They made the first-ever auditable Secure Element chip. This changes everything for crypto security and beyond…
Jan Pleskač (CTO) and Kryštof Jelínek (CBO) have been part of Tropic Square’s 5+ year mission to solve the problem of closed architecture chips that have NDAs and limited transparency.
Imagine this: your device has a Secure Element chip to protect your secrets, but when a flaw is found, you’re not allowed to disclose it!
That’s the reality for many closed chips today. Tropic Square is changing that with community-verified chips, so you don’t have to trust blindly.
In this podcast, you will discover:
Why open-source transparency is vital for future-proof crypto security
How auditable chips protect against hidden vulnerabilities
What open architecture hardware means for trust and innovation
How Tropic Square approaches the quantum threat
And more insights from 5+ years of development.
“Open-source isn’t about protecting yourself... It’s about protecting your customers.” 🫳🎤
Timestamps:
(00:00) – Intro: Welcome Tropic Square! 🌴
(02:00) – What does open-source mean to you?
(06:26) – Why you should care about open-source transparency
(15:26) – Who the TROPIC01 chip was built for
(22:45) – Real-world TROPIC01 chip integrations
(25:40) – Convincing people that privacy matters
(28:00) – Build it and they will come 🛠️
(29:10) – Future plans for Tropic Square
(37:59) – TROPIC01 chip for Trezor Safe 7 customization
(39:55) – This changes everything 🚀
(46:32) – What it’s like to build an open architecture security company?
(47:47) – Closing thoughts and awkward handshakes
Secure your crypto with Trezor: https://trezor.io/
Can Bitcoin save us from AI censorship, misleading media, and government overreach?
Efrat thinks so.
Marketing professional turned freedom activist, journalist, and podcaster, Efrat Fenigson joins Sean in the Trezor Talks studio to discuss her journey and why she left her career behind to pursue journalism, Bitcoin, and traveling.
They dive into:
- The moment she walked away from her big tech job
- How to fight censorship as an independent journalist
- Why most startups fail (and how to build one that lasts)
- Why personal brands are the future
- Her concerns around AI, freedom, and state control
- Why she turns down most brand partnerships — except Trezor :)
And more!
Done with providing "shareholder value" for big companies, Efrat is now chasing the truth. And her journey might just shift how you see the future of Bitcoin, media, and control.
This podcast was filmed during BTC Prague.
Timestamps:
(00:00) - Intro: Journalist, or marketer?
(07:51) - COVID changed her mission
(15:49) - Fighting censorship as an independent journalist
(18:04) - The bull and bear case for AI
(22:19) - Are you giving value, anon?
(24:20) - Building brands VS. having a boss
(27:37) - Many influencers are dishonest
(30:46) - Building a personal brand? Start here
(32:41) - Sean noticed this while working at Trezor…
(36:15) - We need more transparency in the world
(39:27) - Why many startups fail
(41:00) - Outro: Efrat has recorded seven podcasts this week 😳
(45:25) - Closing alarm & awkward handshake
Secure your crypto with Trezor: https://trezor.io/
If Bitcoin’s famous 4-year cycle is breaking down, what does that mean for investors, and does it weaken the case for Bitcoin’s future?
In this episode of Trezor Talks, popular Bitcoin podcaster and Austro-libertarian thinker Stephan Livera joins Sean to explore Bitcoin’s role in a late-stage fiat world.
They discuss:
• How hyperbitcoinization could actually happen
• The risks of treasury companies holding Bitcoin
• Why Bitcoin is the greatest opportunity for young people
• What it really means to live in late-stage fiat
• Why gold is not the money of the future
• How to survive bear markets without getting rekt
• Why self-custody will always be #1
And more!
“For most people, the safe thing to do is stay humble and stack sats.” — Stephan Livera
This podcast was filmed during BTC Prague.
Timestamps:
(0:00) – Introduction: What is an Austro-libertarian?
