Arguably the most challenging part of bitcoin self custody is the “self” part–the part that means at some level, you’re responsible for keeping your wallet secure. Bitkey’s security architecture already does a lot to remove the risks of human error from the equation, with multiple routes to recover your wallet if something goes wrong, no seed phrase to keep track of (and potentially lose), and one of the easiest interfaces to use on the market.
But how do you know that you’ve done everything you can to keep your funds secure–and how often do you check your setup to make sure everything is up to date? With Bitkey, that part just got a whole lot easier.
Today, we’re pleased to announce Security hub–one place to get a quick, holistic view of your wallet security and take action to improve it if necessary.
The next time you open your Bitkey app, look for the shield icon, which will bring you straight to the hub. If something needs your attention, you’ll see a notification and be able to take quick action to resolve it, making sure your wallet security stays up to date. Here’s what it covers:
Recommendation | What is it? | Why is it important? |
Add a Recovery Contact | Recovery Contacts are people you know and trust who can help you get back into your wallet if you lose access. | By adding a Recovery Contact, you make it possible to recover your wallet if you lose your phone and hardware at the same time. They never have access to your wallet, keys, or bitcoin–just a one-time code to confirm that you’re the owner. |
Back up your Emergency Exit Kit (EEK) | The EEK is a tool that gives you the power to transfer funds out of your Bitkey wallet without relying on the Bitkey team or public app store providers. The app backs up your EEK automatically. | If Bitkey’s app or servers are ever blocked or go offline, you can still move your money using your Bitkey device and the app key stored in your EEK. If there’s an access issue with your cloud account, the security hub will show that. |
Enable critical alerts | Critical alerts are notifications sent via email, push, or SMS, to communicate important updates about recovery, inheritance, and privacy. | Critical alerts are particularly important for security, because they’re where you’ll get an immediate notification if anyone other than you tries to access or make changes to your wallet without your permission. |
Set up biometric or PIN login | Require PIN or FaceID to unlock Bitkey app | Activating biometric or PIN login means only you, or someone who can unlock your phone, can open your Bitkey app. |
Add additional fingerprints | Enroll up to 3 different fingerprints and use any of them to unlock Bitkey hardware | Ensures you have more than one fingerprint available to unlock your hardware |
Add cloud backup | Encrypted backup of your mobile key for easy access when you get a new phone. | Lets you know if you have a valid cloud back up–crucial for a number of recovery scenarios. |
Update your firmware | Ensure your device is using the latest firmware. | Ensures your Bitkey device is using the latest firmware–which is regularly updated to stay ahead of the latest security threats. |
To learn more about what’s happening with Bitkey, visit bitkey.world.
