Main Takeaway: The ELLIPAL X Card Starter is the offline device that sets up and recovers your X Card. It generates your private key offline and writes it into the card's secure chip, instead of through a phone app. You use it only when you first set up a card or recover a lost one. The X Card is the wallet you carry, and the Starter is the offline tool that brings it to life.
Quick reference
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| X Card | An NFC cold wallet, a card that signs transactions with a tap |
| X Card Starter | The offline device that generates and recovers the X Card's keys |
| Private key | The secret that controls your crypto, stored inside the card's chip |
| Recovery phrase | The 12, 18, or 24 words that can rebuild your wallet |
| NFC | Near-field communication, the short-range "tap" the card uses to sign |
Setting up a crypto wallet should leave you feeling in control of it, and the ELLIPAL X Card Starter is built around that goal.
The short version is straightforward. The X Card is the wallet you carry. You tap it to sign, slip it in your wallet, and never need to charge it. The Starter is the offline device you use once, to bring the card to life by creating your keys, and again later if you ever need to rebuild them onto a new card. The two work together as a system.
This guide explains what the Starter actually does, and why it is offline.
What is the X Card Starter?
The ELLIPAL X Card Starter is an offline setup device that generates your X Card's private key and recovers it onto a new card. The whole process happens offline, not through a phone app.
Think of it as a setup assistant for your X Card. It does three jobs, all offline:
- It generates your private key.
- It backs up your recovery phrase.
- It restores your wallet onto a new card if you lose one.
That is the whole job. The Starter does not send or receive crypto, and it does not connect to the internet. You do not carry it daily. You reach for it twice in the life of a card, at first setup and at recovery.
Do you need the Starter? How it fits with the X Card
The X Card is the wallet, and the Starter is the offline tool that sets it up. Together they form a system of two devices with two distinct jobs.
The X Card holds your private key in a secure chip and signs transactions with an NFC tap against your phone. The Starter is what put that key there in the first place, by generating it offline rather than through any app.
So the division of labor is clean. You carry the card, and the Starter stays at home in a drawer until the day you set up another card or recover a lost one.
X Card Starter setup vs phone-app setup
Most card wallets are set up through a mobile app. The X Card is set up on a dedicated offline device instead. Here is the difference, side by side.
| Offline Starter setup | Phone-app setup | |
|---|---|---|
| Where the key is generated | On the dedicated offline Starter | On your phone |
| Internet during setup | None | Phone is online |
| What you carry daily | The card | The card |
| When you use the setup tool | First setup + recovery only | Each setup + recovery |
The difference is where your key is first generated. The Starter moves that step off your phone and onto a device with no internet connection.
Why generating your key offline matters
When people think about wallet security, they usually think about where the key is stored. A step that gets less attention is where the key is first created.
That first step matters. A private key has to be generated somewhere, by something. If it is generated on a device that is connected to the internet, that is the point of widest exposure, before you have even made your first transaction.
The X Card Starter moves that step offline. Your private key is generated on a device with no internet connection, then written directly into the X Card's secure chip, which is certified to CC EAL6+, the same security grade used in passports and payment cards. The key is created offline and stays in the chip.
Where your private key is first created matters as much as where it is stored. The Starter creates it offline, on a device that has no connection to a phone or the internet.
This is also why the Starter is not something you carry. Its job is that one offline step of creation, and later, recovery. Once the card is set up, the card handles everything else.
How the X Card Starter works
Setting up a new card:
- Power on the Starter and insert your new X Card.
- Choose a PIN, and how many recovery words you want (12, 18, or 24).
- The Starter generates your private key offline and writes it into the card's secure chip.
- Write your recovery phrase on paper or a steel backup, not on your phone.
- Your card is ready. Tap to sign from here on.
Recovering a lost card:
- Power on the Starter and insert a new blank X Card.
- Enter your recovery phrase.
- The Starter rebuilds your private key offline and writes it into the new card.
- You are back in, with the same wallet on a new card.
Which situation sounds like yours?
- "I'm setting up my X Card for the first time." Use the Starter once, and then carry just the card.
- "I lost my X Card." Insert a blank card into the Starter, enter your recovery phrase, and your wallet is rebuilt onto the new card.
- "I'm setting up a card for a family member." The Starter creates a separate key and PIN for each card, which is useful for gifting or inheritance planning.
- "I don't want my keys created on my phone." That is exactly the gap the Starter closes, since key generation happens offline.
- "I travel light." The card goes with you, and the Starter stays home until you need it.
FAQ
Do I need the X Card Starter to use my X Card?
You need it to set up or recover your card, since that is where your key is generated offline. For everyday use, when you tap to sign, you only need the card and your phone.
Does the X Card Starter connect to the internet?
No. The Starter has no internet connection. It generates and recovers keys offline, and then writes them into the card's chip.
Does the X Card connect to the internet?
No. The card has no internet, Bluetooth, or USB connection of its own. Your keys stay in its secure chip, and the card communicates with your phone only by NFC tap. The signing happens inside the chip.
How does the X Card sign transactions while keeping the key in the chip?
The X Card signs inside its own secure chip. When you tap it to your phone over NFC, the unsigned transaction goes in and the signature comes out. The key stays in the chip the whole time.
What if I lose both my X Card and my Starter?
Your recovery phrase is the master backup. With it, you can restore your wallet on a new X Card via a Starter, or on any BIP39/44-compatible wallet.
How many recovery words does the X Card use?
You choose 12, 18, or 24 words at setup. A longer phrase means more to store, with a larger keyspace.
Can ELLIPAL see my private key?
No. Your key is generated on the offline Starter and stored in the card's chip. It is not transmitted to ELLIPAL or any server.
Is the X Card Starter worth it for a beginner?
If you want your keys generated offline from the start, yes. The Starter is what keeps key creation off your phone, which is useful whether you hold a little or a lot.
How do I set up a backup card for inheritance?
Use the Starter to create a card with its own PIN from your recovery phrase, then store it separately. This is a common way to leave access for family.
The trust layer
- Security: CC EAL6+ certified secure element, the grade used in passports and payment cards
- Key generation: offline, on a dedicated Starter device
- Standard: BIP39/44, recoverable on any compatible wallet
- Track record: on the market since 2018, with more than 1 million users in more than 140 countries
- Independent reviews: Coin Bureau, 99Bitcoins, CryptoNews
With the X Card and its Starter, you get the convenience of a card to carry and the offline setup of a dedicated device. After the initial setup, daily use becomes a tap.
Own it. Then use it.
Get started
- Explore the X Card: an NFC cold wallet you tap to sign
- Plan ahead: How to plan crypto inheritance with backup cards
- Set up for family: How to set up a hardware wallet for a family member
Security note: This article is general educational information about wallet architecture. It is not financial, investment, or custodial advice. No self-custody setup removes every risk. Store your recovery phrase on a durable offline backup, do not share or digitally enter it, buy your hardware from an official source, and keep firmware up to date.