(5:05) – Stephan’s mission: spreading Bitcoin awareness
(10:36) – Are Bitcoin’s 4-year cycles ending?
(19:40) – The risks of Bitcoin treasury companies
(28:27) – Living in late-stage fiat
(30:15) – You need to ride the cycles 🎢
(32:00) – Purity tests in Bitcoin
(36:15) – NGU technology & onboarding newcoiners
(40:00) – Why people keep using exchanges
(41:48) – How to stop friends losing coins
(46:40) – Wen hyperbitcoinization?!
(51:25) – Why you’re still early
(53:10) – Sean got his bank frozen
(54:55) – Will Google & Apple bow to Bitcoin? (YES!)
(56:18) – Prague has become a Bitcoin hub
(57:26) – Zoom out: price vs. big picture
(59:30) – Sean’s favorite meme on surviving the bear market
(1:01:50) – Bitcoin vs. gold & property
(1:08:10) – Closing thoughts & the awkward handshake
Secure your crypto with Trezor: https://trezor.io/
What happens when the Chief Technology Officers of Trezor and Ledger meet in the same studio?
In this special Trezor Talks episode, we leave behind social media drama for industry insights. Tomáš Sušánka (Trezor) and Charles Guillemet (Ledger) join Danny Sanders, Trezor's CCO, for a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the future of crypto security and self-custody.
You’ll learn:
• Why devices without screens give a false sense of security
• How both companies are preparing for quantum computing
• The Ledger feature that saved $18 million for users in one month
• Where Trezor and Ledger collaborate to push the industry forward
• What a day in the life of a CTO looks like
• The biggest crypto security challenges in 2025
Two hardware wallet titans discuss one shared mission: keeping your keys safe and supporting self-custody.
Timestamps:
(0:00) – Introduction
(3:04) – Charles’s journey into crypto security
(7:46) – Tomáš’s background and experience
(11:34) – Trading compliments (becoming frens)
(14:31) – Education & the self-custody mission
(19:12) – Balancing security, privacy, and usability
(26:30) – Industry security challenges today
(29:31) – Ledger's security philosophy
(36:25) – Trezor’s open-source approach
(37:47) – Why device screens matter for safety
(41:04) – Clear signing initiative and collaboration
(47:11) – Smart contracts and user freedom
(53:50) – A day in the life of a CTO
(59:35) – Future tech & industry trends (quantum computing)
(1:09:36) – Challenges for Bitcoin & post-quantum cryptography
(1:12:17) – Bitcoin, stablecoins & traditional finance
(1:18:22) – Conclusion and traditional awkward handshake (outro)
Secure your crypto with Trezor: https://trezor.io/
Can you really buy bitcoin anonymously in 2025?
In this episode of Trezor Talks, Sean sits down with Lea Petrášová, CEO of peer-to-peer Bitcoin app Vexl, to explore how people are buying everything from cars to cookies, without KYC, through Vexl’s open-source platform.
Lea breaks down why privacy is the future of Bitcoin, how centralized exchanges are failing us by leaking your data, and what it takes to build strong, private Bitcoin communities.
You’ll learn:
• Why convenience with exchanges is an illusion
• How Vexl works and why it’s different
• Where the fastest-growing Bitcoin communities are
• Why open-source tools are essential for financial freedom
• And yes… what trading bitcoin for a horse looks like
“It’s like Tinder… with privacy. On steroids.” — Lea Petrášová on Vexl
Timestamps:
(00:00) - Introduction
(01:30) - Why buy bitcoin anonymously?
(03:22) - How Vexl works and its most important feature
(05:47) - Connecting with users privately on Vexl
(09:47) - Sean’s experience using Vexl
(12:38) - Concerns with centralized exchanges
(16:11) - The importance of privacy
(19:00) - Why Vexl is free and open source
(24:07) - Who is Vexl for?
