Cryptographic hardware wallet with smooth card-based security model

Cypherock X1 is like a newcomer at Crypto Hardware Wallet Space, with a beta version held in 2023.

Thanks to the unusual joystick-based control setup and ultra-sexual independence thanks to NFC-based cards and shard-based security models, the X1 is a lot trying to put muscle in a wallet-controlled market like the Ledger Nano X and Trezor Safe 5.

What is Cypherock X1?

Cypherock X1 is a cryptocurrency wallet designed with security in mind, aiming to free users from vulnerabilities related to crypto seed phrases.

According to Cypherock, the problem is that traditional hardware wallets store Private Key In a single location, you have a paper backup and create a single point of failure.

Cypherock X1. Image: Decrypt

X1 aims to split the private key into five parts using Shamir’s Secret Sharing (SSS) and store it on an X1 Vault device, spanning four X1 cards equipped with secure elements and NFC connections.

It can be used to restore a private key that can be further protected by a PIN number using two cards and a vault.

It’s a bit like Voldemort’s Holcrux, but with no evil intentions.

Cypherock X1: Design and Building

The X1 is a compact, portable crypto wallet designed to fit in your pocket as well as attach loops, and can be hooked to your keychain, belt, or wrist.

The device itself is ultrasound-welded, making it difficult for attackers to access without leaving behind any tampering with visible signs. Inside, there is a dual-chip architecture for offline calculations and safe verification.

Cypherock X1. Image: Decrypt

The X1 Vault features a 0.96-inch OLED display that allows you to clearly display text, allowing you to interact with just your wallet without the need for an app at all times. But it’s a bit dim. So, if you want to use it in the sunlight, you may have a hard time. However, indoor use was quite clear.

The joystick is one of the outstanding design features, especially since it is very unique on this small scale. It looks similar to the one featured on the Nintendo Switch, and seems to be of high quality with 5-axis sensitivity. It all becomes an easy and very intuitive way to control your device with just your thumb.

The X1 comes with a USB cable and adapter, so you can use USB-A or USB-C, making it ideal for both Windows and Apple machines.

The X1 card is made from plastic and functional NFC technology. They are identical in size and appearance to credit cards, making them easy storage and secure distribution. They can be stored in a supplied hard case that also serves as a Faraday cage to protect against remote electromagnetic signals.

It’s all built to last, and the company claims that the setup is suitable for at least 500,000 taps using NFC, and that the data is safe for at least 20 years.

You can also purchase a replacement X1 card and vault if the original is lost or destroyed. If you lose a single card, we recommend purchasing a complete set of new X1 cards and replacing the original if you want to add a new wallet to your system.

Cypherock X1: What’s in the box?

The box has the outside of a card that tears to tear. Inside, there is a zippered container case with cables closed, leaving things tightly sealed.

Cypherock X1. Image: Decrypt

When you unzip the case, you will receive instructions on how to get started from USB-C to USB-A shielded cable and USB-A to USB-C adapter.

Additionally, four X1 cards are pouched next to the X1 itself. You will also get a strap to attach to the X1, the user manual, and the warranty document.

Cypherock X1: Get started

Once you open everything and plug in the X1 to the power source, it will turn on immediately and the display will show you the websites you need to access to download and install the app. When this is on the machine, it is obtained through the process of setting up the wallet.

Most interactions occur on the X1 device itself, with minimal APP input. An additional step in the setup process is to verify each X1 card one by one. This involves holding each device for a few seconds.

Cypherock X1. Image: Decrypt

Before you set up in the app, you can set up multiple wallets on X1 and implement pincodes if necessary. Setting it up in the app gives you a deeper level of control.

There is also the option to view and export BIP39 seed phrases. This should be recorded as a paper backup (or if Cypherock goes out of business).

Cypherock X1: Cypherock Cysync App

The Cypherock Cysync app can be downloaded on Mac, Windows and Linux with mobile versions for iOS and Android.

