Krux DIY Hardware Wallet (Unofficial)

[jreesun]

Popping in to let everyone know that a new release of Krux is finally available:
https://github.com/selfcustody/krux/releases/latest

It now includes support for the Maix Amigo, Maix Bit, and Maix Dock, and of course the existing M5StickV.

Hope you like it! And if not, file an issue

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[n0nce]

Popping in to let everyone know that a new release of Krux is finally available:
https://github.com/selfcustody/krux/releases/tag/v22.08.0

It now includes support for the Maix Amigo, Maix Bit, and Maix Dock, and of course the existing M5StickV.

Hope you like it! And if not, file an issue

Wow, it's great to see you continuing working on this project.
Especially with the broader hardware support now, I'm going to order something and play around with it.

[jreesun]

Popping in to let everyone know that a new release of Krux is finally available:
https://github.com/selfcustody/krux/releases/tag/v22.08.0

It now includes support for the Maix Amigo, Maix Bit, and Maix Dock, and of course the existing M5StickV.

Hope you like it! And if not, file an issue

Wow, it's great to see you continuing working on this project.
Especially with the broader hardware support now, I'm going to order something and play around with it.

Awesome, welcome aboard!

My ultimate goal with Krux is to have it become something like the Linux of hardware wallet firmware, an open-source device-agnostic signing "OS" you can install on any platform capable of running Micropython. For now, we're expanding the K210-based devices that it supports, but I hope to eventually shim out the MaixPy/K210-specific modules so we can port to other platforms and not be too locked-in to any one vendor. I've been eyeing ESP32 as a potential next target.

Still a LOT of work to do before we get to that point.

[dkbit98]

New firmware version 22.08.0 is released for Krux wallet (thanks to odudex) and it is now supporting three new devices the Maix Amigo, Maix Bit, and Maix Dock, along with  original M5StickV.
Two of this new devices Maix Amigo and Dock are much bigger, but they are easier to use with touchscreen and more enhancements.
One more important update is added support for SeedSigner’s new CompactSeed QR codes, and for BIP39 passphrases.
Maix Amigo price is currently around $50 but it's not easy to find it in stock; Maix Dock and Mix Bit are cheaper but they are more DIY devices.

Website is also updated with updated instructions:
https://selfcustody.github.io/krux/
https://github.com/selfcustody/krux/releases

Still a LOT of work to do before we get to that point.

Hey jreesun, do you know any webshops that have Maix Amigo device in stock?

[jreesun]

New firmware version 22.08.0 is released for Krux wallet (thanks to odudex) and it is now supporting three new devices the Maix Amigo, Maix Bit, and Maix Dock, along with  original M5StickV.
Two of this new devices Maix Amigo and Dock are much bigger, but they are easier to use with touchscreen and more enhancements.
One more important update is added support for SeedSigner’s new CompactSeed QR codes, and for BIP39 passphrases.
Maix Amigo price is currently around $50 but it's not easy to find it in stock; Maix Dock and Mix Bit are cheaper but they are more DIY devices.

Website is also updated with updated instructions:
https://selfcustody.github.io/krux/
https://github.com/selfcustody/krux/releases

https://i.imgur.com/Qu0l5w7.jpg

Still a LOT of work to do before we get to that point.

Hey jreesun, do you know any webshops that have Maix Amigo device in stock?

Mouser does. Not sure about other shops. If you find others, I'll add them to the list here: https://selfcustody.github.io/krux/parts/#maix-amigo

[dkbit98]

Mouser does. Not sure about other shops. If you find others, I'll add them to the list here: https://selfcustody.github.io/krux/parts/#maix-amigo

Hmm it's not that easy to find Maix Amigo, that Mouser link you have on your website is redirecting me to error page saying ''Sorry, we can’t find the page you’re looking for.''.
Than I tried to do manual search of term Maix Amigo and I found it but it has restricted availability, and due to government regulations they are unable to sell it to me.
Next thing I did is changing my IP address using several different locations in Europe and they all have exact same restricted availability message :/

I finally found them in stock on some websites with higher price, but first store could be option for people who live in US.
Second store is located in EU, and lost one is Chinese based Aliexpress:
https://www.electromaker.io/shop/product/sipeed-maix-amigo
https://www.antratek.com/sipeed-maix-amigo
https://www.aliexpress.com/

Note that I can't vouch for any of the websites posted above!

