59 to $219 purchase.
$250/year per vault
Default process
Not applicable
Executor locates 1 client key and contacts Unchained with the Inheritance Protocol documents.
Heir technical knowledge required
Not applicable
No bitcoin knowledge required. Executor follows written instructions.
Waiting period
Not applicable
None
Executable without company involvement
Not applicable
Yes. The client's 2 keys remain operable independently of Unchained.
Cost or included tier
Not applicable
Included with Signature. Protocol materials are also available separately.
Account types
Not applicable
Traditional, Roth, SEP
Key control
Not applicable
Client holds 2-of-3 keys in a dedicated IRA vault.
IRA custodian
Not applicable
Fortis Bank (Colorado-chartered, FDIC-supervised)
Account minimum
Not applicable
No minimum balance. $2,000 minimum per trade.
Trading fee
Not applicable
1.50% per trade
Annual fee
Not applicable
$250/year per IRA vault
Lender of record
Not applicable
Unchained (direct lender)
Eligible borrowers
Not applicable
Business entities only (LLC, corporation, single-member LLC)
Minimum loan
Not applicable
$150,000
Interest rate
Not applicable
12.0%
LTV at origination
Not applicable
50% at origination
Collateral custody during loan
Not applicable
Unchained and Fortis Bank each hold one key, which prevents any party from moving bitcoin unilaterally.
RIA
✕
✓
DAF
✕
✓
Trust entity
Not applicable
Gannett Trust Company, LLC
Jurisdiction / charter
Not applicable
Wyoming (chartered May 2025)
Services offered
Not applicable
Personal trust administration, corporate bitcoin treasury, qualified custody, dynasty trusts, and inheritance and estate planning.
Key control
Not applicable
Client-directed. Supports both collaborative custody and qualified custodian configurations.
Minimum assets
Not applicable
Not disclosed
Tier name
Not applicable
Signature
Annual cost
Not applicable
Personal: $6,000 first year, $4,500 renewal. Business: $7,500/year.
Dedicated contact
Not applicable
Dedicated relationship manager with same-day emergency support.
Included services
Not applicable
Vault setup, 2 premium hardware wallets, security reviews, ongoing education, and inheritance setup.
Founded
2013
2016
Client funds lent
Not applicable. Hardware vendor, no client funds held.
Not applicable. No client funds are held, and loans are not rehypothecated.
Proof of reserves
Not applicable. Non-custodial.
Not applicable. The client holds their own keys, verifiable on-chain.
SOC certifications
Not disclosed. Hardware manufacturer, not a custodian.
SOC 1 Type II and SOC 2 Type II
US availability
Available
Most states (varies by product)
International availability
Yes. Worldwide.
No

Common questions

Not at all points in time. While creating the security structure or spending out of it, a single point of failure temporarily occurs. An Unchained multisig vault is capable of removing single points of failure at all times, including during creation and while using over time.
Yes. Trezor devices are compatible with Unchained vaults and can serve as one or both client keys in a 2-of-3 multisig. Many Unchained clients use one or more Trezors to protect their vault.
Functionally different. A Trezor used alone is single-key self-custody with a single backup (or Shamir-split backup). Collaborative custody adds a co-signing structure where multiple independent keys are required. Both are valid; the trade-off is operational complexity (collaborative custody is more involved) versus single-point-of-failure risk (single-key is simpler but riskier).
No. Trezor is a hardware manufacturer. For financial services like a Bitcoin IRA or bitcoin-backed loans, you need a separate provider. Unchained offers both, integrated with collaborative custody.

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About this guide

These comparisons are maintained by Unchained. We have tried to represent every service accurately and fairly, and where another service does something well that Unchained does not, we say so. Unchained appears as the reference point throughout because every page is built around a single question: how does this service differ from Unchained? That framing is why Unchained is more prominently featured, not because we consider it the default right answer for every reader.

Disclaimer: Unchained's product and service availability may vary by state. Nothing on this page is investment, tax, legal, or financial advice. Investment advisory services are offered only through Gannett Wealth Advisors. Consult your own advisors before making any financial decision. All financial products involve risk, including loss of principal. Bitcoin is volatile, and past performance does not guarantee future results.

This comparison is provided for informational purposes only and is current as of May 2026. Information about other companies is compiled from publicly available sources, including each company's documentation, regulatory filings, terms of service, and third-party reviews. Offerings, fees, terms, and state availability change frequently and may have changed since publication. Verify all information directly with each company before transacting.

References to other companies are for comparison purposes only and do not imply endorsement, partnership, sponsorship, or affiliation. All third-party names and marks are the property of their respective owners and are used for identification only. Reviewed quarterly; corrections will be addressed within five business days. If you represent a company listed here and/or believe information is inaccurate, fill out a feedback form.

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