BitBox02 vs. Blockstream Jade
Comparing the Swiss-made BitBox02 hardware wallet with Blockstream Jade
Comparing the Swiss-made BitBox02 hardware wallet with Blockstream Jade
The BitBox02, developed and manufactured in Switzerland, represents a significant advancement in the hardware wallet space to this day. With its roots tracing back to the original BitBox wallet launched in 2015, the BitBox02 encapsulates years of expertise, innovation, and user-focused design.
Equipped with a USB-C connector, the BitBox02 enables direct usage on Android smartphones and modern laptops without the need for additional cables. This allows for great mobility in managing your cryptocurrencies. The BitBoxApp for Android mirrors all the functionalities of the desktop version, ensuring a consistent experience across platforms.
In the realm of privacy, the BitBox02 upholds the Swiss tradition of discretion. Measures such as anonymizing order information after 30 days, supporting package station deliveries, and facilitating person-to-person sales show our deep commitment to preserving user privacy.
One of our core principles is being fully open-source, including both software on your host device and the firmware of the BitBox02. With all its software and hardware schematics available for review, users can have confidence in the device's operation and security.
The Blockstream Jade hardware wallet from one of Bitcoin's oldest companies is an affordable option available in many different color options. With its virtual secure element security model, it stands out among other devices on the market and offers operation in two different connection modes: QR mode and USB/Bluetooth mode, the latter enabling compatibility with iOS devices.
Like most hardware wallets, both Blockstream Jade and the BitBox02 follow the industry standard BIP-39 when it comes to creating and restoring backups with 12 or 24 recovery words. This backup can be displayed at any time and will be verified, to ensure the user made no mistakes. While the Blockstream Jade creates wallets with 12 recovery words by default, the BitBox02 offers 24 words as the standard option, with an alternative option to create 12 words instead.
In addition, the BitBox02 also features a microSD card slot and will, by default, create a backup of the user's wallet on the supplied microSD card. This backup is just as potent as the regular recovery words, but has the key advantage of being created and restored within seconds, fully ruling out user errors and greatly improving the user experience.
When it comes to self-custody, nothing is more important than security, the sole reason you choose to buy a hardware wallet in the first place. While both the BitBox02 and Blockstream Jade are safe options to manage your Bitcoin, let's explore some of the more advanced security features of the BitBox02.
The BitBox02 comes with a Secure Chip on board, adding protection against physical attacks on the device and enabling other security features explained below. The dual-chip architecture combines the benefits of running fully open-source firmware and a dedicated secure chip.
Blockstream Jade does not come with a physical Secure Chip, but instead virtualizes its benefits by using an external PIN server, which, for example, is required when authorizing a transaction. This is an interesting approach, but comes with the downside of having to rely on Blockstream's own PIN server. While it’s possible to self-host your own PIN server, it’s unlikely most users will actually make use of this. In the event a PIN server becomes unavailable, users can use their recovery phrase directly to access their funds again, as they're otherwise inaccessible without the PIN server.
One of the most dangerous attack vectors on hardware wallets is its supply chain. From quite primitive attacks, where attackers simply add a piece of paper recommending to use recovery words they already know, to sophisticated attempts of flashing manipulated firmware on the device – the risk of a tampered device is a crucial one to protect against.
Before the BitBox02 leaves production, the bootloader and configuration of the Secure Chip of every device are locked down. Because of this, firmware downgrades or unsigned firmware from potentially malicious third parties will be blocked by the device and cannot be flashed, reducing the risk of a successful supply chain attack.
Because of this, the BitBoxApp is also able to perform an authenticity check of the connected BitBox02. A feature, the Blockstream Jade doesn’t have because of its security architecture.
There is no such thing as “perfect” security, and you should be skeptical of anyone who claims otherwise. This is why the BitBox02 features multiple layers of defense mechanisms, so that even if one protection should fail, the user’s keys remain secure, ensuring there is no “single point of failure”. The primary example for this principle is our dual-chip architecture which neither relies on the regular MCU nor the designated Secure Chip – a happy medium pioneered by the BitBox.
A more advanced example is the way the BitBox02 handles the user's seed, the key information to accessing the entire wallet during usage. As you would expect from any hardware wallet, the seed is not stored in plaintext on the device, which means you can’t easily extract it. This applies to both the Blockstream Jade and the BitBox02. But even during active usage, when the device needs the private keys for signing transactions, the BitBox02 still keeps them encrypted in memory (RAM) for the majority of the time, and only briefly decrypts and uses them when necessary.
An efficient user interface isn't just about making a device easier to use; it's also an integral part of security. A user-friendly interface can help prevent costly mistakes and enhance the overall security experience, allowing users to handle their coins with ease.
The BitBox02 is a good example of this principle. It features a minimalistic and responsive user interface that simplifies the complexities of managing your coins. From setup to sending transactions and everything in between, every step is streamlined and clutter-free, providing users with all the relevant information without overwhelming them. The device features an OLED screen and touch sensors on the side, enabling intuitive touch, slide and hold gestures for navigation.
