Ledger, the hardware wallet maker, has rolled out its new Flex wallet. It's a fresh take on their Stax model's E Ink touchscreen interface. The Flex is priced at $249. It's cheaper than the $399 Stax. The device sports a 2.8" E Ink touchscreen with 600 x 480 pixel resolution. Unlike the Stax, it doesn't have a curved screen. You can get it in two colors. There's the classic black and silver. Or you can opt for a special orange BTC Edition. Ledger's CEO, Pascal Gauthier, is pumped about the launch. "Our new secure touchscreen category will make self-custody more accessible than ever before," he said. The Flex is pretty compact. It weighs 57.5g and measures 78.40 mm × 56.50 mm × 7.70 mm. It's got USB C, Bluetooth 5.2, and NFC connectivity. The battery life is impressive too. Ledger claims it can last "weeks or even months on one charge." But here's the kicker: the Flex has Ledger's EAL 6 certified secure element. This is the heart of the device. It generates and stores private keys and powers the secure screen. Ledger's approach to secure elements is unique. They use a proprietary operating system called BOLOS. They also have a team of white-hat hackers, Donjon, who look for vulnerabilities. The Flex is part of Ledger's "Proof of You" initiative. It's their way of "securing a world that's embracing AI," they say. They've launched a new Ledger Security Key app for this. This app lets users create 2FA and Passkeys using the FIDO 2 specification. You can use it for passwordless login on sites like Google, Amazon, and crypto exchanges Binance and Coinbase. But it hasn't all been smooth sailing for Ledger. In 2021, their customer email database was hacked. Almost 300,000 users had their details exposed. Last year, they had to warn customers about a malicious version of their Connect Kit. They also faced backlash over Ledger Recover, an ID-based key recovery service. Some users weren't happy, calling it a "backdoor" on devices. Ledger insisted it was opt-in, but the damage was done.

Proton, the Swiss tech company behind ProtonMail, is taking a stab at the crypto world. They're rolling out Proton Wallet, a self-custody Bitcoin wallet. It's a bold move. The new product will be baked into ProtonMail. Users can zap bitcoin around as easily as firing off an email. No fuss, no muss. Proton's CEO, Andy Yen, is pumped about it. "Bitcoin's been held back by clunky transactions and security worries," he said. "We're tackling both head-on with Proton Wallet." Yen reckons this could be a game-changer. He claims it'll make Bitcoin transactions "as easy to use as PayPal". But here's the kicker - it'll keep Bitcoin's decentralized, non-custodial nature intact. For Proton, this isn't just business. It's personal. Back in 2014, PayPal froze their crowdfunding campaign. Bitcoin saved their bacon. "That's when we first got the power of Bitcoin," Yen reminisced. Fast forward to 2023. Credit Suisse, Proton's bank, hit the skids. Proton's Bitcoin stash? It was a lifesaver. Talk about a plot twist. Dingchao Lu, Proton Wallet's head honcho, is all in on the Bitcoin dream. "We want to cut the cord with centralized financial institutions," he declared. Lu's not just talking the talk. Proton's been hodling Bitcoin since 2016. It's paid off big time. So, how does this wallet work? Both sender and receiver need Proton Wallet. You just need an email address to send Bitcoin. Easy peasy. Proton's got some tricks up its sleeve to keep things private, too. Here's the rub: it's not using Lightning Network yet. "It's a tough nut to crack for non-custodial wallets," Yen admitted. But they're not ruling it out for the future. Right now, Proton Wallet's in early access mode. Only Proton Visionary users and some Bitcoin bigwigs can use it. But they're planning to roll it out to all Proton users down the line. Buckle up, folks. This could be interesting.

