Cryptnox’s intellectual property portfolio spans patents and registered utility models across the United States, Europe (Germany & Austria), and China — protecting both the innovations that make our crypto hardware wallet the most advanced card-shaped cold wallet on the market and the smartcard reader technology behind the Cryptnox Click-to-Tap FIDO2 reader.
From the cryptographic foundations of key generation and recovery to the seamless 23-second seedless initialization that sets Cryptnox apart, every patent addresses a real vulnerability in cryptocurrency self-custody and delivers a solution built on CC EAL6+ secure element technology
Our patents and utility models cover the complete lifecycle of a hardware wallet: how keys are created and protected through Shamir secret sharing, how cards authenticate and certify blockchain addresses through on-card PKI, how NFTs are secured through tamper-resistant hardware, and how financial institutions can issue and replace crypto card wallets at scale. The portfolio also extends to smartcard reader hardware: our German and Austrian utility models cover the Click-to-Tap virtual-button technology that streamlines FIDO2 / WebAuthn re-authentication on contact readers.
Together, they form the foundation of Cryptnox’s Card-Wallet-as-a-Service (C-WAAS) platform
US 11,791,996 B2 – Shamir Secret Sharing Key Generation
US 12,101,400 B2 – Secure Key Injection & Recovery
This Cryptnox patent introduces a secure method for generating and protecting private keys used in cryptocurrency hardware wallets through Shamir Secret Sharing technology. Instead of storing a private key in a single location, the system divides the key into multiple encrypted shares that can only be reconstructed when the required number of shares are combined.
The problem this innovation solves is the risk of a single point of failure in traditional wallet architectures. Standard seed phrase systems rely on a single recovery phrase that, if lost or stolen, can result in irreversible asset loss. By distributing key fragments securely, this patented architecture significantly reduces the likelihood of compromise.
This technology is implemented in Cryptnox card-based hardware wallets and enterprise crypto security solutions. It enables secure key recovery processes without exposing the full private key outside of the secure hardware environment.
Inventor: Sebastien Armleder
Status: US Granted
Patent Number: US 11,791,996 B2
This patent covers a secure architecture for injecting and recovering cryptographic keys within a hardware wallet environment. The invention enables private keys to be generated or injected into a secure element without exposing them to external systems or software environments.
The technology addresses a key vulnerability in hardware wallet deployment: the risk that sensitive key material could be exposed during initialization or recovery processes. By performing key injection within a CC EAL6+ secure element, Cryptnox ensures that private keys remain protected from malware, interception, or device compromise.
The patented system is used in Cryptnox’s NFC card wallets and enterprise Card-Wallet-as-a-Service (C-WAAS) infrastructure, allowing organizations to securely deploy hardware wallets at scale while maintaining strict cryptographic security standards.
Inventor: Sebastien Armleder
Status: US Granted
Patent Number: US 12,101,400 B2
These patents address the secure initialization of hardware wallets without exposing sensitive key material. Cryptnox’s architecture allows wallets to be securely provisioned while maintaining strict protection of cryptographic secrets.
This patent introduces a method for initializing a hardware wallet without requiring a traditional seed phrase. Instead of relying on manual seed generation and storage, the patented system enables secure remote initialization using encrypted communication with a secure element.
This innovation solves one of the most common usability and security challenges in cryptocurrency self-custody: the management of seed phrases. Seed phrases can be lost, stolen, or incorrectly stored, which exposes users to significant risk.
By enabling seedless initialization, Cryptnox simplifies the onboarding experience while maintaining strong cryptographic security guarantees. The technology is integrated into Cryptnox NFC crypto card wallets and supports enterprise-level wallet deployment through the C-WAAS platform.
Inventor: Sebastien Armleder
Status: US Granted
Patent Number: US 12,132,824 B2
These patents focus on advanced authentication and digital signature verification within secure hardware environments. The technologies enable hardware wallets to verify blockchain transactions and identities using tamper-resistant smart card infrastructure.
This European patent application introduces a secure architecture for managing non-fungible tokens (NFTs) using hardware-based cryptographic protection. By leveraging secure element technology, NFTs can be authenticated and managed through tamper-resistant smart card hardware.
The system prevents unauthorized access or manipulation of NFT ownership credentials by ensuring that sensitive cryptographic operations occur within the protected environment of the secure element.
This technology enables safer NFT storage and management for users and institutions, particularly in scenarios where NFTs represent valuable digital assets such as digital identity credentials, collectibles, or tokenized assets.
Inventor: Sebastien Armleder
Status: EP Published
Patent Number: EP 4 060 540 A1
This patent describes a secure authentication framework for smart card-based hardware wallets. The invention enables secure verification of blockchain addresses and cryptographic identities using a public key infrastructure (PKI) embedded directly within the smart card.
