ZerokeyUSB
A portable password manager for secure, cloud-free credential storage
This project is launching soon.
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This project is launching soon.
ZeroKeyUSB is more than just an offline password manager. It is a compact hardware security device that lets you store, carry, and use sensitive passwords without relying on apps, cloud services, or subscriptions. Designed for people who need secure access across different systems, it stores up to 61 encrypted passwords in onboard memory, protected by PIN-based authentication, AES-128 encryption, and a dedicated Microchip ATECC secure element.
With a crisp 128x32 OLED display and an intuitive capacitive touch interface, managing passwords is simple and fast, even on the go. ZeroKeyUSB is powered directly through USB Type-C, so there is no battery to charge or replace. It works across computers, phones, tablets, and many other compatible devices, making it a practical tool for everyday secure access.
ZeroKeyUSB also works as a Bitcoin-only hardware wallet, allowing the device to sign Bitcoin transactions while keeping the private key inside the device. Combined with its resin-embedded construction, secure bootloader, and future open-source design, ZeroKeyUSB offers a simple, portable, and durable approach to digital security.
Online password managers make password storage convenient, but they also require trust in cloud infrastructure, third-party services, and account-based ecosystems. Recent high-profile breaches have shown how vulnerable those systems can be. Even strong encryption cannot fully protect your data if the platform itself is compromised.
ZeroKeyUSB takes a different approach. Your passwords stay offline, inside your own physical device. There is no cloud account, no online vault, and no software required for everyday use. To unlock it, the user enters a PIN directly on the device using the capacitive touch interface. Passwords remain encrypted in hardware memory and can only be accessed through physical interaction.
Whether you are an individual looking for a private alternative to mainstream password managers, an IT technician working across multiple systems, a Bitcoin user who wants an offline hardware wallet, or someone who wants an easy way to keep sensitive data under direct physical control, ZeroKeyUSB is designed to be practical, portable, and secure.
ZeroKeyUSB has been designed as a real everyday tool, not just a prototype. Its built-in OLED display and five capacitive touch buttons make it possible to browse and select passwords directly on the device.
Because it is bus-powered through USB-C, ZeroKeyUSB is always ready when you plug it in. There is no battery degradation, no charging routine, and no companion app required for normal operation.
It is also compatible with a wide range of devices, which makes it useful for travel, recovery systems, workstations, tablets, and phone-based use cases.
In addition to normal on-device use, ZeroKeyUSB includes an optional browser-based WebTool for setup, backup, import, and export. This makes it easier to manage passwords when needed, while keeping normal daily use simple and software-free.
The WebTool provides a convenient way to prepare and back up data locally, without depending on a cloud service or dedicated desktop application.
ZeroKeyUSB also works as a Bitcoin-only hardware wallet. In this mode, the device can receive an unsigned Bitcoin transaction and return a signed transaction, while keeping the private key inside the device.
This feature is designed for users who want a simple, open-source, offline Bitcoin signing device without relying on a dedicated desktop application. The Bitcoin wallet mode is an additional function of ZeroKeyUSB, not a replacement for its offline password manager functionality.
ZeroKeyUSB uses a Microchip ATECC secure element to add hardware-backed cryptographic protection. This helps protect sensitive operations and reinforces the device as a dedicated hardware security tool, instead of a simple storage device.
The device also includes a secure bootloader designed to verify the integrity of the firmware before it runs. This helps ensure that the software running on ZeroKeyUSB has not been modified unexpectedly.
The bootloader also allows future firmware updates. After the crowdfunding campaign, firmware updates will be published through the ZeroKeyUSB website, including new features, improvements, and community-proposed functionality.
ZeroKeyUSB is built to be carried and used in real environments. Its resin-embedded construction helps protect the electronics against water, dust, and physical tampering.
This construction is not just about durability. It also makes invasive access more difficult and helps reinforce the device’s role as a compact, self-contained hardware security tool.
ZeroKeyUSB is designed to be an open-source project. Once the crowdfunding campaign is successfully completed, we plan to release the source code, schematics, firmware, and hardware design files under the MIT License.
By making the project open source after the campaign, we want to allow the community to inspect, contribute to, adapt, and improve the design. Future firmware updates and community-proposed features will be published through the ZeroKeyUSB website.
You can explore more details on our website.
ZeroKeyUSB is launching soon on Crowd Supply.
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ZerokeyUSB is part of PCBWay Assembly Hub
We are a research and development firm focused on industrial innovation, prototyping, and manufacturing.
