Your secret keys should never touch an internet-connected device. Hardware signers exist to enforce that boundary: they hold your keys, show you exactly what you are signing, and approve nothing without your explicit confirmation.

This one-hour introductory session covers how hardware signers work, what the main options look like, and how to think about choosing one for your situation. It is designed for people who want to understand the approach before implementing it, and to know what to look for when they do.

Why you should participate

You will leave with a clear understanding of how hardware signers fit into a sovereign Bitcoin setup, what criteria matter when choosing one, and what the implementation path looks like if you decide to take it further. This is an introduction to Gart's Digital Security Remote Training, a one-on-one service that walks you through the full setup at your own pace.

This is a live session with a Q&A at the end: bring your questions and your specific situation.

About your host

For digital privacy we partner with the advisory team of SMS, led by Max Hillebrand, Bitcoin and Privacy Technology Advisor.

Max is a praxeologist and open-source advocate dedicated to building freedom tech that empowers individuals through economic and technological sovereignty. He is a globally respected expert in Bitcoin privacy and self-custody, known for building secure, reliable systems that help individuals and businesses take full control of their Bitcoin, safely, privately, and without reliance on third parties.

What you will learn

• What hardware signers do and why keeping secret keys off internet-connected machines matters
• What the main hardware signer options are, how they differ, and how to choose based on your budget, technical comfort, and security priorities
• What an air-gapped signing workflow looks like, and why the separation between your watching wallet and your signing device is the point
• Why initialization matters and what good entropy means for the long-term security of your keys
• What recovery drills are and why testing your backup before you need it is part of the setup, not an afterthought

Format and capacity

• Duration: 1 hour, including a live Q&A at the end
• Platform: Our private Jisti server. You will receive the link after registering.
• Language: English
• Seats: limited to 30