Old iPhones are unsafe for storing cryptocurrency due to vulnerabilities

The founder of OneKey has warned about the risks of using older iPhones as cold crypto wallets. Even a full factory reset and disconnecting from the internet do not guarantee the security of digital assets.

BootROM Vulnerabilities

Researchers have identified critical vulnerabilities in Apple device chips that cannot be fixed through software. The issue lies with the BootROM, the boot loader code written directly into the processor's hardware.

iPhone 11 models and earlier are at risk. Two main vulnerabilities have been discovered:

• checkm8 (2019) — affects devices from iPhone 4S to iPhone X
• usbliter8 (2026) — impacts iPhone XS, XR, iPhone 11 series, and iPhone SE 2020

Since the error is at the hardware level, standard iOS updates cannot fix this problem. This makes older smartphones unsuitable for secure long-term storage of cryptocurrency.