Hash Wallet AMA Recap
CryptoDiffer team
We are glad to meet here
Daniel Hernández (@Danielhr), Co-Founder at Hash Wallet
José Ramón Sendra (@JRSendra), CTO at Hash Wallet
Q1: Can you introduce yourself to the community? What is your background and how did you join Hash Wallet?
José Ramón Sendra
CTO
I am the co-founder and CTO of eSignus. I am in charge of the development of the HASHWallet, both on the hardware side but also helping to focus on the App that will be the interface with the hard wallet. We developed our first device aiming to safely managing funds before the blockchain.
We joined in a previous project some years ago.
Developing a smart card for banks, that is the origin of HASHWallet.
Daniel Hernández
CEO
I´m also co founder of eSignus and the CEO fo the company. I have been working in the past leading IT companies that developed softwae projects for the Financial Industry. I now Jose Ramón for more than 10 years, and have worked toguether in several projects. One of them was the seed of eSignus, an smarcard for autenticating and signing transactions for online banking.
CryptoDiffer team
Q2: Can you briefly describe what is Hash Wallet in 3-5 sentences? What technology stands behind Hash Wallet and why it’s better than the existing one?
Daniel Hernández
CEO
Hashwallet is a new generation of hardwallet, that brings together the strongest level of “Real” security with ease of use and high operation speed. The hardwallet is deployed in a smartcard format, with a large e-ink screen, a cryptoprocessor, a Bluetooth and NFC antenna, a battery and a fingerprint reader.
José Ramón Sendra
CTO
It is better because is a non programable device and the recovery system is simpler and friendly
CryptoDiffer team
Q3: What are the major milestones you have achieved so far?
Daniel Hernández
CEO
We started with an initial prototype at the begining of 2019 and did some testing with potential user in Q1 of 2019. After that we have been working in the development of the software platform, and preparing the project to launch a crowdfunding in the Indiegogo platform. As Jose Ramon said, we have the certification from Arrow, that validates that the product id viable from the manufacturing point of view, and we have closed some agreements for the future services of the platform we will provide for the users.
Also we have increased the tem with experienced and talented people that will help us to achiveve all the goals of the project.
Cryptodiffer Community
1 – What if someone stole my smart seed card and device? Due to biometric my wallet is safe or how it will safe? Can you explain all security concerns?
2 – What is the difference between HashWallet device & any other physical hardware wallet?
José Ramón Sendra
CTO
If someone stole both you will have a problem becuse you will not be able to recover your wallet, so both devices must be separated. The main differencie is that our device is not programmable so it can not be hacjed and that you can recover your wallet easely (in case you do not lose your smart key)
Cryptodiffer Community
What is meant by Secure CryptoProcesssor of Hashwallet Hardware wallet? Can you tell us about Security features of your Secure Cryptoprocessor that how it works & helps to store funds securely ?
José Ramón Sendra
CTO
The secure microprocessor will store the main seed, so from thar you can generate all your wallets. The main seed can not be accessed from outside so the wallets are absolutely safe
Cryptodiffer Community
I followed your project and I came to know that HashWallet has entered into an Arrow certification program. What is it and how does it help/affect HashWallet? What are the benefits of Arrow certification?
As you’re in the business of secure hardware, naturally there are questions surrounding the device’s security. How do you maintain the security of device? Can it be hacked, ever?
Daniel Hernández
CEO
The project is already fairly centralized, and the vision is to decentralize it. Ultimately, we will incorporate blockchain technology everywhere that makes sense. We don’t collect user data because we don’t want that responsibility.
We run multiple backup snapshots currently, and basically our ethereum blockchain is leveraging their security model which appears to be quite good.
The ultimate vision is to have a community-governed resources, with many forks or mirrors of the platform to handle local needs, and the ability to use PRE interchangeably. It is going to take some time to get there though.
Current totally decentralized search engines like YACY are just unusable, so we figured this was a much better approach to success – go for adoption, figure out the tokenomics and then the tech as it matures. It’s still early days for blockchain and distributed tech.
Cryptodiffer Community
Is that HASHWallet is cryptographically secured? Justify it..
