Once Bitten! A Bitcoin Podcast. Open Source And Auditable Chip Embedded Into Trezor Safe 7. Matej Zak and Tomáš Sušánka. #585
Jan 5, 2026
Matej Zak, CEO of Trezor, and Tomáš Sušánka, CTO, share their vision for the future of hardware wallets. They discuss the significance of the Tropic Square Chip and its potential to disrupt the chip industry. The duo highlights the Czech Republic's historical context that shapes its Bitcoin culture, alongside the challenges posed by centralized currency systems. Security innovations, open-source principles, and preparing for quantum computing threats take center stage. Their insights reveal how Trezor is pioneering self-custody and transparency in the crypto space.
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Finding A Broken Secure Element
- Trezor tested a secure element and quickly found a trivial way to extract secrets without advanced lab equipment.
- NDA restrictions then prevented Trezor from publicly warning other vendors using the same chip.
Don't Rely On Passphrases Alone
- Do not rely solely on passphrases as a security substitute because users forget them.
- Balance security and usability because stronger but unusable protections reduce overall safety.
Open Chips Let Researchers Audit Hardware
- Trezor pushed to remove NDAs and make chip samples and designs openly available to researchers.
- Open access lets academics and independent reviewers examine chips without legal barriers, improving security transparency.