The system helps prevent spoofing attacks and unauthorized device impersonation by enabling hardware-level identity verification. Each Cryptnox card can authenticate itself and certify its cryptographic keys using secure hardware protocols.
This technology is particularly important for enterprise deployments and institutional crypto services, where device authenticity and secure authentication are critical requirements.
Inventor: Sebastien Armleder
Status: EP Published
Patent Number: EP 4 148 608 A1
These patents focus on enabling large-scale deployment and management of hardware wallet cards for financial institutions, fintech companies, and enterprise digital asset platforms.
This patent introduces a system for issuing and managing hardware wallet cards at institutional scale. The architecture enables financial institutions and service providers to create, distribute, replace, and manage secure crypto card wallets while maintaining strong cryptographic protection.
The system integrates secure elements, card issuance infrastructure, and cryptographic management protocols to allow organizations to safely deploy hardware wallets for customers or internal digital asset management.
This innovation forms a key component of Cryptnox’s Card-Wallet-as-a-Service (C-WAAS) platform, enabling enterprises to build secure Web3 and cryptocurrency services using hardware-secured authentication and wallet technology.
Inventor: Sebastien Armleder
Status: EP Published
Patent Number: EP 4 258 596 A1
This Chinese patent protects Cryptnox’s secure element architecture used for blockchain authentication and cryptographic verification. The technology enables hardware wallets to generate trusted digital signatures and verify blockchain identities using smart card PKI infrastructure.
The innovation ensures that sensitive cryptographic operations occur inside a tamper-resistant secure element chip, protecting private keys from extraction or manipulation. This architecture provides stronger security guarantees compared with software-based wallet systems.
By extending patent protection into China, Cryptnox strengthens the global coverage of its intellectual property portfolio and reinforces its position as an innovator in hardware wallet security.
Inventor: Sebastien Armleder
Status: China Granted
Patent Number: ZL 202211056164.7
Cryptnox is extending its hardware-security platform to the FIDO2 ecosystem with the Click-to-Tap contact reader — a smartcard reader designed for FIDO2/WebAuthn authentication where a single button replaces the need to physically remove and re-insert the card to start a new session. A press of the button electronically simulates card extraction and reinsertion, giving the host the same signal as a fresh tap while keeping the card in place. The invention is protected by a registered German utility model and a parallel Austrian utility-model application.
This German registered utility model protects Cryptnox’s Click-to-Tap virtual-button smartcard reader. The reader integrates a user-actuated button that, on press, drives the smartcard interface through a controlled extraction-and-reinsertion sequence at the protocol level — with no mechanical movement of the card. This delivers the same user experience as a contactless “tap” gesture for contact-mode FIDO2 cards, eliminating wear on the card and connector and enabling rapid re-authentication.
By extending utility-model protection into Germany, Cryptnox secures one of its core hardware-reader innovations within the European market.
Title (EN): Smartcard reader with button-activated electronic card extraction and reinsertion simulation
Title (DE): Smartcard-Lesegerät mit knopfaktivierter elektronischer Kartenextraktion und Wiedereinsetzsimulation
Applicant: Sebastien Armleder
Application No.: 20 2025 108 028.1
Registration No.: DE 20 2025 108 028 U1
Registered: 27 April 2026
Status: DE Registered (Utility Model)
Public register: View on DPMAregister
This Austrian utility model covers the same Cryptnox Click-to-Tap virtual-button reader innovation as the German registration. Both protect a smartcard reader whose user-actuated button drives a controlled, protocol-level extraction-and-reinsertion sequence — delivering a contactless-style “tap” gesture on contact-mode FIDO2 cards without any mechanical movement.
The Austrian filing extends Cryptnox’s reader-IP coverage across the German-speaking European market alongside the German registration.
Title (EN): Smartcard reader with button-activated electronic card extraction and reinsertion simulation
Title (DE): Smartcard-Lesegerät mit knopfaktivierter elektronischer Kartenextraktion und Wiedereinsetzsimulation
Applicant: Sebastien Armleder
Application No.: GM 55114/2025
Status: AT Filed (Utility Model)
Public register: not yet available
N/A
N/A
Each patent and utility model represents a distinct breakthrough in cryptocurrency security, hardware wallet design, and smartcard reader engineering. Select any item above to explore the technical innovation, the problem it solves, and how it contributes to making Cryptnox the most secure NFC crypto card wallet available today — and to bringing that same engineering rigor to FIDO2 reader hardware.
For enterprise and institutional inquiries about licensing Cryptnox’s patented technology, contact us directly
