Swiss email provider Proton debuts self-custody Bitcoin wallet

Swiss tech company Proton has presented a self-custody digital wallet with support for crypto transactions via email.

Proton AG, a Swiss technology company known for its privacy-focused online services, has introduced an open-source self-custody digital wallet named Proton Wallet. This new solution, currently in early access, is available on the web, Android, and iOS platforms, according to a press release shared with crypto.news.

Proton says the wallet will only support Bitcoin (BTC) at launch but may add support for “other currencies,” including fiat, in the future “depending on user feedback.”

With the product, users can send crypto using email addresses, even if those addresses are not linked to Proton Mail, Proton’s encrypted email service. The company has already secured integrations with onramps that enable users to purchase Bitcoin in over 150 countries, though it hasn’t disclosed its partners.

“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

Additionally, Proton is developing a paid version called Proton Wallet Plus, which will feature Proton Sentinel, a “special security program” for users at “higher risk of cyberattack.” The release didn’t detail the technical features or the availability timeline of this version.

Founded in 2013, Proton has long been tied to blockchain-related initiatives. In late 2023, Proton Mail unveiled a feature that automatically compares users’ public keys — generated once they create an email on Proton — with intended recipients on a blockchain to ensure that emails go to the right destination. The mail service has also been holding Bitcoin on its balance sheet since 2017 and continues to accept crypto as a payment method.