This article explains what a Safe wallet is, how it differs from traditional crypto wallets, and how Gnosis Pay uses a pre-configured Safe to securely hold your funds for card payments.
When you use Gnosis Pay, your funds are stored in a personal Safe{wallet} — one of the most secure technologies in Web3.
This guide breaks down what a Safe is, why it matters, and how it powers your Gnosis Pay account.
Understanding the Safe Wallet
A Simple Analogy
To understand what makes a Safe unique, it helps to compare it to two types of crypto wallets:
A Traditional Wallet (EOA):
Like a single house key. Easy to use, but if lost or stolen, your funds are vulnerable.-
A Safe{Wallet}:
Like a high-tech digital vault. It's governed by a programmable smart contract. You can set rules such as requiring multiple approvals or delaying transactions. This added flexibility gives you significantly more protection.
Why It Matters
Unlike basic wallets, a Safe isn’t just one private key — it’s a smart contract that enforces rules you control. It’s the global standard for secure, self-custodial crypto management and currently protects over $100 billion in assets.
How Gnosis Pay Uses a Safe
When you activate your Gnosis Pay account, we generate a pre-configured Safe wallet just for you. It’s optimised for:
Security: Your Safe includes custom security modules (like time delays and role permissions).
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Convenience: It's directly connected to your Gnosis Pay card, so funds are easy to spend while staying secure.
You don’t need to manually set anything up—we do it for you to make card usage seamless while preserving full self-custody.
Learn more: How the Delay and Roles Modules Secure Your Card
Key Takeaway
You remain the only person with access to your Safe.
Gnosis Pay cannot move funds without your signature.
You get the benefits of a traditional account with the full control of self-custody.
Need Help?
If you have questions about your Safe or how it works with your card, contact us anytime via the in-app chat widget or email help@gnosispay.com.