BlueWallet pushed version 8.0.0 this week, adding a custom entropy feature for Bitcoin key generation. The update lets users supply their own randomness when creating private keys — a shift from relying solely on software-generated entropy. For self-custody users, that could mean less dependence on hardware wallets for cold storage.
How custom entropy works
The feature is tucked into the wallet's key generation flow. Instead of letting the app pick all the random bits, users can now input their own entropy source — dice rolls, coin flips, or any other physical randomness they trust. BlueWallet then mixes that user-supplied entropy with its own to produce the final private key. It's an option aimed squarely at advanced users who want to audit every step of the process.
Hardware wallets have long been the go-to for cold storage because they generate keys in a secure, offline environment. But if you can generate a key offline using your own entropy and then import it into a software wallet, the hardware device's role shrinks. BlueWallet's new feature doesn't eliminate the need for secure key storage — you still have to protect that key — but it does let you skip the hardware wallet for the generation step. That's a meaningful trade-off for users who trust their own entropy source more than a chip.
Who this is for
This isn't a beginner-friendly update. Custom entropy requires understanding how randomness works and how to generate it safely. BlueWallet's documentation walks through the process, but the feature assumes a level of technical comfort. For the average user, the default software entropy is still fine. For the paranoid or the privacy-focused, it's a new tool in the box.
BlueWallet is an open-source wallet with a reputation for catering to technical users. Version 8.0.0 doesn't overhaul the app — it adds one specific, powerful option. The timing makes sense: as more people explore self-custody, features that give users direct control over key generation are becoming a differentiator. Whether it actually reduces hardware wallet sales is an open question. But for a subset of users, it just might.
The update is live now on iOS and Android. No word yet on whether other wallets will follow with similar entropy options.
