Cardware Wallet Wallet Website

Cardware Wallet is a hardware cryptocurrency wallet developed in South Africa, designed to offer secure, offline storage and management of digital assets. It employs an air-gapped architecture, meaning it operates entirely without internet connectivity, thereby minimizing exposure to online threats.

Key Security Features

• Air-Gapped Operation: The wallet functions without any network connections—no internet, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or NFC. This isolation ensures that private keys remain inaccessible to remote attackers.​

• USB-C Power Only: The USB-C port is configured solely for power delivery; all data lines are physically disconnected. This design choice prevents data transfer-based exploits.​

• Secure Element Chip (EAL6+ Certified): Private keys are stored within a tamper-resistant secure element chip, certified at EAL6+ level, providing robust protection against physical and logical attacks.​

• Non-Upgradable Firmware: The firmware is permanently installed in read-only memory, eliminating risks associated with firmware updates, such as introducing vulnerabilities.​

• Transparent Casing: The wallet features a clear casing that allows users to visually inspect internal components, verifying the absence of hidden connections or malicious hardware.​

Key Generation and Management

• High Entropy Key Generation: Users can generate private keys using methods that incorporate real-world randomness, such as capturing hashed video streams or rolling dice. This approach ensures the creation of unpredictable and unique keys.​

• Hierarchical Deterministic (HD) Wallet Support: Cardware Wallet supports BIP-32/BIP-44 standards, allowing users to derive multiple private keys from a single master seed, enhancing both security and convenience.​

• Multisignature (Multisig) Support: The wallet enables the configuration of multisig wallets, requiring multiple private keys to authorize a transaction. This feature is beneficial for collaborative funds or institutional investors seeking enhanced security.​

Cryptocurrency Compatibility

• Bitcoin (BTC) Support: The standard Cardware Wallet model supports Bitcoin transactions, utilizing Partially Signed Bitcoin Transactions (PSBT) for secure, offline signing.​

• Ethereum and EVM-Compatible Chains: An alternative model extends support to Ethereum and other Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatible blockchains, including Avalanche, Optimism, and Phantom.

User Interaction and Integration

• QR Code-Based Transactions: All transaction data is transferred via QR codes, maintaining the air-gapped nature of the device. Users can securely sign transactions without exposing private keys to connected devices.​

• Web Wallet (Watch-Only) Interface: Cardware provides a web-based interface for monitoring balances and transaction histories. This interface operates in a watch-only mode, ensuring private keys remain offline.​

• Developer Integration via NPM Package: An NPM package is available for developers to integrate Cardware Wallet functionalities into web platforms, facilitating broader adoption and customization.​

Additional Features

• Backup and Recovery: During setup, users generate a 24-word mnemonic seed phrase, compliant with BIP-39 standards, for wallet recovery. A steel seed phrase sheet is provided for durable, physical backup.​

• Open-Source Commitment: Cardware Wallet's codebase is open-source, allowing for community review and verification of security claims.​

• Physical Security Measures: The secure element chip is designed to self-destruct if tampering is detected, rendering stored keys inaccessible to potential attackers.​