2021-01-04 Blockstream Debuts Open-source Hardware Bitcoin Wallet

[blacky90]

The Vancouver, Canada-based major blockchain firm Blockstream said it has launched an open-source, battery-powered hardware wallet for storing bitcoin (BTC) and digital assets issued on the Liquid Network, including tokens like the stablecoin tether (USDT).

The wallet is named Blockstream Jade.

Fronted by British Bitcoin OG Adam Back, a man some internet theorists suspect may be the “real” Satoshi Nakamoto, the firm currently operates the Blockstream Green crypto wallet.

“Having our own hardware wallet will also allow us to roll out advanced hardware wallet features faster,” said Back.

And the Canadian firm stated that its new USD 39.99 wallet would initially provide Blockstream Green support for Android only, but claimed that desktop support was “right around the corner,” with iOS support to follow “soon after,” as well as “the ability to connect the hardware wallet through Bluetooth LE.”

Also, the company said it will activate a few ‘dormant’ features through software updates over the course of 2021.

https://cryptonews.com/news/blockstream-debuts-open-source-hardware-bitcoin-wallet-8792.htm

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[Mbitr]

Saw this earlier too . It does look good and at a very reasonable price compared to Trezor and Ledger. Only on pre-order at the moment. Hopefully we can get some user reviews on this thread in the future 

[mocacinno]

Saw this earlier too . It does look good and at a very reasonable price compared to Trezor and Ledger. Only on pre-order at the moment. Hopefully we can get some user reviews on this thread in the future  

agreed... I've seen the price argument soooo many times... People are happily storing tens of thousands of dollars worth of BTC on an exchange or an online wallet, and if you propose they switch to a hardware wallet they bring up the argument that a latest gen ledger or trezor costs little over $100  

So, yeah, there is defenately a market for another decent, cheap, open source wallet

[Lucius]

Although not directly related to the new hardware wallet, in the context of trust and customer support this is certainly a very interesting case when it comes to GreenAddress and that famous Adam Back who some claim may be Satoshi

GreenAddress blacklisted my wallet, and now holds custodial control of it

[o_e_l_e_o]

wallet would initially provide Blockstream Green support for Android only

Blockstream Green mandates multisignature, in which Blockstream hold one of your keys, so it seems the only way to use this hardware wallet is to give Blockstream some control over your coins. It seems from other press releases that when they talk about desktop and iOS support, they are only talking about support for Blockstream Green on those platforms. That's a pretty big flaw for a hardware wallet as far as I am concerned.

Perhaps if and when it can be used with a third party wallet such as Electrum then I'll give it another look, but if that never happens then I'm never touching this device. What's the point of a hardware wallet if you still need permission from some third party to be allowed to use your coins?

[IconFirm]

What's the point of a hardware wallet if you still need permission from some third party to be allowed to use your coins?

Exactly this. I will never trust a device that someone else holds the key for - ever. This is a fail in all respects & I urge everyone to avoid it until they change this anti-feature.

Trezor for the win.

[cr1776]

wallet would initially provide Blockstream Green support for Android only

Blockstream Green mandates multisignature, in which Blockstream hold one of your keys, so it seems the only way to use this hardware wallet is to give Blockstream some control over your coins. It seems from other press releases that when they talk about desktop and iOS support, they are only talking about support for Blockstream Green on those platforms. That's a pretty big flaw for a hardware wallet as far as I am concerned.

Perhaps if and when it can be used with a third party wallet such as Electrum then I'll give it another look, but if that never happens then I'm never touching this device. What's the point of a hardware wallet if you still need permission from some third party to be allowed to use your coins?

I was just going to say almost the same thing, but exactly what o_e_l_e_o said.

About 5-6 years ago, I just bought a new computer and printer for cold storage that never touches the internet.  While these hardware wallets are nice, right now I am more comfortable with a specific portable that is used for cold storage and doesn't rely on a third party to access the coins.  I'd prefer to have full control and not have, essentially, a black box.Even though the source is out there, it still seems quite black boxy to me.

Of course, at $40, it is a lot cheaper than a MacBook Pro or other portable.

[adam3us]

I was going to say it's just another hardware wallet until i read they have both camera and screen which allow true airgapped wallet. They already release the source code for the firmware (https://github.com/Blockstream/jade/), but i couldn't find any detail of the hardware component they use.

So far it's promising than most hardware wallet, i hope it could be competitor of Ledger and Trezor.

see reddit AMA earlier today, has some more hardware and feature Q & A https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/kqgehd/were_the_blockstream_team_and_we_just_announced/

[adam3us]

What's the point of a hardware wallet if you still need permission from some third party to be allowed to use your coins?

Exactly this. I will never trust a device that someone else holds the key for - ever. This is a fail in all respects & I urge everyone to avoid it until they change this anti-feature.

Trezor for the win.

we also have a single-sig option coming soon.

note it's considered (eg by coin-center) that blockstream.com/green is non-custodial because you can spend by yourself after a time lock (with the default 2of2+timelock config).

there is also a 2of3 config (create sub-wallet, pick 2of3) which allows you to spend immediately.

The function of the server key is to have multisig enforced 2fa to protect your funds.

[squatter]

Exactly this. I will never trust a device that someone else holds the key for - ever. This is a fail in all respects & I urge everyone to avoid it until they change this anti-feature.

Trezor for the win.

we also have a single-sig option coming soon.

Is there an ETA?

I understand the motivation behind the server key, and it made sense for a web wallet implementation. It obviously makes less sense for a hardware wallet.

[o_e_l_e_o]

we also have a single-sig option coming soon.

Single-sig via Blockstream Green only, or single-sig via any third party software (such as Electrum)?

As squatter has said, I understand why some people like using multi-sig and 2FA, but I am not one of them, even with software wallets. With a hardware wallet, it makes even less sense to me and the attack vectors which I am most at risk of. Even if I can set up a 2-of-3 configuration in which I hold 2 keys and can therefore spend my funds immediately, all I am doing then is paying additional fees for little if any added security. If I'm buying a hardware wallet, I want to be in full control of the funds it is protecting.

In the wake of the Ledger database leak, what will be your policies regarding retention of customer information?

[acquafredda]

we also have a single-sig option coming soon.

If I'm buying a hardware wallet, I want to be in full control of the funds it is protecting.

In the wake of the Ledger database leak, what will be your policies regarding retention of customer information?

I believe the above two points are basically fundamental for everyone who wants to be a self-governing/self-sovereign bitcoiner. And IMHO, now the policies mentioned are the ones which will make a difference in the future. So it would be nice to receive a specific answer.

[IconFirm]

So it would be nice to receive a specific answer.

**silence***tumbleweed**

Looks like there is no answer.

Failed project. I hope nobody paid for anything here.