When Blockstream first launched Jade, the hardware shipped with a built-in camera, but it was not activated. The potential was there, waiting in the background. Over a year later, a firmware update unlocked that camera and with it came one of the biggest shifts in how you can use Jade: QR code workflows.
That update demonstrated what makes Jade unique: it’s not a closed box, but an open-source device that gets more powerful over time. With every release, new tools for Bitcoin self-custody become available to anyone who updates their device.
Now the Jade Plus camera is evolving. The latest firmware drastically improves QR scanning. These improvements come directly from Jade’s community feedback. Users told us scanning could be slow or finicky, so we answered the call. With Jade Plus, QR workflows are now faster, sharper, and easier to use.
Why QR Scanning Matters
It’s important to underline something first: with Jade, your private keys never leave the device. Whether you are connected by USB, Bluetooth, restoring from an SD card, or using QR, the keys remain sealed inside the open-source hardware.
What QR scanning adds is a convenient choice. It allows Jade Plus to bridge with companion platforms while keeping the Jade air-gapped. It’s not the only way to use Jade, but for many Bitcoiners it’s one of the most advanced and satisfying. Now, with the upgraded Jade Plus camera, it’s far more accessible for everyday use.
With the new firmware, Jade Plus scans more consistently across a wide range of real-world conditions. QRs that previously needed careful lighting or exact positioning now capture easily, even in poor light, at varied distances, or with low-contrast backgrounds.
Self-custody depends on confidence, reliability, and accuracy. QR scanning provides exactly that.
Spending with Partially Signed Bitcoin Transactions
Spending is where QR workflows shine. Wallets like the Blockstream app, Sparrow, and Nunchuk prepare a Partially Signed Bitcoin Transaction (PSBT) and display it as an animated QR sequence. Jade Plus scans the frames, signs the transaction, and displays it as a new QR code, ready for the companion wallet to broadcast.
With the Jade Plus camera upgrade, QR scanning executes up to 35% faster. Large PSBTs that used to take 26 seconds to scan now complete in ~17 seconds. The new firmware also reduces display lag when the camera is active, keeping the device responsive during longer scans.
Recovery with SeedQR
Recovery phrases are central to Bitcoin self-custody, and Jade takes them further with SeedQR. Instead of only writing down a 12- or 24-word recovery phrase, Jade can display your backup as a SeedQR, giving you the option to create a visual recovery code yourself.
Restoring from SeedQR is even easier. Instead of typing words by hand, you simply scan the QR and Jade rebuilds the wallet instantly. With the Jade Plus firmware update, scanning is faster and more reliable. Even poorly hand-drawn SeedQRs now work smoothly. These improvements also pave the way for SteelQR support, allowing recovery phrases to be etched into steel for reliable, disaster-proof scanning. Blockstream Metal SeedQRs are now available, providing an additional option for resilient, long-term backups.
Protecting Logins with One-Time Passwords
Self-custody extends beyond Bitcoin transactions. Many users also protect their exchange accounts and services with time-based one-time passwords (TOTPs). With Jade Plus, those secrets live on the hardware wallet.
Setup is simple: scan the QR shown by the service, and Jade stores the secret securely. From then on, your one-time passwords are generated on-device, keeping them safe from SIM swaps and compromised apps.
The Platform That Keeps Evolving
From the moment Jade’s camera was first activated through a firmware update, it has highlighted the range of what an open-source device can do. Features expand. Workflows improve, security hardens, and the community can verify every change along the way.
The latest Jade Plus camera improvements drive these points home. Faster scans. Greater reliability. Direct responses to community feedback. Support for SteelQR. This is only the beginning: more speed optimizations are already in development.
Self-custody is not static. It’s an exciting journey. Jade Plus is not merely a hardware wallet, but a platform designed to grow with you.