José Ramón Sendra
CTO
As a hardwallet, the security depends on not lose the device, but if you have an upgradable device it can be hacked, that it is why HASHWallet is not programmable
Cryptodiffer Community
Recently a popular critic of Bitcoin on Twitter “Peter schriff” couldn’t access is bitcoin wallet which resulted to loss of his fund. This should serve as a lesson for wallet designers to take into account on improving usability of the designed wallet. How does hashwallet address issues like this? shouldn’t wallet be designed in such a way that it will periodically prompt the user to backup their seed phrase on an ongoing basis, not just at first launch?
José Ramón Sendra
CTO
I agree with that, in the case you refer the problem is to forget the private key (or keys) so thera must be a clear, friendly and safe way to recover your wallets, and that is what HASHWallet offers
Cryptodiffer Community
Vast majority of crypto hodlers don’t know the risks and consequences involved in keeping their funds on exchange and the benefits of storing it on Hardware wallet like Hashwallet. For this reason I concluded that most crypto influencers have failed in this aspect of educating people on the benefits of hardware wallet instead of focusing solely on the price. What is HASHWallet doing in ensuring that crypto users are educated on the risk involve in keeping funds on exchange and Benefits of Using Hardware wallet like Hashwallet?
José Ramón Sendra
CTO
Not your keys, not your crypto. This must be known for everyone that enter the crypto community. Everybody must controll his keys and HASHWallet is in charge of that
Cryptodiffer Community
Tell me the benefits as a user I would have from using Hash wallet compared to ledger? Since I own a ledger!
Daniel Hernández
CEO
Hi Meliodas! First of all teh easy of use of the device without compromising security. You and only you can access your hardwallet due to the biometrics in the fingerprint sensor. Also, bieng a non programable device, we provide a true secure environment for signing the transactions, where you can verufy, if it is the transaction you want to sign (What you see is what you sign). Finally the recovery system. No words….yo need the two recovery elements. Easier to recover and opens different scenarios in case you need someone else to recover the hardwallet if something happens to you.
Cryptodiffer Community
The private key is stored on the card. So, if I lose my card, can someone else unlock card and steal my private key?
José Ramón Sendra
CTO
Of course not. If you lose your card the people that finf it must have your fingers to access. That is why we use the biometric identification
Cryptodiffer Community
How the “Man in the middle” attack can happen and how can we prevent it?
José Ramón Sendra
CTO
The Man in the middle attack in a hardwallet must happen after you design the operation on the smartphone or computer, then the operation can be changed and arrive to the device another operation. This is solved with the What You See Is What Ypu Sign strategy and making the device not upgradable
Cryptodiffer Community
Can you give some reasons why I should use the Hash wallet compared to other hard wallet?
José Ramón Sendra
CTO
Three reasons. Non programmable device, easy to recover your wallets and smart card format
Cryptodiffer Community
HASHWallet has been selected as one of the finalist projects of Ciberemprende. Can you let us what is Ciberemprende about and which positive affection can it bring to HashWallet project? @JRSendra @Danielhr
At this moment, how many blockchains does HashWallet support and which standards does your team base on to integrate into your wallet?
Daniel Hernández
CEO
Hi Flusha! Ciberemprende is a program that is hosted by Incibe. They search for the most innovative starups in the cybersecurity ecosystem in Spain. Incibe is the organism that is in charge of cybersecurity of the goverment and works with the national cryptographic center. Being finalists, gives us the recognition, of all the work done by an agency that is renowed in the cybersecurity space, and the project has been review by a lot of experts. The 25 of february we will present the project in the https://www.4yfn.com/barcelona/ Barcelona.
Cryptodiffer Community
What is the difference between Decentralized Security and just a normal security? in relation with this What is the use of WYSIWYS to improve security and cannot be hacked?
José Ramón Sendra
CTO
The centralized security has only one point of failure, and that is the problems with custodial exchanges. The other case you have to hack any one device, but if you have a WYSIWYS non programmable device this is not posible to hack
Cryptodiffer Community
Recently, Kraken Security Labs in just 15 minutes hacked both of Trezor crypto hardware wallets, can HASHWALLET be a victim of such occurrence?
José Ramón Sendra
CTO
The problem with Trezor is double. 1.-They use a old secure element 2.- People does not use the passphrase. WE use a best secure element and use your fingerprint to make it unhackable
Cryptodiffer Community
Are there any new partnerships and interesting upcoming use-cases?
