Foundation Passport vs SeedSigner — Head-to-Head Custody Comparison

An independent, data-driven comparison of Foundation Passport and SeedSigner across security, insurance, fees, regulatory compliance, and more.

Verdict

Quick Verdict

Foundation Passport scores 5.6 vs SeedSigner's 5.4. Foundation Passport leads in 4 of 8 categories.

Foundation Passport is better suited for Design-conscious Bitcoiners, Air-gap enthusiasts, Open-source advocates. SeedSigner is better suited for DIY enthusiasts, Cypherpunks, Security researchers.

5.6

Below AverageCustody Score

Foundation Passport

5.4

Below AverageCustody Score

SeedSigner

Scores

Score Comparison

Weighted scores across all 8 custody criteria.

Criterion	Weight	Foundation Passport	SeedSigner	Winner
Security	20%	9.0	8.5	Foundation Passport
Insurance	15%	1.0	1.0	Tie
Regulatory	15%	1.0	1.0	Tie
Fee Transparency	10%	9.0	10.0	SeedSigner
Track Record	15%	6.5	6.0	Foundation Passport
Withdrawal Flexibility	10%	9.0	8.5	Foundation Passport
Reporting & Audit	10%	2.0	1.0	Foundation Passport
Counterparty Diversification	5%	9.5	10.0	SeedSigner
Overall Score	100%	5.6	5.4	Foundation Passport

Visual

Score Radar

Visual overlay of Foundation Passport and SeedSigner across all categories.

Foundation PassportSeedSigner

Deep Dive

Category-by-Category Analysis

A deeper look at how each provider performs in every scoring criterion.

Security (9.0 vs 8.5)

Foundation Passport uses Air-gapped hardware wallet with camera key management with 100% in cold storage and regular penetration testing. Compliance: Open-source audited. Incident history: No known compromises.

SeedSigner uses Stateless signing device key management with 100% (stateless) in cold storage and no confirmed penetration testing. Compliance: N/A. Incident history: No known compromises.

Insurance (1.0 vs 1.0)

Foundation Passport offers None — self-custody hardware via N/A. Hardware wallet. Full user responsibility.

SeedSigner offers None — DIY self-custody via N/A. DIY project. No company behind it. No insurance possible.

Regulatory (1.0 vs 1.0)

Foundation Passport holds N/A — hardware manufacturer and is not a qualified custodian operating in United States. Foundation Devices Inc. US-based open-source hardware company.

SeedSigner holds N/A — open-source project and is not a qualified custodian operating in Decentralized / Open Source. Community-driven open-source project. No company.

Fee Transparency (9.0 vs 10.0)

Foundation Passport charges None in annual custody fees with Network fees only per transaction. Premium device. Air-gapped via QR codes and microSD.

SeedSigner charges None in annual custody fees with Network fees only per transaction. Build it yourself from off-the-shelf components. Truly zero trust.

Track Record (6.5 vs 6.0)

Foundation Passport was founded in 2020 and is headquartered in Boston, MA. AUM: N/A (hardware manufacturer). Incident history: No known compromises.

SeedSigner was founded in 2021 and is headquartered in Open Source. AUM: N/A (DIY project). Incident history: No known compromises.

Withdrawal Flexibility (9.0 vs 8.5)

Foundation Passport withdrawal fees: Network fees only. Minimum account: ~$199 (Passport). Supported assets: Bitcoin only.

SeedSigner withdrawal fees: Network fees only. Minimum account: ~$50 (components). Supported assets: Bitcoin only.

Reporting & Audit (2.0 vs 1.0)

Foundation Passport: SOC compliance is Open-source audited. Not classified as a qualified custodian.

SeedSigner: SOC compliance is N/A. Not classified as a qualified custodian.

Counterparty Diversification (9.5 vs 10.0)

Foundation Passport is a cold storage / hardware provider. Key management: Air-gapped Bitcoin wallet with camera for QR code scanning. Open-source hardware..

SeedSigner is a cold storage / hardware provider. Key management: DIY stateless signing device. Never stores keys. Camera-based QR code signing. Built from Raspberry Pi Zero..

Fees

Fee Comparison

Side-by-side fee breakdown for Foundation Passport and SeedSigner.

Fee Type	Foundation Passport	SeedSigner
Setup Fee	$199 (device purchase)	~$50 (Raspberry Pi Zero + camera + screen)
Annual Custody	None	None
Transaction	Network fees only	Network fees only
Withdrawal	Network fees only	Network fees only

Foundation Passport: Premium device. Air-gapped via QR codes and microSD.

SeedSigner: Build it yourself from off-the-shelf components. Truly zero trust.

Features

Feature Comparison

Checklist of features across both providers.

Feature	Foundation Passport	SeedSigner
Air-gapped QR scanning	✓	✗
Camera-based QR signing	✗	✓
Camera-based signing	✓	✗
DIY from off-the-shelf parts	✗	✓
Dice roll entropy	✗	✓
Envoy companion app	✓	✗
Fully open-source	✗	✓
MicroSD backup	✓	✗
Open-source hardware + firmware	✓	✗
Premium build quality	✓	✗
Stateless — never stores keys	✗	✓
Zero supply chain trust required	✗	✓

Recommendation

Who Should Choose Which?

Foundation Passport is better if you…

✓Are a design-conscious bitcoiners
✓Are a air-gap enthusiasts
✓Are a open-source advocates
✓Are a us-made seekers
✓Want: Beautiful premium design
✓Want: Truly air-gapped with QR camera
✓Want: Open-source hardware AND firmware

SeedSigner is better if you…

✓Are a diy enthusiasts
✓Are a cypherpunks
✓Are a security researchers
✓Are a ultra-paranoid bitcoiners
✓Want: Stateless — keys never stored on device
✓Want: Build from off-the-shelf components
✓Want: Zero supply chain attack surface

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Foundation Passport or SeedSigner better for Bitcoin custody?

Foundation Passport scores 5.6 vs 5.4 in our weighted Custody Score. Foundation Passport leads in 4 of 8 scoring categories. However, the best choice depends on your specific needs: Foundation Passport is best for Design-conscious Bitcoiners and Air-gap enthusiasts, while SeedSigner suits DIY enthusiasts and Cypherpunks.

What is the difference between Foundation Passport and SeedSigner?

Foundation Passport is a cold storage / hardware provider, while SeedSigner is a cold storage / hardware provider. Foundation Passport excels in Counterparty Diversification, whereas SeedSigner is strongest in Fee Transparency.

How do Foundation Passport and SeedSigner fees compare?

Foundation Passport charges None annual custody fees with Network fees only transaction fees. SeedSigner charges None annual custody fees with Network fees only transaction fees.

Which is more secure, Foundation Passport or SeedSigner?

Foundation Passport scores 9.0/10 for security while SeedSigner scores 8.5/10. Foundation Passport uses Air-gapped hardware wallet with camera key management, and SeedSigner uses Stateless signing device.