Seattle-based VivoKey Technologies is pushing the envelope in cryptocurrency storage. The company offers subdermal crypto wallets for secure transactions. These wallets use NFC and RFID technology. VivoKey's solution is a form of biohacking. It's a field that includes life extension experiments and brain-computer interfaces. Many biohackers use subdermal computer chip implants. The company's Apex wallet is the size of a pill. It secures data under the skin. "These wallets are hardware wallets meant to be used for sending cryptocurrency," says Amal Graafstra, founder and CEO of VivoKey Technologies and Dangerous Things. Graafstra explained the wallet's function to Decrypt. "Your phone app is your interface, but it doesn't have any private keys. The private key and the actual signing of the Bitcoin transaction, or the crypto transaction, is done in the chip." The Apex chip has multiple uses. It can store Bitcoin, open doors, or pay for coffee. "We have a couple of different Bitcoin and crypto wallets right now that are supported," Graafstra said. These include Satochip, Seedkeeper, and Status IM key card wallets. VivoKey and Dangerous Things launched in 2017 and 2013, respectively. They specialize in NFC and RFID technology for human implantation. The Satochip is a BIP32/39 wallet applet. It allows safe cryptocurrency storage and secure blockchain transactions. The implantation process is quick. "The Apex currently comes in a 'Flex' form factor, which is a much wider device, but very thin," Graafstra explained. A needle is used to insert the device under the skin. Graafstra's journey into biohacking began in 2005. He was inspired by RFID chips used for pets. He got his first implant to open a door without a key. "The initial impetus for getting an implant in the first place was pure laziness," he admitted. Manufacturing challenges exist. "The probably the biggest challenge is low volume manufacturing in a very high volume industry," Graafstra said. VivoKey produces batches of 2,000 to 5,000 transponders. This contrasts with millions for cards or 10,000 for animal transponders. Customers aren't put off by the price. Graafstra noted, "At the end of the day, people expect it to be expensive because it's a device that goes in your body." The implant's lifetime value justifies the cost for many users. Notable futurists have embraced the technology. Entrepreneur Briar Prestidge documented her chip implantation for an upcoming film. However, some people remain skeptical. Graafstra addressed common concerns. "The first thing they're doing is they're saying, 'I can't see a use case for me, therefore, I need to come up with a reason not to get one.'" He emphasized that the chip is not a tracker. The CEO highlighted the wallet's benefits. "The reality is you're owning a very secure, effective hardware wallet that you never lose, you can't forget, right under your skin." He also noted that the implant is removable and replaceable. VivoKey's subdermal wallets represent a bold step in cryptocurrency security. As digital assets evolve, such innovative storage solutions may become more commonplace. The intersection of biohacking and finance continues to push boundaries in unexpected ways.

Coinbase has unveiled a new web application. It allows users to manage multiple on-chain wallets in one place. The app works on desktops and mobile devices. The move is part of a broader industry trend. Wallet makers are trying to simplify access for newcomers. Coinbase's app aims to streamline wallet management. Users can connect several wallets to the app. They can buy, swap, send, stake, and mint coins from these wallets. The app also enables user interaction. Coinbase highlighted a common problem. "Today, many people use manual spreadsheets and need to open multiple browser tabs to track their assets holistically," they said. This app addresses that issue. Managing multiple crypto wallets has been tricky. Getting a comprehensive view of all assets in one place was challenging. Coinbase's app tackles this head-on. The application is compatible with smart wallets. This broadens its appeal to tech-savvy users. Coinbase isn't the first to offer such a solution. Other wallet providers, like Exodus, have launched similar products. The industry is keen to welcome less tech-savvy investors. Decentralized wallets can be a pain to navigate. This app could make life easier for many users. For Coinbase, this launch is strategic. It aligns with their long-term goal of becoming a "super app". They're aiming for something akin to China's WeChat. Broadening access is crucial for Coinbase. If they want to be a "super app", they need to rope in a wider audience. This new app is a step in that direction.

Opera's mobile browser, Opera Mini, is upgrading its cryptocurrency wallet MiniPay to include two of the world's most popular stablecoins - Tether's USDT and Circle's USDC. Users can switch between USD Coin and cUSD with minimal fees. The process uses a simple drag-and-drop motion. Jørgen Arnesen, Opera's executive vice president of Mobile, explained the feature. "It abstracts assets swapping in Web3," he said. "Users can effortlessly swap between all 3 stablecoins." Just to remind you, MiniPay was launched in September 2023 inside Opera Mini browser and run on the Celo blockchain. It uses Mento's cUSD, pegged to the US dollar. A kind of an own stablecoin, to be precise. The wallet initially targeted African markets. Opera said from the beginning that the browser wallet aimed to facilitate stablecoin transfers using mobile numbers. Arnesen discussed the rationale behind this focus. "We recognized the significant potential of blockchain-enabled peer-to-peer solutions within the continent," he stated. He noted common concerns among consumers. These included high fees, unreliable services, and lack of transparency in local payment options. All of that is supposed to be overcome by Opera's wallet built in the popular browser. MiniPay has also launched a Discover Page for decentralized applications (DApps). It organizes native DApps, providing direct access to various tools. Since its launch, MiniPay has seen rapid growth. It has over three million wallet activations across several African countries. Arnesen highlighted Africa's potential for digital asset adoption. He cited its young population and widespread smartphone use. Opera Mini is the most downloaded mobile browser in Africa. It boasts nearly 100 million users.