José Ramón Sendra
CTO
JUst now we are focused in the manufacturing process but yes we are signing interesting alliances that will be communicated soon
Cryptodiffer Community
Dealing with Data, there is the PRIVACY and Security issue, how does Hash wallet deal with these issues, for instance if user X data is illegal and demanded by government, what would you do?
Daniel Hernández
CEO
Hi Jerry! We are a non custodial wallet. Privacy is a very important issue for us and we know that also for our community. We do not have information about our customers, so if someone asks any information about them, there is nothing we can provide. The only way we can have some information (mail), would be if you want us to store the recovery key in our Vault. But there is no registration needed if you want the total provacy mode.
Cryptodiffer Community
Hash wallet doesn’t offer seed words, Which afaik it is a very troubling thing for everyone and everyone takes caution not to use such wallets, what does Hash wallet provide to recover funds if users lose their hardware wallet?
José Ramón Sendra
CTO
It is much more simple that using the seed words and introducig it in an impossible device, you only have to use the sees card and connect with the eSignus Vault to recover yor wallets
Cryptodiffer Community
Congratulations for been selected as one of the top 10 finalist projects of Ciberemprende. What does this competition mean? and if eventually HASHwallet emerges as the winner, what benefits will HASHwallet and the community derive from it?
José Ramón Sendra
CTO
Thank you. We will have access to more partnerships to expand our product
Cryptodiffer Community
The recovery process of Hashwallet is by loading Recovery Seed from the Seed Card and the Recovery Key from the custody service or from HashWallet own source. So, its like users only have 1/2 key for their fund, how will you ensure that all keys are safe on your side? What happen if eSignus stops to work on HashWallet projefct?
Daniel Hernández
CEO
Hi Spirit!! You can choose to custody both recovery items yourself. One will be sotred in teh recovery seed card, and the other one can be stored where you want. Our vault is an option for our customers. If someone could have access to the recovery key, he cant do anything with it, He would need to acces fisically to the recovery seed stored by you. One important thing: The private keys of the user, NEVER leave the device. What you sotre a recovery items, that are not seeds of the keys. The keys are generated in a totally random way.
Cryptodiffer Community
As we know recently upbit exposed securest wallet trezor could you please explain with that method can we break hashwallet how secure is hashwallet if anyone accesses my hashwallet physically?
Could you please explain bit what actually is Biometric security like how my family members can access my wallet my wallet if i’m not on place?
José Ramón Sendra
CTO
I answer to the second question (the first one is already answered). HASHWallet accepts up to 10 fingerprints, so you can store some of your family.
Cryptodiffer Community
1) Not all phones have NFC. Can I restore the card if my phone does not have NFC?
2) Is it possible to enter biometric data of several people (family members) in case something happens to the owner?
José Ramón Sendra
CTO
You do not need the NFC form your phone, the NFC is to communicate the HASHWallet with the seed card.
Cryptodiffer Community
Recently we were rocked with the Peter Schiff situation in which he didn’t back up his keys to his wallet, how does HASHWALLET helps in situations like this?
Daniel Hernández
CEO
Hi Maranatha! To initialice the device, you have to go through the process of generating the recovery Key and Seed. You can not jump the process.
Cryptodiffer Community
Since the card makes use of biometrics and private keys is not known by the user i.e generated randomly in the card, what happens to the funds incase the card is lost or damaged and how can it be recovered?
Daniel Hernández
CEO
Hi Olasinkanmi! You can check the recovery process in our webpage http://www.gethashwallet.com. There it´s explained with total details.
Cryptodiffer Community
How can Hashwallet compete with existing wallets such as Trust wallet, Enjin Wallet, or Coinomi Wallet and others??
Why should we choose HashWallet as a place to store assets??
José Ramón Sendra
CTO
Remember that a hardwallet must be named as a keychain holder. You are only storing the keys. So you must chose the safest one looking for reliability and usability. That is because we have chosen an smart card format so you can have it in your phicical wallet
Cryptodiffer Community
Trust is very important in Business . What makes investors, customers and users feel safe when working with Hash wallet ?
