Blockstream and French technology group Thales have introduced an institutional digital-asset custody system, Foresight News reported on November 14, 2026, citing Cointelegraph. The system combines Thales hardware security modules (HSMs) with Blockstream’s Secure-MPC technology. The transaction-signing protocol runs inside the HSM-protected environment, so sensitive key material does not leave the dedicated hardware.
Blockstream co-founder and CEO Adam Back said traditional multiparty computation (MPC) protocols are too complex and interactive to work well in fully offline cold storage. Citing a Binance-related hacking incident, he pointed to the risk of unauthorized access to connected devices. He also warned that AI could help attackers find subtle flaws in complex implementations and argued for a return to a simpler cold-storage model. These are Back’s assessments, not a reported finding that the new system has eliminated those risks.
Original report · Originally published November 14, 2026, at 17:47:17 UTC+08:00.