(28:15) - Using bitcoin for payments
(31:33) - Community support and zooming out
(34:53) - The fastest-growing Bitcoin communities
(36:40) - Unique Vexl trades (cookies, horses & more)
(42:45) - The future of Vexl
(45:53) – The traditional awkward handshake (outro)
Secure your crypto with Trezor: https://trezor.io/
In this episode of Trezor Talks, Sean sits down with Adam Budínský, Trezor’s Head of Product (Hardware), to reveal how the world’s most iconic crypto hardware wallets are made.
From initial sketches to sourcing components, Adam reveals the full lifecycle of devices like the Trezor Safe 3.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
• How the Trezor devices are developed from idea to launch
• Why great design makes security feel effortless
• How to build hardware when supply chains break
• What’s coming next for Trezor devices
Watch to learn how Trezor builds hardware wallets that protect crypto for more than 2 million users worldwide.
Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction to Adam’s role at Trezor
(03:28) Joining Trezor and first impressions
(04:47) Building the Trezor Safe 3
(08:06) Going from an idea to building a product
(12:20) The complete hardware building process
(15:20) How Trezor handles supplier disruptions
(17:55) The subtle things users don’t notice about Trezor’s design
(19:50) How much flexibility do hardware engineers have when building?
(23:05) Where the shape and feel of Trezor came from
(27:35) Hidden features
(30:49) The process behind a successful hardware launch
(34:48) What the next Trezor could look like
(35:40) Advice for engineers who want to build in crypto security
(37:27) The traditional awkward handshake (Outro)
Secure your crypto with Trezor: https://trezor.io/
In this episode of Trezor Talks, Sean sits down with Tomáš Sušánka, the Chief Technology Officer at Trezor, to go deep on what it really takes to build secure hardware wallets and keep them safe from global threats.
They cover everything from quantum computing and phishing scams to what Tomáš is most excited about in the next generation of Trezor devices.
Get a rare behind-the-scenes look at how the Trezor Suite, firmware, and hardware all come together, and why combining hardware and software in crypto is uniquely hard.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
• What a day looks like as Trezor’s CTO (spoiler: no more coding)
• Why hardware adds complexity to scaling in crypto
• The future of post-quantum security and what it means for Bitcoin & Trezor
• The advice Tomáš would give to anyone entering crypto security today
Whether you're an aspiring engineer, someone trying to secure your crypto, or are just curious how your Trezor works under the hood, this episode is for you!
Timestamps:
(00:00) What does it take to run Trezor’s technology operations? (Introduction)
(03:25) Origin story & tech background (discovering Bitcoin)
(09:23) Joining Trezor in 2017: journey to CTO
(10:34) Difference between software, firmware & hardware
(13:57) A day in the life of a crypto CTO
(16:53) Why scaling hardware + software is hard in crypto
(20:22) How Trezor defends users from scams & hackers
(28:50) Big challenges for Trezor and the wider crypto industry
(36:02) What’s coming next at Trezor (upgrades!)
(38:02) Common threats to crypto
(44:30) Is quantum computing a threat to Trezor?
(51:56) Advice for engineers who want to build in crypto security
(54:17) The traditional awkward handshake (outro)
Secure your crypto with Trezor: https://trezor.io/
In this episode of Trezor Talks, we sit down with Josef Tětek, the Trezor Academy Lead, author of Bitcoin: Separation of Money and State, and Stackuj Podcast host to explore how Bitcoin is thriving in Africa and why the continent might be the future of Bitcoin adoption.
If you’re not paying to Africa’s Bitcoin revolution, you probably should be!
From using old Nokia phones to transact on the Lightning Network to building self-sovereign communities without traditional financial services, we explore how Bitcoin is reshaping economies in emerging markets.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
• Why local educators are the key to Bitcoin adoption (it cannot be anyone else)
• How Bitcoin solves real financial problems in Africa (it starts from communities, not governments)
• The book that inspired Josef to launch the Trezor Academy program
• How people in Kenya are living on Bitcoin, without KYC
• Why hostile banking environments fuel Bitcoin innovation
Listen and find out why Africa’s Bitcoin ecosystem is one of the most important in the world.
Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction (Josef’s background as a podcaster)
(04:51) What is Trezor Academy?
(07:40) Why Bitcoin is crucial for African & South American communities
(11:59) The importance of local Bitcoin educators & how to find them
(15:30) How many meetups and programs does Trezor Academy run?
(17:20) Spotlight on the top Trezor Academy educators
(19:37) Why Africa has massive potential for Bitcoin adoption
(25:30) Josef’s top two favorite Bitcoin projects in Africa (revolutionary)
(32:08) How Africans are using Bitcoin for everyday payments
(40:40) Why the African Bitcoin ecosystem is critical for Bitcoin’s future
(43:07) The book that inspired Josef to launch Trezor Academy
(49:55) Teaching Bitcoin security & self-custody in African communities
(55:02) The traditional awkward handshake (outro)
Secure your crypto with Trezor: https://trezor.io/
In this episode of Trezor Talks we sit down with Danny Sanders, the Chief Commercial Officer at Trezor, to explore the company’s growth strategy, and vision for the future.
From navigating bear markets to scaling the team and staying true to the companies Bitcoin-first principles, we dive into what’s next for Trezor and the self-custody movement.
Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction (AKA "The Flying Dutchman")
(05:05) Sean re-introduces us to his bosses, bosses, boss
(06:33) Danny's role in Trezor
(07:55) Joining Trezor and building in the bear market
(11:23) Big milestones since joining
(21:01) Coming from big corporations to Trezor culture
(24:44) Market strategy and expansion plans
(38:13) Being a Bitcoin-first company & supporting the altcoin ecosystem
(42:50) Plans for 2025 (bull market) & beyond
(48:53) Self-custody education
(56:50) The traditional awkward handshake (outro)
_____________
Isabella Santos is a Bitcoin journalist, producer, entrepreneur, and advocate. She co-founded the Bitcoin media company, Get Based, and founded BTC Isla.
In this episode, Isabella shares her journey—from studying journalism to filming Bitcoin documentaries and eventually moving to Mexico to introduce Bitcoin to an island!
We dive into the challenges of educating communities about Bitcoin, the power of open-source learning, and why most people don’t realize the financial system is broken.
(00:00) Aragorn is peak masculinity
(01:00) Introduction
(02:45) How did you get here? Isabella’s journey
(05:25) Meeting Bitcoin Magazine
(06:35) Filmmaking, Bitcoin, and launching a production agency
(07:22) Everything is connected: How your past shapes your future
(09:00) The challenges of being bilingual
(09:48) Bear markets are for building
(10:35) Why did Bitcoin get your attention? 🍊💊
(14:37) When society fought back: A history lesson
(15:50) The educational system is broken
(17:20) Work history, college, and stumbling across Bitcoin
(19:20) What is BTC Isla? Using Bitcoin as a tool for freedom
(22:02) How Bitcoin is helping women in Peru
(25:56) Bitcoin has no barriers
(26:40) Why fiat money loses value over time (Bitcoin fixes this!)
(28:21) Most people don’t realize the system has broken
(29:43) We’re heading into a pickle!
(30:15) BTC Isla: How do you start a Bitcoin school?
(31:36) The island economy and daily life
(33:30) 18+ bad words
(33:50) Back to PG rating (island tourism life)
(36:00) Teaching financial education: No saving culture
(38:46) How do you teach Bitcoin to beginners?
(41:47) Bitcoin orange-pilling: Expectation vs. Reality
(42:20) Back to Bitcoin basics
(43:34) Building a Bitcoin circular economy
(45:36) What is Bitcoin going to do for islanders?
(47:42) Not everybody understands sound money yet
(49:05) Fixing Bitcoin messaging (Bitcoin is for EVERYBODY!)
