The SovereignKey (SK) is a collection of Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS) tools designed to enhance your control and privacy in the digital realm. By transforming any computer it is plugged into and booted from, the SK provides a secure, self-managed environment for all your security-focused computing needs, including Bitcoin interactions via multiple options over the Tor network.
The SovereignKey exists to explore liberation and the emancipation of information, while simultaneously enabling the use of tools that safeguard your privacy and security. This project aims to solve the challenge of putting the future into the hands of those who will live in it, offering an accessible, affordable solution for managing digital value securely and privately.
Encased within an ordinary USB drive (with varying GB options coming soon), the SK offers:
- Discreet Security: Boots an operating system focused on sovereignty and privacy.
- Seamless Integration: Built on battle-tested FOSS tools for optimal security and usability.
- Ease of Use: No special technical knowledge is required beyond this README.
- Comprehensive Resources: Links to all tools and technologies used are included to encourage further exploration and understanding.
Note: While no expertise is required to start, we highly recommend that you Do Your Own Research (DYOR) on the included tools to maximize your experience.
To use the SK, you'll need to boot your computer from the USB device rather than its internal hard disk. This allows you to run the SK's custom operating system (OS) on the target machine.
- Turn off the computer.
- Insert the SK into a USB port.
- Turn on the computer.
- Access the Boot Menu by tapping/holding the appropriate hotkey.
- Select
Boot from USB/External USB. - Wait for Tails OS to load.
- Enter the default
Persistent Storagepassphrase (found along with your SK packaging) and clickUnlock Encryption. - Select
Start Tailson the top right. - Connect to a local internet network.
- When prompted, select
Connect to Tor.
To change the passphrase of your Persistent Storage while insaide Tails on your SK:
- Choose Applications ▸ Tails ▸ Persistent Storage to open the Persistent Storage settings.
- Click on the Change Passphrase button on the left of the title bar.
- Enter the current passphrase in the Current Passphrase text box.
- Enter your new passphrase in the New Passphrase text box.
Warning!
It is impossible to recover your passphrase if you forget it!
To help you remember your passphrase, you can write it down;
store it in your wallet for a few days;
then make sure to destroy it once you know it well.
- Enter your new passphrase again in the Confirm New Passphrase text box.
- Click Change.
You can now restart Tails on your SK and proceede to unlock the Persistent Storage with your new passphrase.
PC Brands & Associated Hotkeys
| Manufacturer | Boot Menu Key |
|---|---|
| Acer Series | Esc, F12, F9 |
| Asus Series | Esc, F8 |
| Compaq | Esc, F9 |
| Dell Series | F12 |
| HP Series | Esc, F9 |
| Lenovo Series | F12, F8, F10 |
| Samsung Series | F12, Esc |
| Sony Series | F10, F11, Assist |
| Toshiba Series | F12 |
| Manufacturer | Boot Menu Key |
|---|---|
| Asus | F8 |
| Gigabyte | F12 |
| MSI | F11 |
| Intel | F10 |
| ASRock | F11 |
| EVGA | F7 |
| Manufacturer | Boot Menu Key |
|---|---|
| Xiaomi | Fn + F2 (Choose Boot Menu) |
| Panasonic | F2 (Go to Exit Menu, then choose Boot Order) |
| NEC | F5 |
| Packard Bell | F8 |
| eMachines | F12 |
| Fujitsu | F12 |
| Gateway | F11, Esc, F10 |
| iBall | F9 (Choose your media under Boot Option) |
| Huawei | F2 |
| Sharp | F9 |
Want to contribute? We welcome your input!
Email us at [email protected], and we’ll follow up on how you can get involved. Contributions to the Knowledge Transfer section are especially encouraged.
The SovereignKey combines powerful, open-source technologies to create a "Swiss Army Knife" for digital sovereignty:
- Tails OS: A portable operating system protecting against surveillance and censorship via the Tor network.
- Electrum Wallet: A lightweight Bitcoin wallet focused on speed and simplicity.
- BAILS: A solution for secure Bitcoin Core installations and backups.
- Sparrow Wallet: A feature-rich Bitcoin wallet for self-sovereignty.
- SeedSigner Emulator: A tool for offline Bitcoin seed generation and signing, emulating the functionality of the SeedSigner hardware for enhanced privacy and control.
- VSCodium: A fully open-source version of Visual Studio Code for secure and private coding environments, free from telemetry concerns.
- A number of other
Free PDFs/Books, because we'd rather ask for forgivness than for permission.
Knowledge Transfer
- The Bitcoin Whitepaper (Available in various Languages) by Satoshi Nakamoto
- 2nd Edition: The Simplest Bitcoin Book Ever Written by Keysa Luna
- Bitcoin: Separation of Money and State by Josef Tětek
- The Bitcoin Standard by Saifedean Ammous
- Bitcoin For Business by Student of Bitcoin
- Codex32 - Shamir Secret Sharing Scheme by Leon Olsson Curr & Pearlwart Snead
- The World’s First Kids Cartoon about Bitcoin! by Tuttle Twins
The SovereignKey is a passion project, and I sincerely thank you for your interest and support in helping make it a reality.
Since discovering Bitcoin in 2019/2020, I have been driven to make a meaningful contribution to its growth and adoption. I truly believe that self-custodial ownership and the responsible use of our data and value are critical to personal sovereignty. We must strive to reduce what is leaked to big or small tech, wherever we can control it.
This vision, combined with a burning desire to get cutting-edge technology into the hands of those who need it most, has led me to create the SovereignKey. This is my contribution to the Bitcoin ecosystem and the ongoing fight for digital sovereignty.
If you would like to support the SovereignKey project directly, Bitcoin donations are welcome.
Scan the QR code below or copy the address to your Bitcoin wallet:
Bitcoin Donations for the SovereignKey
PM8TJVXfQHoWyh7ep5H4YzGaRaNBAF83gMt2Fjsgx4MxnbBfwNdyitQd6vMmoHDcBUcr7r22ae1pAyfB2hj1VHWcKURPfuUNNRXQDeCqggA67HYF6nZylno1zrxq8pjw7qjlm68mtp7e3yvxee4y5xrgjhhyf2fxhlphpckrvevh50u0q20uws7nja2z3q7d2ylcq5pznshjyhljwhyepudhnpqleceepyzlcqszgjw5crtfxd5f6ayefhkyjf3n52z20a3nm74zel54l0g3uvwx967qqv7xv7tkcjq97t5e25l02crh4r9h4fk0xh39lvz9gvw6fyykzz9avcxrwmlucemfw0nrqkkqurqdcc7pz2npqwqvkh7t77wsj332lmvslwu95qdvj6zjhstx3wchgjfll6njnsfkgqqs9w3h7clsnr82uuzgggdxy8xs4s
Known Limitations
- Tails does not currently support Mac devices with Apple M1 chips or some older Mac models.