Romanian Electronics Manager Builds DIY Crypto Wallet, Encourages Open-Source Projects
Summary:
Florin Cocos, an electronics design manager from Romania, utilized open-source code to build his own hardware cryptocurrency wallet similar to a Trezor device, demonstrating the process on his YouTube channel, Voltlog. Despite the project's apparent simplicity, Cocos mentions that without a sound knowledge of electronics, creating a DIY wallet could prove immensely difficult and potentially result in significant security threats. Despite not recommending the endeavor to less experienced individuals, Cocos remains a staunch advocate for the promotion of open-source projects.
While many cryptocurrency hardware wallets are open-source, building a self-made (DIY) wallet akin to Trezor demands certain technical abilities. Florin Cocos, a Romanian who's an electronics design manager, successfully assembled his own DIY Trezor with the wallet's open-source code in 2018, independently of a "real" Trezor device. On Voltlog, his YouTube channel, Cocos detailed how he made the do-it-yourself Trezor Model One, utilizing electronics parts bought from distributors such as Farnell. The designer employed a Farnell microcontroller and a printed circuit board (PCB) obtained from a Chinese production house, derived from a Gerber file found on Trezor's GitHub.
Five years after sharing his DIY Trezor journey, Cocos remains passionate about his homemade crypto gadget. He maintains that he would always opt to trust his self-assembled device over one bought from a marketplace. The Voltlog creator committed an estimated 10 hours to establish the DIY Trezor. This endeavor wasn't driven by Trezor's market availability; instead, Cocos aimed to promote open-source projects.
Creating the hardware for the DIY Trezor was simple for Cocos, although the stage of flashing the firmware and setting it to operate with the app posed more of a challenge. Despite the project seemingly not taking too long, Cocos advises that manufacturing a DIY Trezor might prove to be very complex for an average user. He surmises that without a knowledge base in electronics, the task would be "nearly impossible."
However, Cocos warns that the process, although simplified, could incur considerable security threats related to vulnerabilities in supply and manufacturing processes. Efforts of someone with no relevant knowledge trying to create a DIY Trezor could culminate in major security threats.
Cocos possesses a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and has engaged in professional electronic design and manufacturing for a decade, with his interests in this area spanning over 15 years. Though he admits that some level of expertise is required to build a DIY Trezor, one doesn't necessarily need to be an expert. Cryptocurrency users have frequently fallen prey to counterfeit hardware wallets bought from unofficial vendors, leading manufacturers such as Ledger and Trezor to counsel their customers to exclusively purchase from official vendors. In areas where delivery of these hardware wallets is impeded due to things like sanctions, open-source devices could serve as an alternative solution.
Published At
9/21/2023 10:28:37 AM
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