Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions that actually decide fit: when CLAVI makes sense, when a simpler signer is enough, and why CLAVI should be evaluated as sovereignty infrastructure rather than as a standard hardware wallet.
Platform & Product Overview
- What is CLAVI? Explain the whole system in simple terms.
- CLAVI is a complete Swiss-made digital sovereignty platform and private personal digital vault for your cryptocurrencies, digital assets, private data, and private communications. It runs its own Bitcoin and Ethereum pruned nodes for local transaction validation, gates private keys with biometrics, gesture inputs, and PIN codes on dedicated hardware, and includes private local AI for insights and assistance. It is not just a simple hardware wallet. It is built for people who want hardware, software, privacy, and operational control in one system.
- Break down the three components: Monolith, Rune, and ClavOS. What does each one actually do?
- The Monolith is your always-on home/office secure intelligence server running local pruned Bitcoin and Ethereum nodes and offline AI. It stores no sensitive data persistently. The Rune is your portable biometrically gated secure storage ("physical key") that holds your private keys, secured by fingerprint, gesture input, and PIN. The Rune is dock-powered with no internal battery—a deliberate design choice that minimises attack surfaces. Quantum-resistant encryption approved by NIST ensures future-proof security. ClavOS is the custom zero-knowledge operating system built on a customised Yocto Linux kernel that ensures your assets are mathematically and physically yours.
- How is CLAVI different from a Ledger, Trezor, Coldcard, or a multisig setup like Safe?
- The main difference is the operating model, not just the chip or the app. Ledger, Trezor, and Coldcard are consumer signing devices. Safe is on-chain multisig coordination. CLAVI is sovereign infrastructure: local nodes inside the Monolith, biometric hardware approval, offline local AI, multi-Rune threshold signing, and Swiss jurisdictional protection. If you only need simple cold storage, those tools can be enough. If you need local-first infrastructure, continuity, privacy, and curated ownership support, CLAVI is solving a different problem.
- For a high-net-worth individual or family office worried about privacy, estate planning, and subpoenas: is CLAVI the right solution?
- Yes. If your threat model includes privacy, estate planning, jurisdiction, family continuity, or coercion resistance, CLAVI is much closer to the right category than a standard hardware wallet. CLAVI combines Swiss jurisdiction, hardware-enforced zero-knowledge architecture, and geographically distributed Rune signing in a way that is unique in the market. It is the right fit when the cost of compromise is materially higher than the cost of serious protection.
- Is CLAVI overkill for someone with a smaller portfolio?
- It can be, if all you want is the cheapest way to sign a transaction or basic cold storage. It is not overkill if you want local-first infrastructure, biometric signing, continuity planning, privacy, and Swiss jurisdiction in one system. The real fit question is not only portfolio size. It is whether your threat model extends beyond simple key storage.
- What does the CLAVI App look like? Is it beginner-friendly?
- The CLAVI App is widget-based, intuitive, and highly customisable. It handles common operations like treasury management, multi-signature approval, and document review with the local AI concierge via one-tap workflows. While the app runs on your phone or laptop for viewing and management, all sensitive operations (signing transactions) require docking the Rune on the Monolith for hardware security.
- Is there a mobile experience?
- Yes, the CLAVI App runs on your phone, tablet, or laptop for viewing, managing, and monitoring your system. However, for signing transactions and all sensitive operations, the Rune must dock with the Monolith. The dock-powered design eliminates internal batteries, removing a failure mode and attack surface simultaneously, providing hybrid convenience with hardware security.
- What deliberate architecture decisions define CLAVI's design philosophy?
- CLAVI is built on deliberate engineering trade-offs. Priced at 6,000 CHF, the system is manufactured in Switzerland with institutional-grade QA. The Monolith form factor requires dedicated home or office space — a permanent fixture by design, not a portable USB device. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and DeFi are natively supported. ClavOS's modular architecture enables additional chain integration through firmware updates. ClavOS undergoes continuous independent security review, following the same audit cycle as institutional financial infrastructure.
Related: The Monolith
Architecture & Security
- How does CLAVI protect against hacking, remote exploits, or someone stealing my Rune?
- CLAVI uses zero-knowledge architecture with an air-gapped design and zero persistent network connectivity on critical paths. The Rune requires physical signing via your fingerprint, gesture input, and/or PIN. A single stolen Rune gives an attacker nothing usable. Physical coercion is mitigated by geographic separation of multiple Runes.