It mainly serves as a contact for accessing your wallet from a large screen view. The app is extremely minimal and easy to use without the use of a replica menu that can defer new entrants. You can also use Fiat On-Ramp with Binance Connect to securely buy and sell cryptographically.

Cypherock X1. Image: Decrypt

The app goes beyond X1’s own wallet, but you can also use seed phrases to import and view and track other wallets. You can also connect using the app Dapp Over 1,000 ciphers can be exchanged across more than 15 networks via WalletConnect.

Please note that if you wish to purchase and exchange using the CYSYNC app, you will be subject to a transaction fee. That said, you can use CYSYNC and X1 as a base point to extract and buy and exchange it anywhere else at any time.

Cypherock X1: Features and assets

The standout feature of the X1 must be the four X1 cards used to protect the wallet.

Shamir’s Secret Sharing (SSS) private key storage adds an additional layer of security. X1 cards can be used to distribute private key shards to various locations, making physical access more difficult. Two of the five shards are required, reducing the risk of a single point failure, meaning that if one component is compromised, it is not possible to access the full private key.

However, the fact that you only need a vault and one card to access the private key is a limiting factor. Many SSS schemes choose three thresholds for additional security. With the $5 wrench attack on the rise, many users think it’s easy to use with an X1 vault and a card closed at hand.

One useful addition is that you can use X1 as a seed phrase vault. This means that you can back up seed phrases from your BIP39-supported wallet with up to four available slots.

Thanks to a partnership with a blockchain platform near the protocol, users can manage their existing wallets, create registered accounts, and securely store account data on their devices via the CYSYNC app. This means that developers can create distributed apps or DAPPs for use within CYSYNC apps.

When Cypherock X1 and accompanying apps were released, it supports over 9,000 digital assets, ranging from celebrities such as Bitcoin and Ether to lesser-known options including Starknet and Frax. A complete list of supported assets can be found here.

Cypherock X1: Security

Cypherock builds its brand based on security, so it’s definitely worth spending time examining your hardware.

The X1 Vault uses EAL6+ certified secure elements with Bank grade hardware components and is placed on par with rivals such as Ledger and Trezor. The X1 card also uses EAL6+ certified secure elements.

X1 uses open source firmware and audits are carried out by companies including WalletScrutiny and KeyLabs. The company is also implementing an ongoing bug bounty program as a way to spot potential weaknesses and address them before they become issues.

Cypherock X1. Image: Decrypt

It is worth noting that Cypherock uses the old ATECC608A secure memory circuit. This claims that Ledger Donjon used multiple laser fault injection attacks to infiltrate a ColdCard MK3 hardware wallet. The Coldcard MK4 has since been upgraded to the new ATECC608B circuit, as recommended by Ledger Donjon.

In response to an audit by KeyLabs, which flags the use of the old circuits of the X1, Cypherock said, “The ATECC608B is fully compatible with the ATECC608A interface, but was not available when it was sourced.

Decryption Contact Cypherock and update the review if you respond.

The pin has a good touch, as lockout time gradually increases with each incorrect attempt. This is what the company calls Cylock. This should help prevent brute force attacks.

As for recovery options, there is an SSS algorithm, where the private key is split into five points, and two can be used to recover the assets. It’s worth noting that rival hardware wallets like Ledger and Trezor offer the option to create Shamir backups rather than taking advantage of the X1’s more user-friendly card-based interface.

Cypherock X1: Verdict

Cypherock X1 is a relatively newcomer in the digital wallet market, but the company aims to spin it positively by building its systems to address the drawbacks of traditional hardware wallet security.

And that solution introduces some additional elements to the manufacturing and auditing of secure bank-grade components with X1 cards, but that is mitigated by using Shamir’s secret sharing to distribute the wallet’s private key. In theory, even if one component in the system is compromised, users can still collect the other two, reassemble the wallet, and extract the funds.

It is a cleverly designed system, eliminating one of the more archaic features of the Crypto user experience.

This, coupled with a range of features such as Cysync, makes the Cypherrock X1 a great candidate for hardware wallet space.