(49:50) Be humble, bro. Ditch the ego and learn
(52:53) Satoshi left us a gift that’s going to change everything
(53:55) The hidden cost of owning nothing
(54:53) How money is created today (Sean asks for a fact-check)
(56:16) Life is getting more expensive
(59:20) Most people don’t have savings
(1:00:21) Explaining your job in Bitcoin to normies
(1:00:27) Bitcoin frens are the best of frens
(1:02:45) Connecting with non-crypto people
(1:04:27) Biggest takeaway from BTC Isla so far?
(1:06:25) Bitcoiners want to help!
(1:07:35) Open-source Bitcoin curriculum
(1:08:54) Current goals and the next three steps
(1:09:47) Paying people Bitcoin to learn about Bitcoin (time is precious)
(1:11:06) 18+ message to scammers out there
(1:11:55) Final remarks and the infamous awkward handshake
______
Join Sean and Anusha as they discuss how Trezor approaches branding, the challenges of launching a major campaign, and how the team convinced Trezor’s CEO to paraglide for a commercial. Get a behind-the-scenes look at Trezor’s latest brand campaign and our creative process, marketing strategies, and vision shaping the future of crypto security. Plus, find out why Sean is obsessed with power, stares at people’s hands, and wants to build a statue of Anusha. Should we be concerned? (00:00) Introduction (Sean is obsessed with power) (03:47) Journey to Trezor: Working in crypto for the first time (05:32) Sean sucks up to Anusha and delivers an ultimatum (06:13) What does 'brand' actually do? (08:18) How marketing works at Trezor (insights into roles and teams) (12:00) Recent big brand project: New commercial release & our mission (16:39) The vibe and culture at Trezor (18:23) How long do companies last on average? (What is FMCG?!) (19:14) Building businesses in crypto & dealing with volatility (20:00) How long does it take to create a big brand commercial? (21:30) Laughing break (22:21) Back to the ideation process for the commercial (22:49) Shooting on a mountain: Getting the perfect shot (24:40) Asking Matej (Trezor’s CEO) to go paragliding for the commercial (25:57) Sean’s history with extreme sports (26:29) Deciding on the look & tone of the commercial (upgrading our brand look) (27:37) Sean stares at people’s hands... does he need help? (29:16) Collaborating with the art team to craft a vision & message (30:19) Where is Trezor heading? (To the moon!) (32:20) New products & the Freedom Edition Trezor release (33:31) Sean learns another acronym (again...) (34:18) What’s the ultimate dream for Trezor’s brand? (Brand goals) (35:10) Sean wants to build a statue of Anusha... should we be worried? (36:26) Where is Anusha traveling next? (Working remotely while Sean stays in the basement) (38:53) Final remarks & an awkward, forced handshake ______
Join Josef Tětek, Trezor Academy Lead and author of Bitcoin: Separation of Money and State, as he sits down with Nikolai "Okin" Tjongarero. Okin is a Bitcoin Maxi, Digital Entrepreneur, Published Poet, and social Commentator born and raised in Windhoek, Namibia. He hosted the first African Podcast to be listed and streamed Bitcoin via Podcasting 2.0 (FromTheJump). Okin currently serves as the Chief Bitcoin Officer at EasySats and Bitcoin Mining Namibia.
In this wide-ranging conversation, they discuss the opportunities for Bitcoin across Africa, getting into details on how adoption is growing at the grassroots levels.
____
(00:00) Introduction (includes some insights into Namibia) (05:00) Buying Bitcoin in Namibia: Easy or Challenging (12:54) Discussing Namibian music and Black Vulcanites (14:03) What is EasySats? (15:48) Staying in Namibia Vs moving abroad (17:50) Introducing Bitcoin to newcomers (Best technique) (20:23) Pain points with Namibia's banking system (23:44) CBDCs in Africa (27:30) Opportunities BTC brings to Africa (Mining) (30:03) What is the Sovereign Key? (36:55) Driving Bitcoin adoption in Africa (40:32) Empowerment by Bitcoin (47:30) Africa as a fertile ground for Bitcoin adoption (49:28) Adopting Bitcoin Cape Town 2025 (54:42 )Top 3 life priorities (56:58) Connecting with Okin (58:18) Conclusion
________
In this episode, we sit down with Matthew Boyko, our Industrial Designer, to dive deep into the world of design and innovation. From shaping the future of secure hardware wallets to integrating user feedback, Matthew walks us through his journey, role at Trezor, and the meticulous process behind designing products like the Trezor Safe 5.
