BTChip releases new smartcard-based USB bitcoin wallet

It sounds like an offline cryptocurrency user’s dream device: A multi-signature enabled, smartcard-based, USB connected hardware wallet able to native support both bitcoin and altcoin wallets. It’s as thin as a credit card, and roughly the size of a house key. And for €20 (roughly $25), it can be yours. The new joint venture from BTChip and GreenAddress is called the HW.1, and it offers a range of features from a developer API to customizable form factors and visual designs.

Speaking to CoinDesk, GreenAddress co-founder Lawrence Nahum said that the HW.1 brings together “the best of two worlds,” and added that he expects “a lot of people to be using them” in the near future. By having a small, secure bitcoin wallet on hand, Nahum explained, “they can bring their wallet with them at all times as it fits a legacy wallet.”

The system is aimed at a very broad user base, working with both a native Chrome app (available for Windows, Mac OS X, Android and Linux) or dedicated Android app, and enabled for both full and micro-USB ports (via OTG adapter). Nahum told CoinDesk that the testing is ongoing, and noted that full functionality has been verified on a range of popular mobile devices, including the Samsung Galaxy line, the Nexus 5 and most Android 4.x devices. The HW.1 also has full compatibility with the popular Electrum 2.0 wallet, and can be configured to use two-factor authentication via email or SMS.

The device also includes a bit of good news for those with the pre-order jitters: The HW.1 is currently available, with a two-for-one offer for early adopters.