The Cop Who Built an Open Source Bitcoin Wallet

What makes a Bitcoin signing device trustworthy, and why would anyone choose to build their own from parts they can buy off the shelf?

Seed, the creator of SeedSigner, joins Honest Money to explain how an open source, DIY signing device came to exist and why open hardware matters for the security of your Bitcoin. From an unlikely start in law enforcement to becoming a builder in the self custody world, Seed shares what he learned about trust, transparency, and the risks hidden inside closed hardware.

This conversation explores the open source ethos, the supply chain and geopolitical risks facing hardware wallets, and why SeedSigner sees itself as a human rights tool as much as a security device.

🎙️ EPISODE SUMMARY

Seed and Anja discuss open source hardware, self custody, and why DIY matters for Bitcoin.

The conversation moves from what SeedSigner actually is and how it works, through Seed's path from police work to Bitcoin, to his early impressions of the technology and the ethical questions it raised for him. Seed explains the open source ethos behind the project, how community driven development shapes it, and what real user experience looks like on a device you assemble yourself.

The episode also examines security concerns with hardware wallets, the evolution of microcontrollers and self custody, and the supply chain and geopolitical risks most people never consider. Seed makes the case that DIY solutions strengthen Bitcoin's decentralisation, and that open, verifiable hardware is what keeps sovereignty in the hands of the people using it.

🔗 FEATURED LINKS

SeedSigner on X: https://x.com/sesi_the_man

SeedSigner on GitHub: https://github.com/SeedSigner

Donate Sats: https://seedsigner.com/donate/

🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS