Celebrating 6 years of AirGap

Back in 2017, we started to look around what self-custody hardware wallet solutions are out there, we realized that the solutions are clunky, expensive, and predominantly closed-source options. We recognized the need for a no-cost and more accessible solution that empowers users to achieve high-security standards. That’s when the idea of AirGap was born.

AirGap
AirGap
Published in
7 min readSep 25, 2023

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AirGap is a unique wallet that combines the convenience of a software wallet with the unparalleled security of a hardware wallet. Our goal was clear: to provide a robust solution that not only prioritizes user convenience but also adheres to the highest security standards demanded by modern cryptocurrency users. By offering the best of both worlds, AirGap delivers an exceptional user experience while safeguarding your digital assets.

Since our inception, we have had the privilege of serving tens of thousands of people, and our user base continues to grow steadily. This growing adoption is a testament to the increasing recognition of the necessity for self-custody, as well as the demand for an open-source solution. We are proud to have been able to meet these needs with AirGap.

During our fifth anniversary, we presented an overview of our accomplishments in the first five years, followed by a discussion of some integrations we would like to accomplish in the following year

What has been accomplished in the last year from the target

Among the thing we listed in the fifth year, here is a list of we are able to implement we during this period:

  1. Improved AirGap Vault experience with QR-based wallets: We enhanced the pairing experience between AirGap Vault and QR-based wallets like MetaMask or BlueWallet, ensuring seamless integration and a user-friendly interface.
  2. Added another DEX (Plenty Defi) to the exchange tab: We provided our users with an additional option for easy and seamless swapping of FA2/FA1.2 tokens and XTZ, similar to the successful implementation of Quipuswap.
  3. Supported Sirius token: This addition has expanded the options available to our users and contributed to the growth of the Tezos ecosystem.
  4. Integrated Sapling V2 and supported multiple assets: We identified a vulnerability in the Sapling V1 contract and discontinued it to ensure user security. We’ve successfully integrated Sapling V2 and provided support for multiple assets under the Sapling umbrella, enabling AirGap users to conduct transactions while maintaining their privacy.
  5. Restructured the app for clearer account identification: We reorganized our application to make it clearer which accounts belong to which secret, providing a more intuitive and streamlined user interface to enhance user experience.
  6. Improve onboarding process for offline and online Vaults: We understood the importance of differentiating between offline and online Vaults. We had planned on improving the onboarding process and providing users with clear instructions and feedback to enhance their security and protect their assets.
  7. Supported additional languages: In our commitment to inclusivity, we now support languages such as Russian, Chinese, and Spanish, enabling users from diverse backgrounds to engage with our solution in their native languages.

While we acknowledge that we haven’t reached 100% completion in our previous target, we take full responsibility and make no excuses. Rest assured, all pending items will be carried forward into the upcoming year. Our commitment remains unwavering, as we strive to further augment and enrich your beloved AirGap Wallet with additional value and features, ensuring an exceptional experience for all our users.

What has been accomplished in the last year not listed in the target

The following is a list of integrations that we undertook despite not being listed on our to-do list.

On the 10th of October, 2022, we added support for Morpheus Network.

On the 5th of January, 2023, we introduced the AirGap Shop, where we sell Metal Recovery Plates and the AirGap Knox solution. The AirGap knox is a device manager that takes the security of the AirGap Vault to the next level by automatically disabling all forms of network on an OS level, thereby achieving true offline security. Knox is one of our products we recommend if you want to layer up your AirGap Vault.

On the 16th of February, 2023, we added support for the Internet Computer Protocol.

On the 20th of March, 2023, we added support for ckBTC.

On the 24th of March, 2023, we added support for Coreum and Coreum staking.

On the 26th of April, 2023, we introduce the AirGap Knox solution.

On the 23rd of May, 2023, we added support for ICP staking.

On the 25th of May, 2023, we added support for On & Off Ramp feature using Mt Pelerin.

On the 25th of May, 2023, we added support for Optimism Network.

The aforementioned list focuses primarily on the major developments achieved at AirGap. However, it is important to note that we have also made numerous minor yet significant improvements that have greatly contributed to the growth and success of our solutions. These include network upgrades, engaging events, insightful Twitter space sessions, valuable partnerships, and informative community calls.

Roadmap and Planned Features

We are committed to the ongoing enhancement of our wallet, as we strive to expand our support for new cryptocurrencies and introduce a wide range of highly requested features. While prioritizing the utmost security, we also aim to educate and expose users to the offline feature of the Vault, further strengthening their understanding and utilization of its benefits.

In the coming year, we have a clear roadmap to implement several adjustments that will not only bolster the security measures but also improve the overall usability of AirGap. These adjustments are just the beginning, as we remain dedicated to continuously working on further advancements and improvements. Our commitment to enhancing AirGap is unwavering, and we will continually explore new ways to provide a seamless and secure wallet experience for all users.

Isolated module

Isolated module is one of the features we plan on introducing. If you’re familiar with popular wallet solutions like MetaMask or Trust Wallet, you’re likely acquainted with the concept of adding various EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) chains to your wallet for expanded functionality. At AirGap, there’s a groundbreaking development on the horizon that takes this idea to the next level, and it goes by the name of Isolated Module. AirGap Isolated Module takes the idea of being able to add any EVM chain to wallets like MetaMask and Trust Wallet to the next level, by venturing into more technical terrain. This feature is poised to revolutionize the way users interact with blockchains by granting them the power to seamlessly integrate any blockchain into the AirGap. Yes, you read that correctly — any blockchain. The Isolated Module isn’t just about making various blockchains easier to access — it’s also a boost to security. This happens by treating each blockchain as a plugin, which essentially isolates each protocol as its own separate entity. This way, the security of each chain remains intact and independent.

SeedXOR and Hamming Backups

Seed XOR is a means of storing secrets in two or more parts that look and behave just like the original secret. One 12 or 24-word seed phrase becomes two or more parts that are also BIP-39 compatible seed phrases. This implementation is meant to introduce a more standard alternative to our social recovery feature which is a better way for users to prevent themselves from losing their seed phrase thus losing their funds.

Make AirGap more accessible

To make our solution more accessible to people around the globe we started to translate our step-by-step guide with the help of our community into various languages, among those are French, Spanish, Russian, and Chinese. If you can help us translate it into other languages please reach out to us.

Feel free to share these in your community:

English, Russian, Spanish, French, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese

What’s a Birthday without a gift?

AirGap would not be the same without its thriving community that helps us spread the word, bring in new ideas.
So we want to take this opportunity to thank you, the community, for being part of AirGaps success story. Therefore we have something to give back to you:

2 AirGap Knox

4 AirGap Recovery Plates (starter set)

4 AirGap T Shirts

4 AirGap Caps

To participate, fill out our survey below. This will help us to improve the AirGap solution and to understand more deeply what the needs of our community are.

Furthermore you can get 40% off of all AirGap Shop products till the end of September when using the promo code “6YearsOfAirGap”. So act now and increase your security level with the AirGap products.

What’s your feedback on AirGap?

It has been the feedback we have gotten from the community in the past five years that has been a major source of our continued progress. We’ve made significant improvements to AirGap as a result of it.

Download AirGap

AirGap Wallet
📱 iOS — App Store
📱 Android — Google Play (GitHub APK)
💻 macOS
💻 Windows
💻 Linux

AirGap Vault
📱 iOS — App Store
📱 Android — Google Play (GitHub APK)

Interested in AirGap? Stay in touch.

Discord |Telegram | GitHub | Website | Twitter | Reddit

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