Trezor CEO Reveals Open-Source Philosophy Stemming from Security Chip Flaw Discovery

Trezor's Prague headquarters hosted a revealing discussion between The crypto Times founder Hardik Katariya and CEO Matěj Žák, coinciding with the launch of the new Trezor Safe 7 hardware wallet. The conversation transcended product details, delving into the company's core principles and Žák's unconventional journey from musician to crypto industry leader.

Žák's background as a disciplined guitarist practicing eight hours daily forged his approach to leadership. "Working super hard on technical skills taught me that persistent effort yields mastery," he reflected, drawing parallels between musical precision and cryptographic security.

The company's commitment to radical transparency originated from a pivotal incident. Trezor discovered a critical vulnerability in a proprietary security chip used by competitors, but nondisclosure agreements prevented warning the industry. This experience cemented their open-source philosophy. "We couldn't ethically remain silent about security risks again," Žák implied, though the interview didn't disclose the affected chip manufacturer.