Topic: Can anyone design a hardware wallet that looks like a generic USB? (Read 1010 times)

Thanks! I wasn't aware of those, so I watched their videos and read their FAQ.

The KeepKey seems very similar in operation to the Trezor. The differences are that it is much bigger physically, and has a bigger display; It is not supported on mobile devices (e.g. Android, but I suppose if you run Windows or Linux on mobile device that would work); It also seems to cost more that the Trezor ($239 from Amazon.com, but it probably is shipped much faster).

The Case Wallet has the advantage of being self-contained, meaning no connection to a computer or mobile device is needed. However, it also requires some trust, because it uses a 2-of-3 key, where one key is stored on the company's server. (The 3rd key is recommended to be kept with Third Key Solutions, a 3rd party, but you could also generate and secure it yourself.) I'd be a little worried about the "lifetime" GSM chip, or the fingerprint access to their server. The big problem is the big "SOLD OUT" button at the top of their web site. A TechCrunch review says the price is $199, but who knows what it will be if/when they get more in stock. Also, the name of their product makes it difficult to find in a web search.

That's is really a nice idea, its appreciating. If some one make the hardware wallet like a generic USB then it will look great and will feel like secured.  Those who thinks about insecurity in the current degital Wallet.

Also consider Case Wallet and KeepKey.

I don't understand the point of a USB wallet.

Edit: never mind I get it. Good idea.

I think this has been done multiple times, the ledger nano being the one that springs to mind right away.

Hardware wallets that use out-of-band communication (a display and buttons on the wallet itself) are protected against man in the middle. The only 2 examples of which I am aware are the Trezor or the soon-to-be-released Ledger Blue.

There is no evidence that an evil Chrome extension for Trezor has ever been published. If one popped up it would be all over reddit. By definition any hardware wallet which stores your private keys offline is 100% more secure than any online or desktop option. You always have the option of downloading the Trezor bridge from Github if you want to bypass the Google web store.

Armory used to be the best option for cold storage but required two computers, one always kept offline. Now Trezor is number one. If you are curious about Trezor take the time to read the manual so you can make an informed choice.

trezor relies on chrome extensions or using a preinstalled multibit program on same said infected computer..

infact people can make a chrome expension that says "error, please type in seed" and then grab peoples seed..

hardware wallets, in general are better than just using an .exe on your desktop.. but their still not 100% secure against man in middle..
id say 99% better than just having funds on blockchain.info.. and 50% better than using bitcoin-core / multibit alone..

it seems that it does not offer the same protection as a trezor, in the case you plug in in a infected computer

The problem with having an encrypted wallet.dat file on a regular USB drive is that you cannot easily spend it when you want to. In addition, you don't have the safety layer that the hardware wallets offer from protecting the contents from malware.

If your goal is to move it from one location to another physically, it works well ofcourse. But if you want to spend, you need something more sophisticated.

so many hardware bitcoin wallet now, and they are very cool and safe, there were me review here https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/overview-bitcoin-hardware-wallets-secure-your-coins-899253
but if you are looking for something that is shaped USB, maybe just a very similar Ledger USB flashdrive.

Now there are a few things that don't make sense. First, You do understand that the Hardware Wallets like Trezor don't store bitcoins? Correct? They keep the Private Keys off your computer in case of a compromised computer. At most, you can just safely conduct transactions on a malware infected PC. Second, Bitcoin wallets are surprisingly bitcoin wallets, how can you not be involved in Bitcoin and not potentially identify a KeepKey, Trezor, or Ledger. This information is regularly available. Assuming people won't recognize a bitcoin hardware wallet is like saying people won't recognize an iPhone. People will recognize devices that store bitcoin, there is no way around it. Third, your solution is extremely simple and it was mentioned before. Back up your Wallet.Dat file on Bitcoin Core QT and upload to a USB stick. There is no denying that the average individual will not assume there are bitcoins present on USB. Lets just assume they did, it would be an encrypted anyway so the password would be necessary to gain access to the wallet.

ok 2 questions to clarify your paranoia..

most of your life, you have carried around something that thieves know is valuable.. (fiat currency).
1. are you regularly pick pocketted? have you been a target of a pickpocket?? is it a regular thing in your life?

out of the dozens of people you know well that you see everyday, and hundreds that walk passed you
2. how many know about bitcoin... and would also be a thief... and also know you knew about bitcoin.. and also know what was INSIDE your pocket while you walked.

in short you are more than likely to get your credit card stolen by the 1% of theives in the world than the 0.001% of thieves that know of bitcoin.. or the 0.000001% of all of them that may personally come into contact with you

how here is 2 solutions..
feel free to use any hardware wallet.. infact have 2 of them.. one for large hoards which you keep locked up.. and another for daily spend amounts you keep in your pants pocket.

secondly.. dont tell anyone you have bitcoins. as that is more of an advert than something hidden in your pocket 98% of the day.

and in the unlikelyhood of of you still being robbed, even after protecting yourself. it only takes 2 minutes to input your bitcoin seed into any of a number of other bitcoin wallets to move your funds.. while the thieves are trying to bruteforce even basic encryption of the stolen device.


.. with all that said. calm down, relax

I don't get your line of reasoning. First, not that many even know what a Trezor is. Also, many folks routinely carry a few bitcoin in Mycelium on their Android phone. I think you may be approaching this the wrong way. Any thief or cop with probable cause will take your usb drives, Ledgers or Trezors and analyze later. The question you should be asking is which portable bitcoin hardware wallet or storage device is hardest for a thief or cop to break into? I vote for Trezor. As long as you use a random PIN and passphrase you should have plenty of time to get a new one and restore from seed before the stolen one is compromised, if at all. That's why you pay Trezor $99 in the first place, for the security it affords.

Well if you roughed it up a bit, removed the identifying logos, and weathered the outside some, the USB would look a lot less appealing and probably less noticeable by thieves. With the logo removed you probably wouldn't be able to even recognize it as a hardware wallet.

Doesn't matter what you think, it's already been done and you would have known if you actually read a couple posts above you.


It looks great and incredibly lightweight - some wallets can get a bit bulky. I'm not sure if it'd fit the OP's needs, though, because it looks like a pricey USB built for style, something any thief would take if they mugged you and were looking for things to steal.

I think it's possible but it'd be really difficult and just all around complicated. I don't know how much interest it'd gain.

Maybe your best bet would be disassembling a Ledger and cramming it on a regular USB device "enclosure"? I don't know what would be possible to do that fits your needs, just guessing

Yep, nano is again a pretty cool looking wallet, but easily recognizable. I guess my only alternative for now is a generic pendrive with an encrypted wallet.dat inside a hidden volume, maybe with veracrypt? but anyway, the point is to have the functionality of the hardware wallets, this idea wouldn't allow me to use in such way.

here is a list of all hardware wallets:

https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/overview-bitcoin-hardware-wallets-secure-your-coins-899253