In a rare, behind-the-scenes conversation at the Trezor event in Prague, Tomáš Sušánka, CTO of Trezor, opened up exclusively to Mr. Hardik Katariya, CEO and Founder of The Crypto Times, about the next chapter in hardware wallet security.
For the first time, Sušánka revealed how Trezor is navigating the challenges of post-quantum threats, advancing secure element technology, and ensuring that users stay in complete control of their digital assets—all without compromising ease of use or transparency.
From the groundbreaking Tropic Square chip to the dual secure-element architecture in the Safe 7, the discussion gave an insider’s look at the innovations, challenges, and philosophy that have made Trezor a leader in crypto security for over a decade.
From Cryptography to CTO
Tomáš Sušánka started at Trezor eight years ago as a firmware engineer and slowly worked his way up to CTO. When asked how he keeps Trezor’s technical standards and open-source principles intact while handling bigger strategic responsibilities, he said the company’s open-source foundation has been key in maintaining consistency and integrity.
“We’ve always been open source from day one. Just trying to keep with the original ideals,” he said.
This principle, Sušánka added, allows Trezor to innovate while staying true to its core philosophy of transparency and security.
Securing dApps and Smart Contracts
As hardware wallets are used more often with decentralized applications, Sušánka explained the difficulties in keeping them secure. To address this, Trezor Suite now includes transaction simulation, which warns users about any unusual activity. The company is also working on Clear Signing, a feature that lets users see and confirm exactly what they are approving on their device.
“You need to always check what the display is saying. What we are signing is more important,” he stressed.
Currently, Clear Signing works for most transactions within Trezor Suite, with plans to expand support for external dApps through firmware updates.
The Tropic Square Chip and Secure Element Evolution
Trezor’s journey with secure elements was not straightforward. Initially hesitant, the team experimented with various chips, sometimes unsuccessfully, before founding Tropic Square, a dedicated company to develop open and auditable secure elements.
“Hardware is hard and chip design is even harder. I’m really glad that finally we made it with the Tropic Square because that was the idea from all along,” Sušánka said.
Trezor’s CTO explained that the Safe 5 and Safe 7 now use a combination of Infineon secure elements and Tropic Square chips, creating a dual-layered architecture that protects against physical attacks, including glitching, temperature manipulation, and laser interference. This transparent, auditable design sets a new standard for hardware wallet security.
Privacy-First Approach to User Data
Trezor puts privacy at the center of everything it does. Sušánka said the company doesn’t require KYC, so very little personal data is collected. When users buy through the eShop, only essential information is kept for up to 90 days for support or returns.
Trezor CTO Tomáš Sušánka said that device activity logs are automatically deleted within 24–48 hours. He also explained that users can choose to route connections through Tor to prevent their IP addresses from being exposed. According to him, these features are intended to maintain user privacy and limit data access to outside parties.
Preparing for a Post-Quantum Era
Addressing potential quantum computing threats, Sušánka shared Trezor’s proactive measures. Safe 7 devices now include bootloaders and authenticity checks signed with post-quantum cryptographic schemes.
“Quantum computers are years away, but the consequences would be huge. With Safe 7, we are already preparing for that future,” he said.
Attacks on the blockchain are actually a bigger problem than attacks on individual wallets, but preparing for risks early keeps users safe in the long run.
Balancing Security with Usability
According to Trezor’s CTO, handling cryptocurrency independently can feel overwhelming for beginners, so the company focuses on keeping the user experience simple. The devices use clear screens, straightforward transaction approvals, and uncomplicated firmware updates to support secure usage.
“Security at the cost of usability comes at the cost of security,” he said. Trezor’s design philosophy is to create a device that both beginners and experienced users can rely on with confidence.
Personal Crypto Philosophy: Bitcoin at the Core
Sušánka also shared his personal crypto journey, rooted in cryptography and sparked by Bitcoin. While he explored Ethereum and other platforms, Bitcoin remains his primary focus.
“I always circled back to Bitcoin. That’s where my confidence lies,” he noted.
He also talked about tokenized assets and CBDCs, pointing out that users need to be aware of the risks of depending on centralized intermediaries, even if they hold their crypto themselves.
Looking Ahead: Milestones and Innovation
Looking back at Trezor’s journey, Sušánka highlighted some of the company’s biggest achievements: staying true to its open-source principles, introducing the dual secure-element setup, preparing for post-quantum security, and maintaining a strong focus on user privacy.
Among these, the Tropic Square chip stands out as a major technical accomplishment, strengthening the security of the Safe series.
“The mission is to empower individuals to take full ownership of their digital assets,” he said.
He also talked about the difficulty of keeping hardware wallets updated for users who haven’t used their devices in years. He emphasized that firmware must stay backward-compatible, and updates should be smooth, so even older devices remain secure without any hassle for users.
Conclusion: Trust, Security, and User Control
In this exclusive conversation between Mr. Hardik Katariya and Tomáš Sušánka, Trezor’s dedication to security, transparency, and putting users in full control of their crypto was evident. By sticking to its open-source roots and preparing for future challenges like post-quantum threats, Trezor continues to lead in hardware wallet technology.
The conversation also showed how much the company cares about educating users, protecting privacy, and keeping up with the fast-changing crypto world. By combining strong security with ease of use and openness, Trezor makes sure users can manage their crypto safely and confidently.
Also Read: ‘We Found a Major Chip Flaw but couldn’t Warn anyone’: Inside Trezor’s Open-Source Mission
