Quick Facts:
- Proton has launched its new Wallet which supports Bitcoin across iOS, Android, and web platforms.
- Users retain full control over their private keys in a self-custodial setup.
- Proton is widely recognized for its privacy-first services, including Proton Mail and Proton VPN.
- The company was founded in Switzerland in 2014 by scientists from CERN.
Proton, the privacy-focused tech company best known for Proton Mail and Proton VPN, has officially rolled out its self-custodial Bitcoin wallet across iOS, Android, and web following a successful early-access program. The launch marks Proton’s first major step into the crypto space, aiming to provide users with a secure, privacy-preserving way to store and transact Bitcoin (BTC).
The Proton Wallet is designed to offer full user control over private keys, ensuring that funds remain in the hands of the owner rather than a third-party custodian. The company has emphasized that the wallet prioritizes security, encryption, and ease of use, in line with its broader mission of digital privacy protection.
Proton Wallet Expands Bitcoin Adoption with Unique Self-Custodial Features
Proton first introduced its self-custodial Bitcoin wallet solution in July 2024, initially offering access exclusively to Proton Visionary plan users—an elite group of early adopters. Since then, the firm has reported that over 100,000 users have participated in the wallet’s early access stage, leveraging the same end-to-end encryption technology that powers Proton Mail.
Now available to the general public, Proton Wallet enables users to buy, store, and transfer Bitcoin, with a key emphasis on ease of use and privacy. Among its standout features is the ability to send Bitcoin via email, reducing the need for cumbersome Bitcoin addresses and lowering the risk of transaction errors.
The wallet encrypts all sensitive user data directly on their devices, ensuring that even Proton itself has no knowledge of transaction histories or balances. For added security, users can recover their funds via a standard 12-word seed phrase, allowing easy migration to another Bitcoin wallet if needed.
“Using your wallet’s cryptographic key, Proton Wallet can generate as many addresses as you want to use. Thus these address lists can grow over time but the addresses and their order do not change,” – The Team said about the new wallet.
Proton’s Bitcoin Advocacy Stems from Its Privacy-First Mission
Proton has positioned itself as a long-time advocate for Bitcoin and financial sovereignty, accepting BTC payments and donations since its earliest days. The company has also been transparent about its Bitcoin treasury holdings, confirming that it stores BTC as part of its financial reserves—a move that aligns with its broader mission of digital privacy and user empowerment.
The company’s founder and CEO Andy Yen,. has also been a long time BTC supporter, often interacting with the Bitcoin community on social media:
Unlike most entities entering the crypto space, Proton is not a crypto-native company, exchange, or token issuer. Instead, it operates as a non-profit focused on privacy, aiming to preserve digital freedom through secure communication and financial tools. Proton Wallet represents an extension of this vision, ensuring that users can store, send, and receive Bitcoin without relying on centralized intermediaries.
