A self-custody digital wallet that supports cryptocurrency transactions has been made available via email by the Swiss tech startup Proton.
Proton Wallet is an open-source digital wallet that is designed to protect users’ privacy online. Proton AG is a Swiss technology business that specializes in privacy-focused online services.
According to a press release, this new solution—which is still in early access—is accessible on the web, Android, and iOS platforms. According to Proton, the wallet would only handle Bitcoin initially but could eventually support “other currencies,” such as fiat money, “depending on user feedback.”
Even if an email address is not connected to Proton Mail, the company’s encrypted email service, users can still send cryptocurrency using the software. The business has already obtained onramp integrations, allowing customers to buy Bitcoin in more than 150 countries. Proton:
“By enabling us and the entire Proton community to more easily adopt means of payment which are not controlled by centralized institutions, we better insulate Proton from the risks posed by traditional finance.”
Proton is also working on a premium version of Proton Wallet Plus that will include Proton Sentinel, a “special security program” designed for consumers with “higher risk of cyberattack.”
The release provided no information regarding this version’s availability or technical features. Proton has been associated with blockchain-related projects since its founding in 2013.
Proton Mail announced a feature in late 2023 that ensures emails reach their intended recipients by automatically comparing the public keys of users—generated when they create an email on Proton—with recipients on a blockchain. Additionally, since 2017, the mail service has maintained Bitcoin in its balance sheet and still accepts cryptocurrencies as payment.
