Anzen Vault launches mainnet prototype addressing Bitcoin self-custody with timelocked key recovery using phone and hardware wallet.
Tech & Launches ·
Anzen Vault, a live mainnet prototype, has launched with a mechanism designed to address Bitcoin self-custody challenges using a combination of a phone and hardware wallet secured by Bitcoin timelocks. The system grants access to both keys simultaneously for immediate transactions, while enabling phone-only access after 14 months and hardware-wallet-only access after 15 months.
The timelocked recovery model operates as a fallback mechanism: if one device is lost or compromised, the owner can eventually regain control using the remaining device after the respective timelock expires. This approach relies on Bitcoin's native scripting capabilities rather than external custodians or smart contracts, embedding the security logic directly into the blockchain protocol itself.
The prototype status and real-world adoption dynamics remain to be seen. Questions persist around user experience during the waiting periods, the security assumptions underlying the timelock design, and whether the model scales beyond the Bitcoin use case it currently addresses.