The Evolution Of Nostr Signing Devices: The Future of Securing Your Online Identity
Note: This article discusses the evolution and future prospects of Nostr signing devices, which are hardware wallets designed to securely create and use private keys (?) for the Nostr protocol. If you’re unfamiliar with Nostr and its decentralised (?) messaging and social media protocol. Please refer to our Nostr guide for a better understanding.
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Introduction
As the Nostr protocol continues to gain popularity, the need for secure and reliable Nostr signing devices becomes increasingly evident. These devices allow users to create, store and use their Nostr private keys in an offline environment. Ensuring the utmost security for their online identities (?). While the current state of Nostr signing devices is still in its early stages. We can expect significant improvements and advancements in the near future.
The Current State of Nostr Signing Devices
At present, the available Nostr signing devices are not as developed as one would hope. While they can create private keys. The ability to simultaneously securely create AND sign messages offline is still lacking. However, this is just the beginning and we anticipate that more advanced Nostr signing devices will soon enter the market. The value of securing an online identity is undeniable and as Nostr keys are similar to Bitcoin keys, which can already be handled securely on hardware wallets. It is only a matter of time before we see better devices appear.
Two Pathways of Evolution Of Nostr Signing Hardware
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The evolution of Nostr signing devices is likely to take two distinct pathways. The first path involves existing Bitcoin hardware wallets incorporating Nostr functionality to become compatible with the Nostr protocol. One such example is Passport, which already supports Nostr keys made possible through BIP-85. However, while these devices can create Nostr keys, offline signing capabilities are still absent.
On the other hand, the second path will see the development of signing devices specifically designed for Nostr. Given that the value of online identity is often lower than that of savings and messages need to be signed frequently and with ease. We can expect more affordable and efficient Nostr signing hardware to emerge. LNBits, for instance, has already introduced a cheap and Nostr-specific signing device. Albeit with limitations in securely creating private keys.
Available Tech for Nostr Signing Devices
The advancement of Nostr signing devices heavily relies on the availability of new technology. Currently, several tech solutions are already in place to support the development of these devices:
- BIP-85 (?) : Nostr child keys can be derived from a Bitcoin master public key. Allowing for seamless integration of Nostr functionality into existing Bitcoin hardware wallets.
- NIP-06 (?): This process describes the generation of a seed phrase for Nostr private keys using BIP39 to generate mnemonic seed words. BIP32 is then utilised to derive the path specific to Nostr.
- NIP-07 (?): Browsers, extensions and apps can securely sign Nostr events and encrypt data, providing a more secure experience for Nostr users.
Future Tech for Enhanced Nostr Signing Devices
While the current tech solutions lay the foundation for Nostr signing devices. Further advancements are needed to optimise their functionality. Here are some future tech developments that will improve these devices:
- NIP-26 (?): This process entails delegating signing keys from the master key. By allowing users to generate new keypairs for each client (?) and authorising them to generate events on behalf of the root pubkey (?), enhanced security and flexibility can be achieved. Cold storage of the master key ensures the recovery of a Nostr ID even if the delegated key gets compromised.
A Bright Future Ahead
The future of Nostr signing devices looks promising. Foundation devices, the company behind the Passport hardware wallet has already expressed its intention in their blog to implement NIP-26, enabling the delegation of Nostr signing keys from the master key. This development will allow users to securely create and store their master keys on the hardware device while using delegated keys for their favourite Nostr clients.
Furthermore, other hardware wallet manufacturers, including Coldcard, are actively involved in Nostr and are likely working on implementing Nostr functionality in their existing devices or creating dedicated Nostr signing devices. With their expertise, we can expect better Nostr signing devices to enter the market soon.
Conclusion:
Although Nostr signing devices are still in their infancy. Significant progress is being made in their development. While the current options may have limitations, such as the inability to create or sign messages offline securely, the future holds great promise. As the Nostr protocol continues to evolve and new technologies are introduced. We can expect highly functional and secure Nostr signing devices to become available soon. Until then, users can explore the available options such as the Passport hardware wallet or LNBits NSD. Or users can utilise free browser extensions like Alby to enhance their Nostr experience. Stay tuned for more updates on the evolution of Nostr signing devices, as we continue to follow the progress and advancements in this exciting field.
Note: To stay up to date with the latest developments in Nostr signing devices. Make sure to follow us on Nostr! We will keep you informed about the latest news and releases related to securing your online identity with Nostr:
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