Bitkey: Bitcoin Wallet by Block

Bitkey is a self-custodial Bitcoin wallet developed by Block Inc. (formerly Square), the company co-founded by Jack Dorsey. Designed for everyday Bitcoin users, Bitkey offers a secure, simple, and user-controlled experience for managing BTC without relying on third parties like exchanges or custodians. It emphasizes self-sovereignty while also addressing usability and recovery—two of the biggest challenges in self-custody.

🔐 What Makes Bitkey Unique?

Bitkey isn’t just a mobile app—it’s a multi-part system that includes:

  1. Mobile App – For sending, receiving, and managing Bitcoin.
  2. Hardware Device – A minimalist security device for signing transactions.
  3. Cloud Backup – Encrypted and stored by Block to help recover access if you lose your phone or hardware.

Together, these components form a 2-of-3 multi-signature wallet, meaning any two of the following three elements are required to authorize a transaction:

  • Your phone (mobile app)
  • Your hardware device
  • Bitkey’s cloud backup (used only for recovery, never to access funds)

⚙️ Key Features

  • Multi-Signature Security: Prevents single-point-of-failure by requiring two keys to approve transactions.
  • Self-Custody: You hold the keys—Bitkey does not hold your Bitcoin.
  • Recovery Made Easy: If you lose your phone or hardware, you can still recover your wallet using the other two components.
  • Simple Hardware Design: Small, sleek device with only a fingerprint sensor and no screen—designed for ease, not complexity.
  • Open Source: The codebase is open and auditable for transparency and trust.

📲 How Bitkey Works

  1. Set Up: You pair your mobile app with the hardware device, creating a 2-of-3 key system.
  2. Send BTC: To send Bitcoin, use your phone and confirm with your hardware key.
  3. Lost Device?: You can use the remaining key + Bitkey’s secure cloud backup to recover access.
  4. Daily Use: With one key on your phone, you can use features like watch-only balances or receive Bitcoin without using the hardware.

🌍 Global First Approach

Bitkey is designed to be accessible worldwide, especially in regions where self-custody is essential for financial freedom. It supports multiple languages and is intended to bring Bitcoin to users in emerging markets—not just tech-savvy users in developed countries.

✅ Why Choose Bitkey?

  • User-friendly for beginners
  • Self-custody without sacrificing recovery options
  • Designed for Bitcoin only, with a strong focus on decentralization and sovereignty
  • Trusted developer: Created by Block, a publicly traded company with a strong crypto commitment

🔚 Conclusion

Bitkey is a new kind of Bitcoin wallet: one that merges security, usability, and self-ownership in a beautifully simple way. If you’re looking for a secure yet easy method to store and manage your Bitcoin—without giving up control—Bitkey offers a compelling solution that balances modern convenience with the core principles of crypto: you own your keys, you own your Bitcoin.