- What happens if I lose one Rune, damage the Monolith, or my house burns down? How does recovery work?
- CLAVI eliminates single points of failure. Private keys can be mathematically distributed across multiple Runes. Lose one, and the remaining Runes still allow full recovery and can provision a replacement. If a Monolith is damaged, you simply pair your existing Runes with any new Monolith to resume operations, as the Monolith stores no sensitive data persistently. There is no mandated seed phrase to lose, though one can be securely accessed if preferred.
- How does the zero-knowledge architecture and multi-sig with geographic distribution work in practice?
- The system assumes endpoint compromise (phone/laptop) and offloads sensitive operations to the isolated Monolith and Rune. Multi-signature is hardware-enforced via Runes: you configure thresholds (e.g., 2-of-3) and store Runes in different global locations. They can be operated from anywhere with a connected Monolith. Role-based access allows different Runes to have view-only, partial signing, or full administrative access.
- How long does the initial Bitcoin/Ethereum node sync take?
- The Monolith runs pruned nodes for optimised function. Expect hours to a few days depending on your internet speed. After initial sync, it requires minimal bandwidth. If the Monolith loses connection, initiated transactions are queued and pushed through once reconnected. All validation happens locally.
- What does the local AI in the Monolith actually do?
- The Monolith hosts JOTUP, a powerful tag-based RAG engine developed over 11 years by Research Semantics. It runs entirely offline with no cloud, API calls, logging, or tracking. It prioritises accuracy over generation for insights into blockchain interactions and news, acting as a private oracle for market and current affairs. It provides hard security for knowledge management and decision-making without hallucination risks.
Related: The Monolith
Custody & Setup
- Walk me through the full setup process. What do I need?
- Setup is done in 3 steps: 1) Download the CLAVI App on your personal device. 2) Pair the Monolith to your device via bluetooth and connect to WiFi for initial blockchain node sync. 3) Dock your first Rune on the Monolith for biometric enrollment and gesture/pin code setup. No advanced technical skills are required. First units are available for collection from secure distribution points including Switzerland, Germany, Singapore, and UAE.
- How do I safely transfer existing assets from Coinbase, Binance, or MetaMask to CLAVI?
- 1) In the CLAVI App, choose your receive address. 2) Send a small test amount first. 3) The Monolith detects the transaction immediately and validates it directly on-chain using its local nodes, eliminating the need for third-party block explorers. 4) Once confirmed, send the full amount.
- What blockchains and assets does CLAVI support? Can I stake, use DeFi, or handle NFTs?
- Core local nodes support Bitcoin and Ethereum natively, providing cloudless transaction validation. Current capabilities include Ethereum EVMs and Layer 2s. The CLAVI App supports full DeFi interaction and NFT handling. ClavOS's chain-agnostic architecture supports additional networks through firmware updates.
- How does CLAVI work for family offices, multi-user setups, or generational wealth transfer?
- Runes can be distributed across family members, trustees, or advisors with multi-signature thresholds (e.g., 3-of-5). Each Rune can be assigned role-based permissions (view-only, partial signing, full administrative). The entropy-shifting biometric authentication combined with geographic distribution makes inheritance a property of the system, ensuring no single event compromises access to family wealth.
Related: The Monolith
Related: The Monolith
Jurisdiction & Privacy
- Can CLAVI, the Swiss government, or anyone else ever access my keys, balances, or data?
- No. Zero-knowledge architecture is enforced at the hardware and OS level. Clavi Switzerland AG has no ability to reach your system. Switzerland sits outside the EU, EEA, and Five Eyes alliance. The Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection and Article 13 of the Constitution establish privacy as a fundamental right, adding a robust legal layer to the mathematical impossibility of access. ClavOS undergoes continuous independent security review and penetration testing; the Ethereum Foundation's engineering team has engaged at multiple levels, providing institutional-grade validation.
Pricing
- How much does a Clavi cost, what is included, and are there ongoing fees?
- The CLAVI system is priced at 6,000 CHF (~$7,500-7,700 USD). It includes one Monolith, Rune, ClavOS system, power supply, hardcase transport box, and metal purchase certificate. There are no mandatory ongoing fees. A subscription is available for 24/7 human concierge services and advanced multi-sig arrangements. VIP Perks include Priority Manufacturing and Upgrade Programs. Payment methods include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Stablecoins, and credit/debit card (via Stripe, Visa, Mastercard).