Foundation Devices is quietly revolutionizing Bitcoin’s security, privacy and one refined product that is independent. Founder and CEO Zach Herbert is the driving force behind this mission, and his journey to Bitcoin is just as intriguing as the devices he is creating.
Zack’s Bitcoin Story began in 2013 when a college friend pitched ideas in a cafeteria, and started quickly buying Zack for $20 at Coinbase.
“I knew nothing about philosophy,” Zach admits. He viewed Bitcoin simply as a promising technology and investment. However, the rabbit hole quickly changed him deeply, changing his views on personal freedom, sovereignty and privacy.
Looking back on his first experience, Zach said, “I don’t think I was particularly libertarian in any way. I didn’t think much of it from a perspective of freedom, sovereignty or privacy.”
In 2015, Zach’s appeal to hardware wallets took root when he opened the small shop “Hodl Hardware.”
It was an early step into hardware wallets long before seed phrases became mainstream. Zack remembers vividly, “I started selling hardware wallets there and providing basic customer support. So, since at least 2015, I’ve been interested in hardware wallets for a long time.”
Zack’s ironic point is that hardware wallet technology has not changed much over the past decade.
“It’s very similar in terms of devices and interfaces. Can you imagine if the first iPhone is essentially the same as the iPhone 8?” He asks rhetorically, highlighting the great opportunity in the hardware wallet industry for providers to create new, sophisticated products.
He led Zack’s entrepreneur’s itch after serving as the COO of the obelisk, which designed and shipped five years ago.
His goal was straightforward yet ambitious. Building a hardware wallet that is fully accessible to beginners, but safe and reliable for hardcore bitcoiners.
“It has some of the features, but it’s much simpler, better designed and streamlined.” Zack explains in detail.
“What hardcore people can recommend it to friends and family may not be that hardcore, but it still fulfills their value.”
Their flagship product, Foundation Passport Wallet, distinguishes itself through intuitive QR code air gap technology designed with mobile users in mind.
Experienced Bitcoiner knows the struggle to explain complex concepts such as PSBT files, SD cards, adapters and more to newcomers.
Foundation Passport elegantly addresses these challenges with a streamlined approach that also gives access to digital asset security to perfect beginners in the Bitcoin ecosystem.
Foundation Devices recently announced a major upgrade: Passport Prime. With Bluetooth connectivity and an intuitive touchscreen, it is designed to ensure your entire digital life from Bitcoin, as well as encrypted storage from two-factor authentication.
Zack proudly describes Passport Prime “Passports to the Bitcoin-powered decentralized Internet.” He adds, “The idea is that in the future everything will be separated from usernames and passwords based on public and private key pairs.”
One of the innovative security features is what Zach is particularly excited about. It’s “Airlock.” When connecting Passport Prime to a computer, only certain files are accessible.
He explains it vividly, “If you may be using an untrusted computer and you may not want all your files to be visible, Airlock ensures that only certain files you specify on that computer will be seen and that everything else will remain safely quarantined.”
Zack’s vision exceeds Bitcoin alone. Foundation Devices aims to simplify digital sovereignty and make security easy and less intimidating. He candidly shares how newcomers frequently buy hardware wallets based on recommendations, but leaves them untouched.
“I don’t know how many people have come to us at the meeting and how many people whisper that they have a hardware wallet that is in the plastic in the drawers. He emphasizes.
Humorously reflecting his initial work at the Apple Store, Zach acknowledges that the experience has largely shaped ease of use and its approach to customer onboarding.
Foundation Devices offers concierge onboarding inspired by Apple’s personalized services, ensuring that users are not overwhelmed during the setup process.
Security is not just about Zach’s digital. That’s also physical. After the invitation of the founder of Ledger, Zach openly discussed the importance of physical safety. In particular, he emphasized the value that Americans would receive from the second revision.
“I personally have a hidden carry license.” Zach openly shares and emphasizes his belief in his personal responsibility to protect himself. “If you’re in the Bitcoin space, you could definitely be a target, and I care a lot about it.”
Zach looks ahead and imagines Passport Prime, protecting your private keys and expanding beyond Bitcoin to broader digital security. With third-party apps coming soon, developers can adjust directly to Passport Prime, making digital live easier and more secure.
What about one question for Zack Nakamoto Atoshi? With his distinctive wit and curiosity, Zach admits that he just wants to know if Satoshi is alive or not. “I can’t understand how humans have self-control to stay quiet for such a long time.”
Zach Herbert and his team are not just building hardware wallets using foundation devices. They are building a future in which digital sovereignty is accessible to everyone, turning Bitcoin security from a burden on experts to an intuitive tool for ordinary people.