José Ramón Sendra
CTO
We already have find trust in investors. We need to transmit trust to you, the future customers, communicating that a device must be safe today and ever (non programmable) that you should recover easily your keys in case of problems and that you can have a device for your everyday life.
Cryptodiffer Community
Currently hardware wallets industry is very high, there are companies such as Trezor, Ledger and several other smaller companies, how does Hash wallet plan to compete against these companies and how do you plan to receive recognition in the crypto community?
José Ramón Sendra
CTO
They are so high that Trezor has been hacked and Ledger is upgradable so it can have troubles in any of the upgrades.
Cryptodiffer Community
Q. Can you explain about the Arrow Certification Program? And What are the benefits of Arrow Certification?
José Ramón Sendra
CTO
Arrow certifies the manufacturability and reliability of the devices so it is a third party (worldwide known) who certifies HASHWallet and this is what give trust to the future customers
Cryptodiffer Community
Does HashWallet only function as a place to save digital assets or are there other functions ex staking, mining, trading or etc??
José Ramón Sendra
CTO
HASHWallet is a keychain manager so you can have the digital assets save but the other things will be made outside the device
Cryptodiffer Community
Can you expand and bit more about security and privacy of crypto assets for “New Generation of Hardwallet”
José Ramón Sendra
CTO
Security means that you must have the control of your keys, this is what a hardwallet do. We are in a next generation because we have made a device only for storing your keys, you are not going to give them the capacity of doing other thing (upgradable divice) so not to have security flaws. Also the recovery of the keys and the form factor are part of HASHWallet
Cryptodiffer Community
eSignus participated in the last year #13ENISE which was a reference event for companies in the cybersecurity sector. How did the event go and what did you guys discussed there? and of what benefit was the event to eSignus and the community?
Daniel Hernández
CEO
Hi Abisola!! Yes, it was a huge oppotunitty for us, because we presented the project to all the community in the event. This was part of the Ciberemprende program and after the presentation we where selected by the pannel of judges as finalists of the programm. It has oppened us a lot of opportunitis that will come to integrations of services in our platform in the future, that you will benefit as users.
Cryptodiffer Community
The most secure hardwallet in the market, So what you improve to provide HASH Wallet ?
José Ramón Sendra
CTO
Non programmable device, smart recovery system (so you do not lose your wallets) and smart form factor so your keys are always with you
Cryptodiffer TEAM
People can change to the currency they want by paying low fee for their crypto assets already on different chains. For example, they can do many exchanges via Dex. What’s your difference? Is Hash wallet support Dex?
Daniel Hernández
CEO
Hi Nguyenphoangtan! We are not an exchange, but we will integrate Dex in the platfrom.
Cryptodiffer TEAM
In a cryptocurrency wallet, security needs are very high, because of the frequent theft of Crypto assets even with great value! How has the Hash Wallet responded to this? And is there a solution to the problem that you are doing?
José Ramón Sendra
CTO
The crypto assets can only be stolen if you leak your private keys. Every hardwallet keep the key safe, but they can allow a new firmware (not so safe) or faile to recover your keys. If you have your keys you have your cryptos
Cryptodiffer TEAM
1 – There are many Wallets approves Swap, Conversion, & free transfer. What’s your take in HashWallet? What’s your plans for revenues?
2 – Did you organized any hackathons to test if HASHWallet is hackproof or not?
José Ramón Sendra
CTO
We must diferenciate the wallets capabilities and a hardwallet. In HASHWallet you will have your keys and you will sign operatios in a WYSIWYS arquitecture, but all the other options will be on the smartphone or computer, we will offer this capabilities but also we will sign partnerships sao other companies can offer it.
Cryptodiffer TEAM
What do you see as the 3 challenges for your project to achieve the goals over the next year/s and may I know how do you plan to attract more business partnerships to your project?
Daniel Hernández
CEO
Hi Abduh! 1. I think that adoption by the community is our first challenge. That´s why we are launching an Indiegogo Campaing. 2. Regulation. Although we are not subject to licenses and we are a non custody wallet, there are services we want to implement to improve the easy of use in more and more user cases, that perhaps would have some limitations in some jurisdictions. From the point of view of partnerships, we have had a lot of contacts with othe rprojects in the community and we are excited about the feedback we have had. So expect some news about this.
