Company Name
Right now there is not really a company, SeedSigner is just an open source project. I have a small LLC (BTC Hardware Solutions) that covers some of the things I’ve done to support the project, like register for a trademark on “SeedSigner”, sell kits & other accessories for signing devices, travel to host workshops & speak about the project, etc. etc., but at its core SeedSigner is a volunteer software project.
What product are you building
SeedSigner is an air-gapped, stateless, DIY bitcoin signing device that leverages a specific version of the Raspberry Pi Zero (the “Zero v1.3). Due to supply chain issues associated with Raspberry Pi’s hardware, we have been compelled to attempt to migrate to support additional hardware profiles. We are getting close to a proof of concept for the ESP32 microcontroller platform, that will have the same core functionality as the Pi Zero-based SeedSigner. The additional support for ESP32 will allow DIY builders to continue to take advantage of our software, but also opens up the opportunity to design and manufacture a purpose-built signing device with a custom printed circuit board. We intend to open source not just our software, but the custom PCB that we are designing as well – I would like to continue to grow SeedSigner as a kind of public utility for the larger bitcoin ecosystem.
What does it do?
SeedSigner has three core functions, it 1) helps users create secure private keys from real world entropy, 2) lets users generate the public keys necessary to set up bitcoin wallets 3) allows users to securely spend their bitcoin via an secure, air-gapped signing process.
Why do you think we need it?
Privacy-conscious bitcoiners may not want to provide personally identifying information; being able to build a hardware wallet equivalent from off-the-shelf hardware helps them maintain their privacy. This is especially important for bitcoin savers who live in adversarial environments and may not want to signal their intention to use bitcoin. The DIY aspect of the project also helps mitigate certain supply chain risks that most all traditional hardware wallets are subject to. The air-gapped QR-exchange process makes SeedSigner compatible to use with almost any laptop or mobile phone with a screen and a camera – mobile phone compatibility is especially important for parts of the world where computer ownership isn’t common and people primarily interact with the internet via a mobile device. Lastly, statelessness brings down the cost threshold for cold storage, because a single device can be used to manage multiple private keys, and can even be shared by trusted third-parties such as close friends & family members in multi-generational households – this brings not just cold storage, but potentially multi-signature cold storage, into the hands of people who may not be able to afford several hardware wallets.
Who is involved?
I am the creator and leader of the project, but many people have contributed in many important ways to the project. Our most prolific developer is Keith Mukai, who also contributes to the Specter desktop wallet. Another early contributor is Nick Klockenga, who contributes code and helps me manage our GitHub repo. There is also @bc1easy (Twitter) who was the mastermind behind our UI/UX, @DesobedienteTec (Twitter) who has built a custom version of the Linux operating system for our project, and @snicktoshi (Twitter) who created a metal back-up solution for our QR-based system for private key storage. There’s also @jayparalejas (Twitter) who manages our flagship website, @ShadowsLewis (Twitter) who created our logo and has done other graphic design work for the project, and many, many others.
What made you decide to start this project?
SeedSigner was a product of my personal journey of securing my long-term bitcoin savings, and different challenges and pain points I encountered along the way. I have a background in digital forensics, law enforcement & information security, and my experiences in these domains have influenced many of the design choices that we’ve made during the project’s existence.
How does this service/product add value to the bitcoin space?
I believe the DIY approach of SeedSigner, leveraging general purpose hardware and Free-And-Open-Source code, serves to shift control away from purveyors of purpose-built, proprietary hardware wallets, moving that power back into the hands of users.
Why are you building on Bitcoin versus on a shitcoin or creating your own shitcoin?
We may only have one shot at decentralized, open-source, hard money, so it’s not worth wasting my time on anything else.
What has been your biggest challenge building on Bitcoin?
In a single word: funding; which in turn allows us to motivate and fairly compensate contributors to the project. We are in this weird place where most of the organizations that make grants to support bitcoin projects commonly say that we are “not close enough to the protocol” to support, or I also hear that hardware projects “have a natural path to revenue” and thus don’t typically qualify for grants. We have received a small grant from the HRF last year, and also support from our users and others within the bitcoin community, but it continues to be a challenge to collect ample funds to proportionally reward our contributors.
Where can people learn more about this?
Our GitHub repo, or seedsigner.com are both great places to start. I also share information and updates about the project routinely on Twitter as @SeedSigner. We also have a Telegram user community that is very active and helpful for those wanting to learn more.
Pleb Underground is powered by a collective of Bitcoin pleb content creators. Thank you to everyone who contributes, supports us and shares our content. Follow us on twitter @plebunderground