We also explore the world of industrial design— what it is, how it evolves, and how it intersects with technology and user experience.
_____
(00:00) Introduction (05:01) Who is an Industrial designer? (08:40) Journey to Trezor (14:20) Role at Trezor and the team (20:19) Adopting research and user feedback in the process (26:26) Iterative design process (31:35) Working on a new Trezor wallet: R&D and more (41:30) Education Vs Experience (Industrial Designing) (43:00) Working with Trezor: What's different? (47:50) Things Matthew geeks out on (52:35) CMF of design at Trezor (59:03) Creating desire as a designer (01:03:25) Career advice to aspiring Industrial designers (01:06:01) The next Trezor release? 🤩
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Join Sean as he sits downs with Saadya 'Nick' Chevan, a member of our Trezor Expert service as they dive into the world of self-custody and explore why it matters for anyone navigating the cryptocurrency landscape.
Saadya shares his six-year journey in Bitcoin, highlighting the importance of taking 100% control of your assets. He breaks down the concept of self-custody, explaining how it empowers individuals to hold their own crypto, free from third-party risks associated with exchanges.
_____
(00:00) Introduction
(01:23) What is Self-Custody and why it matters?
(10:16) Biggest benefits of Self-Custody
(13:30) Top tips for Self-Custody if you're new to it
(16:01) What is a hardware wallet and how it helps?
(18:22) What makes Trezor stand-out (Open-source!)
(31:58) Attacks specific to self-custody (Beware!)
(24:11) Most common mistakes to avoid
(30:35) Fears and concerns beginners have
(31:34) What is a Trezor Expert Session?
(35:30) Final remarks
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Interested in booking a Trezor Expert Session? Learn more here: https://trezor.io/trezor-expert-session
In this episode, Sean is joined by Trezor Expert and Bitcoin Analyst Lucien Bourdon. Listen as they dive deep into the world of phishing and the impact scams have in the cryptocurrency space. Lucien shares his insights about the tactics used by scammers to exploit unsuspecting users- from fake emails and websites to social engineering techniques, he highlights the importance of vigilance in the space.
_____ (00:00) Introduction
(06:28) What is Phishing?
(10:35) Personal Experiences with Scams
(15:02) Phishing / Scams in the crypto space
(20:01) Safe storage of your crypto (Introduction to self-custody)
(28:26) Reporting scams and staying informed
(31:58) Attacks specific to self-custody (Beware!)
(33:36) A crazy story! (Scamming the scammer)
(39:00) Tips and tricks to ward off scams
(1:04:18) Common crypto scams
____
Welcome to the first episode of Trezor Talks!
Sean kicks things off with Matěj, CEO at Trezor, diving into a light-hearted chat about burgers 🍔 before getting into the real meat of the conversation.
Listen on as Matěj shares his journey from Product Manager to CEO, offering insights into Trezor’s unique work culture, major milestones, and the future of crypto security.
Discover what it takes to bring more people into the world of self-custody and secure digital assets.
____
00:00 Introduction
03:50 From Product Manager to CEO
06:12 Reflecting on Trezor's humble beginnings
13:40 A Product Manager's role
18:30 Decision-making process for a CEO
22:10 Work culture at Trezor
32:00 Empowering users with "Self-Custody"
36:30 Weighing expectations and concerns in decision-making
41:25 Most exciting milestones this year
43:49 Looking ahead (Bitcoin, New Products)
45:20 Being open-source
51:28 Road to 100M self-custody users
55:10 Conclusion
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