Cryptodiffer TEAM
What has the security, speed, and security with HashKey Proso far accomplished? This will prevent the ability to expand the application of Blockchain in all areas of life. This is a big problem of Blockchain, so Hash Wallet has done so far to improve this problem?
All current projects are concerned with the speed and quantity of transactions. Old projects have also improved their network. So what else does Hash Wallet need to bring to investors?
José Ramón Sendra
CTO
HASHWallet will store keys and sign transactions, so finally you can sign anything you can design on a computer. The simplicity of HASHWallet is its main strength
Cryptodiffer TEAM
How is HASHwallet protected against security risks? You know that in recent years, many crypto currencies, stock markets and wallets have been subjected to hacking attacks.
Does this doubt scare you and your team?
In the event of a potential attack, what procedures will your team implement to protect the assets of your users?
Daniel Hernández
CEO
Hi Shiva! Not your keys, not your coins!! That´s very important and why you need a hardware wallet. We dont store any keys from our users.
Cryptodiffer TEAM
How to switch to a new hardware wallet in case of losing the Card?
José Ramón Sendra
CTO
Once you have your new wallet you must inter into recover former wallet and use your seed card and eSignus Vault. Noe you have recovered your wallets
Cryptodiffer TEAM
What is the reason you formed the Hash Wallet like an ATM card?
Daniel Hernández
CEO
HI IkyNulil!! We have been working in the past with the banking industry, and we know that form faxctor is a very important issue for adoption. Most of the people (yes there are countries that not) are used to carry a credit card and are not used to carry other form factors. If we want Blockchian projects to become mainstream, we need adoption and easy of use, without sacrificing security.
Cryptodiffer TEAM
Philosophically speaking, it is the consumer that should adapt to the new methods of guarding your wallets and money, or are the wallets that need to adapt to the needs of the people?
Your Wallet will allow some kind of staking?
José Ramón Sendra
CTO
The technology must adapt to the consumers, of course, because of that we have simplified the use, the recovery and offer the WYSIWYS with a big screen. And of course offer HASHWallet in a smart card format so to store it in your physical wallet.
Cryptodiffer TEAM
Q1: Even if there are better one, people often can’t give up their habits. What is your RECIPE to attract users to give up their habits?
Q2: Is Hashwallet compatible with different chains? Can investors connect to different chains and trade on Hashwallet beside the wallet function?
José Ramón Sendra
CTO
The crypto community is growing exponentially, the newcomers have no habits but even the cryptousers know that the technology evolves everyday and they will adopt the best player systems. HASHWallet is adapting to include as many chains as we could.
Cryptodiffer TEAM
What is Non Programmable Device?
José Ramón Sendra
CTO
Ledger, Trezor, etc are devices that can be upgraded. This is made so they can add new functionality, but the questions is, Only they can? What happens if anybody else can upgrade it? The solution is that the devide is not programmable.
Cryptodiffer TEAM
Community, influence, product are the criteria to evaluate a project and decide the opportunity so with Hash Wallet what are the outstanding advantages to overcome the others project in this confrontation?
Can you list some of the advantages of Hash Wallet to attract developers? and how it will attract DApps developers from other blockchains?
Daniel Hernández
CEO
Hi TL! We have a vision of the project, where anyone could integrate in the future HASHWallet as a device to store the private keys you need in your project. This means, we will provide the tools to access the funtionality of the hardwallet. At the moment there are alot of projects strugling with the integrations of hardwallets for their projects and we want to be part of the solution. This is a second step for us, after the crowdfunding.
Cryptodiffer TEAM
Currently the crypto market is taking a toll in many ways and the interest of people in participating in the crypto community making it way worse for companies to generate sales. What sparked the creation of hashwallet and what made you develop at current time of the market?
Daniel Hernández
CEO
Hi Cryptonaut! The problems related to Crypto (mainly fraud and losses), are because people are relying all the security in third parties with centralized systems (exchanges for example). We think that this situation, is because hardwallets are not easy to use, very complicated and time consuming. That´s why we decided to try to solve the problem with HASHWallet. There are still a lot of opportunities….i think.
Cryptodiffer TEAM
Thanks for your time Daniel Hernández (@Danielhr) and José Ramón Sendra (@JRSendra) let’s finish the ama
