The Quest for a Secure Bitcoiner Begins in 2013
In 2013, bitcoin users primarily relied on desktop wallets such as Bitcoin Core, MultiBit, or Electrum, which stored private keys in a wallet.dat file on their computer’s hard drive. Viruses and malware were widespread, specifically targeting these wallet.dat files to steal bitcoin. It was the beginning of the Bitcoin Malware Era.
To combat online threats, we introduced the world’s first hardware wallet. A common question I received was, “How much BTC do I need to own to justify buying a hardware wallet?” With Trezor priced at 1 BTC (approximately $90), my advice was straightforward: “Any amount, even less than 1 BTC.” Some users were skeptical, especially those with modest holdings. However, within just three months, the price of bitcoin increased tenfold, highlighting the importance of securing digital assets with a dedicated hardware solution. Today, hardware wallets are a ubiquitous part of bitcoiners’ security strategies, with plenty of different options available in the market to choose from.