Designing Skywallet, the $30 Trezor killer

Our new hardware wallet is designed to be sleek, secure, and easy to use.

By Development Lead Frank

After months in the making, we’re excited to announce that prototypes for Skywallet, our new hardware wallet, are finalized and ready for mass production. When you store or access your cryptocurrency, you are your own bank, so the process should be simple and intuitive. Your hardware wallet is your bank vault and it should feel like a premium and secure device. We’ve spent months iterating over designs and incorporating user feedback in order to make Skywallet the best hardware wallet experience on the market. How did we get here?

Prototype V1

Development started back in July and was worked on through September. We looked at the state of other hardware wallets in the market and wanted to create a new kind of wallet that’s accessible to everyone, not just power users. That meant creating an affordable and easy-to-use device. Our first prototype was a simple rectangular model with rounded corners, a UI screen, micro USB 2.0 port, and two buttons. The shell for the first batch was made using 3D printers, which work by melting plastic filament and setting it layer by layer, line by line.

3D printing allows you to quickly go from computer-aided design to physical prototypes, so that you can go back to the drawing board and make rapid revisions if needed. 3D-printed parts are essentially pieces of plastic with visible threads and unfinished surfaces, so once we were satisfied with the shape we moved on to making the second model. The second round of models was made using a computer numerical control (CNC) machine. CNC machines work by carving aluminum plates, producing prototypes that more closely resemble the final product.

User Testing & Challenges

In testing the prototype we found problems with the button feedback. The pressure from the feedback felt flat, and we wanted users of Skywallet to feel a satisfying click sensation when working with the device. To get that ideal button feedback our designers set the buttons on a separate layer from the case, allowing for a deeper press. We also realized that the buttons were not placed optimally for a user-friendly experience. The placement of options in the UI screen software did not match the physical locations of the buttons. We improved this in the next phase by moving the buttons under the screen for better finger-eye coordination and more intuitive operation.

Up to this point, carving prototypes was slow and cumbersome, and that’s when we realized that to continue updating our hardware we needed better equipment. Our team purchased a more robust, heavy-duty CNC machine that could carve out models faster and with better precision. With these lessons learned and changes made we reached the second prototype phase.

Prototype V2

The second prototype was developed in September and resulted in a fresh new form factor, a balanced square shape with rounded sides and the buttons placed under the screen.

After 3D printing the first set of models we knew we had a winning design that would not feel out of place in an Apple store, with a hardware wallet that draws your eyes and compels you to pick it up. While other wallets feel like a timer or USB stick, Skywallet rounded sides feel good to hold in your hand and the satisfying click of its buttons add an extra dimension of tangibility to the abstract cryptographic values it stores for the keys.

The second model was carved from aluminum plates using our new CNC machine before being sandblasted and applying anodic oxidation coloring. We prototyped several colors and the options at release will be white, black, and metal gray.

The third and final models were made with plastic injection molding, a manufacturing technique where a mold is made and filled with molten plastic. Injection molding has cost advantages over CNC milling for mass production and allows us to aim for our approximate $30 price tag. Our manufacturing partner can assemble Skywallet at a rate of 2 units per minute.

Features

Skywallet’s final design consists of a UI screen, two buttons and a micro USB 2.0 port. It’s packaged in a minimalist, stylish box and comes with an instruction manual, micro-USB 2.0 to USB cable, and a keychain.

We believe in a future where hardware wallets are as ubiquitous as cell phones, and the build quality should match the value that’s stored inside. Skywallet’s zen styling replaces the clunky hardware wallets crypto power users are used to now and casual consumers are afraid to touch. This is a hardware wallet you can gift to friends and family and you can be sure they’ll use it. It’s fun and easy to use and has a premium feel to it at an affordable price.

Skywallet Software

Skywallet uses recovery phrase generation as its security feature. If you’ve used other hardware wallets the process of generating and securing a recovery phrase will be familiar to you. If this is your first time using a hardware wallet it’s intuitive enough that you’ll be using it in minutes. Initially, the wallet will integrate with your existing Skycoin desktop wallet application. By the end of the year it will be compatible with Bitcoin and other major coins.

Upcoming Challenges

Launching hardware comes with challenges not faced in software, such as manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics. We’re working closely with our manufacturing partner to ensure that costs are kept under control as we aim for a $30 price tag. We want hardware wallets to be accessible to everyone, no matter the amount of crypto they hold, while maintaining industry-leading quality. Our logistics department is still finalizing its export strategy and deciding whether to work with a network of partners and distributors or selling it directly to consumers. We also need to decide between a worldwide launch or focusing on a few key markets first while expanding gradually.

Launch Date

We aim to begin mass production and ship out the first units in Q3 of 2019. Join our mailing list to be notified when Skywallet is ready for ordering and stay tuned for our Skywallet launch story.