[dkbit98]

This week I finally had free time and I finally managed to flash one of my M5StickV device that was collecting dust, and I installed Krux firmware.
Whole procedure is very simple and it takes only few minutes to complete after downloading latest firmware 22.08.1 from Krux github page.
Nice thing is that you can do this easily on most operating systems like Linux, Mac and wiNd0ws, following instructions from Getting Started page:
https://selfcustody.github.io/krux/getting-started/



Turning on device for the first time shows you menu screen, so you can than Load Mnemonic or create new one using D6 (standard six-sided die) or D20 dices (20-sided die).
Loading Mnemonic can be done via QR codes (easiest option), or importing Text, Numbers and Bips using BIP-39 standard.
Note that importing seed words manually is time consuming, so I suggest generating seed words offline in any method you like and importing it with QR code.
Ian Coleman's BIP-39 Tool is able to generate mnemonic with QR code you can import to Krux, but you need to select 12 or 24 words.
After this you can Add Passphrase if you want, and choose between Single-key and multisig.



Device has miniature battery so it can work without any cable connection, it has camera with light, but there is no way to see how much battery is charged and I don't like that.
It's easy to open device with unscrewing two screws and you can see everything inside, replace battery, camera or any other part.
Navigation is not that great and it's done with two plastic buttons on both sides of device with main confirmation button that is on front side below screen.
To put things into perspective I have to say that device dimensions are very small: 48*24*22mm.

I will test how everything works, pair it with different wallets and post updates in future.

[dkbit98]

For anyone who owns old Android smartphone and wants to test Krux app you can do it now with downloading latest version 0.7 APK file from their github page.
Note that this should be used only for learning how Krux works with signing Bitcoin transactions or Nostr events.
Don't use Krux app for storing important keys or larger amount of coins, but you can download and test how everything works:
https://github.com/odudex/krux_binaries/tree/main/Android

[hZti]

Very nice development and also a good quality look for a DIY device!
What always bothers me, is that maybe I can use this device, since I have a lot of experience in this field, but I can never recommend it to somebody because it is simply to complicated. Maybe it is possible to eventually in a few years/month to have a very easy DIY kit of this wallet available for sale.

[dkbit98]

Very nice development and also a good quality look for a DIY device!
What always bothers me, is that maybe I can use this device, since I have a lot of experience in this field, but I can never recommend it to somebody because it is simply to complicated. Maybe it is possible to eventually in a few years/month to have a very easy DIY kit of this wallet available for sale.

It's not complicated at all, especially with this new mobile app for testing.
I am not an expert or developer at all, but I managed to flash ESP32 device in few minutes and start Krux wallet without any issues, because you don't need to assemble anything and there are no need for any ''kits''.
You buy any supported device, than you flash a code, verify it, and you are ready to go... it's easy.

[odudex]

Hi, I'm a Krux contributor, this is my first participation here
Just a little correction: Krux is not ESP32 based, its SoC is a Kendryte K210.
But it is indeed very easy to use. Maix Amigo and Mstick-V devices comes assembled and ready to use. Just Maix Dock and Bit need 3d printed enclosures, soldering wires,etc. Here's a link comparing the compatible hardware:
https://github.com/odudex/krux_binaries/blob/main/Devices.md

[dkbit98]

Hi, I'm a Krux contributor, this is my first participation here
Just a little correction: Krux is not ESP32 based, its SoC is a Kendryte K210.

Yeah I made a mistake about that, thank you for correcting me, and I am glad to see you in bitcointalk forum
I think I mixed this up with similar device made by same manufacturer M5Stack Core2 ESP32 AWS Development Kit (M5StickC is also ESP32).
It's funny enough that this device currently have the same price like M5StickV K210, but I don't know if this can work with Krux code.


https://shop.m5stack.com/products/m5stack-core2-esp32-iot-development-kit-for-aws-iot-edukit

But it is indeed very easy to use. Maix Amigo and Mstick-V devices comes assembled and ready to use. Just Maix Dock and Bit need 3d printed enclosures, soldering wires,etc. Here's a link comparing the compatible hardware:
https://github.com/odudex/krux_binaries/blob/main/Devices.md

Maix Amigo looks like amazing device for that price, but it's not so easy to find it available online.

[odudex]

They look similar, but K210 is actually a quite special chip. It has more horsepower than current ESP32s, has dual RISCV(open source instruction set) cores running at 400MHz and also some hardware acceleration for video processing and SHA256. Keith, from SeedSigner is on an effort to run SeedSigner code on ESP32s, but it is quite challenging, as they run at 240MHz and lack of fast video buffers. ESP32 manufacturer, Espressif, now seems to be going in direction of RISCV cores, next chips will be more suitable to run optical signers.

