Bitcoin Wallet Security Workshop: Self-Custody Done Right

Whether you’ve been securing Bitcoin for years or you’ve been putting off self-custody because you’re worried about making a costly mistake, this workshop is for you.
This is a hands-on, practical workshop focused on creating, managing, and securing Bitcoin wallets. We’ll take a deep look at the decisions that go into building a secure self-custody setup. We'll discuss everything from generating your seed to protecting it over the long term.
The goal of this workshop is not to tell you that there is one “perfect” wallet setup. Instead, we’ll explore the different approaches, understand the risks and tradeoffs behind them, and help you develop a wallet security strategy that makes sense for your own situation.

### What we'll cover

Seed generation
We’ll look at how wallet seeds are generated and why the process matters. We’ll discuss different approaches to generating entropy, what can go wrong.
Wallet security models
We’ll explore different wallet configurations and security models, from relatively simple setups to more advanced approaches. We’ll discuss where different wallets and backup strategies fit on the security/convenience spectrum.
Common vulnerabilities and failure modes
Rather than focusing only on theoretical attacks, we’ll look at the practical ways people actually lose access to Bitcoin. Including compromised devices, lost backups, poor seed storage, human error, inheritance issues, and overly complicated setups.
Backups and recovery
A wallet isn't truly secure if you don't have a reliable way to recover it. We'll discuss backup strategies, redundancy, recovery procedures, and the importance of thinking through what happens if your primary device disappears.
Operational security
We'll also discuss the everyday practices that can make a major difference to Bitcoin security. How should you interact with your wallet? What information should you protect? What should you assume about your devices and environment?
Advanced considerations
For experienced Bitcoiners, we'll use the workshop as an opportunity to reconsider assumptions and critically evaluate existing setups. We’ll discuss questions such as whether your current setup actually protects against the threats you care about, whether your backups are recoverable, and whether your security model has become unnecessarily complicated.

### Who should attend?

New to self-custody?
If you own Bitcoin but haven't taken the step into self-custody because you're worried about losing your funds or making a mistake, this is a great place to start. We'll break down the concepts and explain why the different choices matter. You don't need to be an expert.
Already self-custodying?
If you've been managing your own Bitcoin for years, this is an opportunity to step back and audit your assumptions. Security setups tend to evolve over time, and it's easy to accumulate practices without revisiting whether they still make sense.
Experienced Bitcoiners?
We'll go beyond the basics and examine the reasoning behind different security models, including the tradeoffs involved in more advanced setups.
You don't need to have everything figured out before attending. In fact, if you're unsure about your current wallet setup, that's exactly the kind of question this workshop is intended to help you think through.

### What you'll leave with

By the end of the workshop, you should have a much clearer understanding of:

* How Bitcoin wallet seeds are generated and why entropy matters
* The major risks involved in self-custody
* Different approaches to wallet and backup security
* The tradeoffs between security and convenience
* Common mistakes and vulnerabilities to watch out for
* How to evaluate your existing wallet setup
* How to design a security model appropriate for your own needs
* What questions to ask before trusting a wallet or backup strategy

The emphasis will be on understanding the underlying principles, rather than simply recommending a particular wallet or telling you to follow a single recipe.
Come with questions, bring your current wallet security assumptions, and be prepared to rethink them.

## What to Bring

You don't need to bring anything to attend, but if you want to follow along with the practical exercises, these items are useful:

* Dice or playing cards - we'll explore different approaches to generating randomness and seed entropy. Bring a set of dice or a standard deck of playing cards if you have one.
* A hardware wallet - if you already own one, feel free to bring it. We can use different devices as examples and discuss their security models and tradeoffs.
* An 8GB+ USB stick - useful for some of the practical exercises and demonstrations. It doesn't need to contain anything important.
* A laptop - optional, but useful if you'd like to follow along with certain exercises or explore wallet tools during the workshop.
* Pencil and paper - useful for taking notes and participating in exercises involving randomness, seed generation, and wallet backup strategies.

### ⚠️Important: Protect Your Secrets

Never bring or share your actual seed phrase or private keys. We will not need to see them for any part of the workshop.
If you bring a hardware wallet, make sure you know your seed phrase is not stored or displayed alongside the device. The goal is to learn about wallet security, not to expose your real wallet secrets.

## 📍 When & Where

Thursday the 17th at 6:00 PM
Funk Coffee
Whether you're completely new to self-custody or you've been running your own Bitcoin setup for years, come join us for an evening of learning, discussion, and practical wallet security.