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Ice Core is designed for a desktop computer.

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ICE CORE

An open custody standard for Bitcoin

Your keys deserve
deeper safeguards.

Ice Core is a visual and educational outline of the Yeti 2.0 (opens in a new tab) methodology for Bitcoin custody. The methodology uses Bitcoin Core as the foundation of the process, because it is the most reviewed and audited software for Bitcoin custody. Ice Core expands each step, interaction and command with visual context that the concise Yeti 2.0 guide cannot place alongside every action.

Ice core stack.Six cylindrical ice shapes slide down one after another to form a vertical stack labelled Distributed backups, 3-of-7 multisig, Explicit PSBT transfer, Offline signing, Bitcoin Core, and Verified Linux.DISTRIBUTED BACKUPS3-OF-7 MULTISIGEXPLICIT PSBT TRANSFEROFFLINE SIGNINGBITCOIN COREVERIFIED LINUX

The principle

Minimise specialised trust.
Keep every critical step visible.

A hardware wallet concentrates confidence in a dedicated device, its firmware, vendor and companion software. The Yeti (opens in a new tab) methodology reduces vulnerabilities in those devices by using well-audited solutions with general-purpose computers, verified Linux distributions, and Bitcoin Core.

01 · Observe

The network stays over here.

The online computer watches the blockchain and prepares unsigned transactions. It never receives the keys required to spend.

02 · Isolate

The keys begin and stay offline.

A separate general-purpose computer enters a verified, disposable Linux environment. Security-critical work happens beyond the network boundary.

03 · Transfer

Approve transactions offline.

A Partially Signed Bitcoin Transaction crosses the boundary on removable media. The offline system can inspect and sign without requiring the Internet.

04 · Distribute

Redundancy provides recovery.

A 3-of-7 treshold spreads redundancy across locations, reducing risk of catastrophic loss. No single loss destroys access; no single copy authorises a spend.

An important boundary

An outline is not an operational guide.

Ice Core explains the Yeti 2.0 (opens in a new tab) process in greater visual and technical detail, but it does not replace Yeti 2.0 or independently audit its design. Anyone carrying out the process should use Yeti 2.0 itself as the operational reference.

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Understand the methodology

No specialised hardware.
Nothing central to trust.
Just information.

01

Outline

The complete A–D workflow, with detailed visual explanations of its actions, interactions and commands.

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02

FAQ

Plain-language explanations of the methodology’s decisions, limitations and security trade-offs.

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See how the process fits together.

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