You can easily find Amigos on Aliexpress, probably on Digikey, Mouser, etc. too

[dkbit98]

They look similar, but K210 is actually a quite special chip. It has more horsepower than current ESP32s, has dual RISCV(open source instruction set) cores running at 400MHz and also some hardware acceleration for video processing and SHA256. Keith, from SeedSigner is on an effort to run SeedSigner code on ESP32s, but it is quite challenging, as they run at 240MHz and lack of fast video buffers. ESP32 manufacturer, Espressif, now seems to be going in direction of RISCV cores, next chips will be more suitable to run optical signers.

I was able to run one ESP32 device called TTGO T-display with LNbits code like I wrote below, but I think someone said that this same device can work with Jade hardware wallet firmware.
Jade hardware wallet is very similar with M5StickV K210, I am not exactly sure what components are hidden inside, but I think it's ESP32.
Here is my topic about cheap LNbits DIY Wallet:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5413707.0

You can easily find Amigos on Aliexpress, probably on Digikey, Mouser, etc. too

I didn't had very good experience with Aliexpress and their delivery, and there is only one Maix Amigo K210 I found on Ebay but it's used device.

[odudex]

I was able to run one ESP32 device called TTGO T-display with LNbits code like I wrote below, but I think someone said that this same device can work with Jade hardware wallet firmware.
Jade hardware wallet is very similar with M5StickV K210, I am not exactly sure what components are hidden inside, but I think it's ESP32.

Jade has the shape of a M5stickV but uses ESP32 indeed. So how they managed to use camera e scan QR codes? I believe they were able to achieve this by using efficient C code, instead of micropython.
Jade has support to be compiled and flashed in TTGOs and M5stack Black, Grey, Fire, etc(not k210 M5stickV). I did it myself and it works pretty well. However the firmware for these boards does not have camera support neither air-gapped features, only USB signing on Green Wallet.

[dkbit98]

Jade has the shape of a M5stickV but uses ESP32 indeed. So how they managed to use camera e scan QR codes? I believe they were able to achieve this by using efficient C code, instead of micropython.

So you think that it's impossible for Jade hardware wallet device to work with Krux firmware somehow?

Jade has support to be compiled and flashed in TTGOs and M5stack Black, Grey, Fire, etc(not k210 M5stickV). I did it myself and it works pretty well. However the firmware for these boards does not have camera support neither air-gapped features, only USB signing on Green Wallet.

Is airgapped features with camera and QR code already working with Jade wallet?
I saw they announced firmware update that will enable that, but I don't have their device to confirm this.

[odudex]

So you think that it's impossible for Jade hardware wallet device to work with Krux firmware somehow?

Yes, it is impossible. Krux main application is written in micropython, it would be really hard, if not impossible, to port it to ESP32 devices such as Jade.

Is airgapped features with camera and QR code already working with Jade wallet?
I saw they announced firmware update that will enable that, but I don't have their device to confirm this.

Yes, they are working pretty well on official Jade hardware AFAIK.

[n0nce]

They look similar, but K210 is actually a quite special chip. It has more horsepower than current ESP32s, has dual RISCV(open source instruction set) cores running at 400MHz and also some hardware acceleration for video processing and SHA256. Keith, from SeedSigner is on an effort to run SeedSigner code on ESP32s, but it is quite challenging, as they run at 240MHz and lack of fast video buffers. ESP32 manufacturer, Espressif, now seems to be going in direction of RISCV cores, next chips will be more suitable to run optical signers.

You can easily find Amigos on Aliexpress, probably on Digikey, Mouser, etc. too

How about secure elements? Is any of these SoCs protected against just reading out its flash contents through a debug port or desoldering a flash chip from the PCB?

[dkbit98]

How about secure elements? Is any of these SoCs protected against just reading out its flash contents through a debug port or desoldering a flash chip from the PCB?

Odudex can correct me if I am wrong, but I think everything is erased from Krux once you turn the power off, so there is nothing to read and copy.
Than you have to load seed phrase each time you turn the power on, best with QR code scan, but it can be done manually.
That is why we don't need to have or trust secure elements, and one of the reasons I like Krux.

[odudex]

You're right, Krux relies on a protocol, not on an element.