Updated on: December 10, 2024
SafetyDetectives recently interviewed Christian Wind, the co-founder of SEEDOR, a company dedicated to secure recovery seed storage for cryptocurrency users. With a background in mechanical engineering and materials science, Christian identified critical flaws in existing recovery seed backup solutions. Instead of settling for mediocrity, he and his business partner Ayhan set out to create a more secure, user-friendly solution. Today, SEEDOR is recognized as one of the leading brands for Bitcoin recovery backups, offering robust products that prioritize both physical durability and intuitive design. Through his work, Christian aims to simplify the complexities of crypto recovery, ensuring peace of mind for both experienced users and non-technical heirs alike.
What inspired you to establish SEEDOR, and how does your product address the critical need for secure recovery seed storage in the crypto space?
As a mechanical engineer and materials scientist, I found myself dissatisfied with existing recovery seed backup solutions. During my research, I came across 74 different competitors, but each product had shortcomings that I couldn’t overlook. This frustration inspired my business partner Ayhan and me to create a solution that addressed these gaps, not just for ourselves but also for like-minded individuals. Four years later, SEEDOR has grown to become one of the leading brands for Bitcoin recovery backups, offering a product that blends practicality with innovation to ensure peace of mind for Bitcoin holders.
SEEDOR emphasizes both physical durability and security. Can you share how the design of the SEEDOR Safe reflects these priorities?
The SEEDOR Safe is specifically designed with heirs and non-technical users in mind. It provides ample space to record not only full-length seed words but also essential details like derivation paths, multisig configurations, and any other information required for a seamless recovery. Our aim is to simplify the recovery process without compromising on security.
The last thing I’d want to see is an heir left with a confusing or incomplete backup, forced to turn to Reddit or Twitter for help on how to recover funds. That’s why SEEDOR focuses on creating a straightforward, intuitive system that even a non-technical user can navigate with confidence.
With the increasing adoption of cryptocurrencies, what are the most common mistakes you see individuals make in managing their recovery seeds?
The most common mistakes we see involve overly complex setups or custom encryption schemes created by users themselves. While the intention is to enhance security, these self-made solutions often backfire, causing the users to inadvertently lock themselves out of their funds. To address this, we’ve designed the SEEDOR Safe to avoid these pitfalls (“foot guns”) by incorporating redundant information to ensure recovery is always possible, even in case some of the information was lost. So my advice is this, unless you are Pieter Wuille, don’t come up with your own cryptography, keep it simple and redundant.
How does SEEDOR help users ensure their recovery seeds are protected against both physical threats like fire and tampering by unauthorized individuals?
SEEDOR employs the highest-grade 1.4404 stainless steel for both the capsule and the disks. The steel’s molybdenum content ensures exceptional resistance to corrosion, while its low carbon composition allows it to withstand extreme heat, including house fires. Its robust, compact design makes it virtually impossible to crush or destroy.
For added security, we provide tamper-evident seals that clearly indicate if the safe has been accessed. This is particularly useful when storing backups for multisig setups, Shamir shards, or time-locked backups like Liana with trusted family members or friends. By inspecting the seals, you can easily verify whether the backup remains untouched, ensuring that your recovery process is secure and uncompromised.
As the crypto landscape evolves, what trends in hardware security or user behavior do you see influencing the way recovery seeds are stored?
One of the most exciting recent developments is the rise of Bitcoin Miniscript wallets. Miniscript is a subset of Bitcoin Script that enables highly flexible and secure wallet setups. For instance, you could create an ultra-secure 2-of-3 multisig wallet that transitions into a simpler 1-of-3 multisig or even a single-signature wallet after a set period of inactivity i.e. if disaster struck and you lost not just one but two keys. If you periodically spend funds within this timeframe (e.g., every 15 months), the time lock resets, extending your security protocol seamlessly.
This innovation allows for more streamlined and strategic backup designs. For example, you could store a steel backup for the final recovery path with a trusted relative or friend. This backup would only become usable in case of an emergency or prolonged inactivity (65535 Blocks or ~15months), ensuring a secure fallback plan while maintaining robust privacy and access control.
What advice would you give to individuals or businesses looking to enhance their overall cryptocurrency security beyond just securing recovery seeds?
For significant Bitcoin holdings, I strongly recommend implementing multisignature (multisig) setups. Multisig eliminates single points of failure and mitigates risks such as low-entropy keys, evil maid attacks, or device theft. Tools like Sparrow Wallet, Bitcoin Safe, or Liana make collaborative custody and multisig schemes more accessible and user-friendly.
Additionally, I advise users to design their security architecture as though their Bitcoin is already 10x more valuable. This proactive mindset ensures that your setup will remain robust as the value of your holdings grows. Finally, for an extra layer of protection, services like Bitsurance now offer insurance for self-custodied Bitcoin, even covering threats such as physical theft, $5 wrench attacks, or extortion attempts.