In comparison, the Blockstream Jade features a color LCD screen, which is controlled with a single physical button and a scroll wheel. For some, this may be a preferred input method because of the haptic feedback, while for others, it can offer less versatility, as every interaction with the device is limited to selecting an input with the scroll wheel and confirming said input with a button press.
Both the BitBoxApp and the Jade's companion software, Blockstream Green, offer great versatility and a variety of features. They’re available on desktop operating systems and Android, with Blockstream Green being available for iOS as well. To buy bitcoin in a straight-forward and secure way, the BitBoxApp also features a buying integration with our partners MoonPay and Pocket Bitcoin.
For a simple overview of your funds, the BitBoxApp also combines multiple address standards into “unified accounts”, allowing users to see all their transactions at a glance, without the added confusion of switching between multiple Bitcoin script formats. These and more features emphasize our focus on a simple and uncomplicated user experience with a minimal and clean user interface.
The BitBox02 is available in two firmware variants, giving users a choice: The Multi edition supports multiple altcoins including more than 1500 ERC20 token, while the Bitcoin-only edition is, as the name says, strictly reduced to only supporting Bitcoin – forever, as the edition cannot be changed in retrospect. The Jade’s coin support is comparable to that of the Bitcoin-only edition, but also supports Liquid, the Blockstream sidechain.
While the Blockstream Jade offers competitive pricing and Bluetooth support, the BitBox02 comes with a physical secure chip and a seamless user experience enabled by microSD card backups and in-app user guides. It ultimately comes down to personal preference which of these aspects are more important when it comes to buying a new hardware wallet.
| BitBox02 with BitBoxApp | Blockstream Jade with Blockstream Green | |
|---|---|---|
| Open-source |
BitBoxApp and firmware are fully open source
|
App and firmware are fully open source
|
| Secure chip |
Dual chip design using a secure chip
|
Virtual secure chip
|
| Secure Multisig |
Register multisig account with device, automatically verify for secure send/receive
|
Register multisig account with device, automatically verify for secure send/receive
|
| Simple setup |
Fast and simple setup. Backup instantly on microSD card, no need to write seed words
|
No instant microSD card backup, must manually write down recovery words
|
| Easy backup & recovery |
Instant backup and recovery with microSD card, optionally write down recovery words
|
Manually write down recovery words, optional instant recovery with SeedQR
|
| BIP-85 support |
Create additional recovery words with BIP-85 child keys
|
Create additional recovery words with BIP-85 child keys
|
| In-App guide |
Context-aware guide answering common questions
|
Non-dynamic guides
|
| Native desktop app |
BitBoxApp
|
Blockstream Green
|
| Mobile app |
Fully featured Android
|
Android / iOS
|
| Genuine check |
The BitBoxApp checks the BitBox02 device is authentic.
|
No genuine check.
|
| Bitcoin-only |
Bitcoin-only edition is restricted to dedicated, minimal firmware, it's not possible to switch to altcoin-firmware
|
Bitcoin and Liquid
|
| Unified accounts |
Bitcoin accounts automatically include all supported script types
|
Separate accounts for Bitcoin script types needed
|
| Exchange integration |
Buy crypto directly in the BitBoxApp
|
No integration
|
| Insurance integration |
Optional bitcoin insurance directly integrated in the BitBoxApp
|
No integration
|
| Full node support |
Connect to your own Electrum full node for Bitcoin or Litecoin
|
Connect to your own Bitcoin or Liquid node
|
| Encrypted communication |
End-to-end encryption of communication between app and device
|
Bluetooth encrypted, but not USB communication
|
| Coin control |
Only in Desktop version
|
|
| Tor support |
|
|
| Anti-Klepto protection |
Anti-Klepto mitigates the nonce covert channel attack
|
Anti-Klepto protection in USB/BLE mode
|
| Made in | Switzerland | Canada |
| User score |
Highest rated hardware wallet on Trustpilot
www.trustpilot.com/review/bitbox.swiss
|
Trustpilot profile not actively managed
|
In general, both the Blockstream Jade and BitBox02 are safe options for storing your coins. However, the BitBox02 does come with some security features the Jade lacks, such as a physical secure chip or genuine checks.
The BitBox02 Multi edition supports a variety of altcoins, while the Bitcoin-only edition and Blockstream Jade heavily focus on Bitcoin.
Both the BitBox02 and Blockstream Jade allow to register several multisig setups directly on the device, enabling secure verification of transaction and address details while reducing the amount of manual verification steps needed.
Yes, you can easily switch from Blockstream Jade hardware wallet to the BitBox02 or vice versa by importing your recovery words, as both support the same industry wallet standards. We recommend creating a new wallet though, if you don't want to trust your old hardware wallet.
