Nitrokey 3 Firmware v1.8.2: More Passkeys, Bitcoin Curve

We are pleased to announce the release of the stable Nitrokey 3 firmware v1.8.2. After a successful testing phase, this version is now available to all users and brings significant improvements and new features.

From Test to Stable Version

The Nitrokey 3 firmware v1.8.2 is based on the previously released test firmware and has passed all tests successfully. Our team has worked hard to ensure stable and reliable firmware that meets the high security standards our users expect from Nitrokey.

New Features and Improvements

Increased FIDO2 Passkey Capacity

One of the most significant improvements is the removal of the FIDO2 passkey limit. Dynamic memory calculation now allows significantly more passkeys to be stored:

  • Nitrokey 3 NFC: Up to 25 passkeys
  • Nitrokey 3A Mini: Up to 100 passkeys

This increase allows users to manage a larger number of secure login credentials and improves both the convenience and security of digital identity management.

OpenPGP Improvement

The Nitrokey 3 OpenPGP smart card now supports the Bitcoin curve (secp256k1) using the SE050 security element. This enhancement offers more flexibility for users who work with cryptocurrencies and significantly expands the cryptographic capabilities of the Nitrokey 3.

Preparations for the Future

FIDO Level 2 Certification

With this firmware version, we have already made some preparations for the upcoming FIDO Level 2 certification. This certification will further reinforce the already high security standards of the Nitrokey 3 and strengthen its position as a trusted security solution. In particular, the Nitrokey 3 will be the first FIDO Level 2 certified open source device.

Nitrokey Passkey Release

In addition, firmware v1.8.2 contains important preparations for a Nitrokey Passkey release, which is currently in development. 
 

Performing the Update

The new firmware can be installed via the Nitrokey App 2 or nitropy. We recommend that all Nitrokey 3 users update to this latest stable version to benefit from the improvements and new features.

Thank you for being part of the Nitrokey community. With each new version, we continue our mission to provide secure and user-friendly open-source security solutions.

 

12.5.2026

Comments

Submitted by Kirill Zholnay on 7. September 2025 - 12:48
Awesome! Danke! How to use Nitrokey with bitcoin (SECP256K1)?
Submitted by meissner on 8. September 2025 - 13:08
goood question ;) Honestly I cannot give a proper recommendation here - as far as I know typically hardware wallets are integrated specifically into bitcoin software tools, you might be lucky and an existing implementation will work though (there might be integrations relying on OpenPGPCard specifically?) so e.g. specter-desktop or Electrum (+plugins?) might be a good starting point. I am not aware if there is a tool that will just take a generic OpenPGPCard - a proper integration would likely fit into bitcoin core's "HWI" - such an integration is likely currently out-of-scope for us - but I do not really have a complete view on available tooling - don't hesitate to approach us and share what you've found if you find a good solution.
Submitted by Anonymous on 17. November 2025 - 17:22
any plans to further increase the limits? I have a NK3A. I'm using PGP and FIDO2. instead of 35 passkeys, my device reports 8 slots in use, 5 slots left. all sites I have come across lately are implementing passkeys (aka resident keys). It's only a matter of time before all slots are in use ...
Submitted by meissner on 18. November 2025 - 9:42
yes, admittedly the NK3A is limited due to its internal flash - short term I don't see how we could improve the amount - I'd really recommend a Nitrokey 3 mini if you are really looking for way more passkeys. There might be options, which come with trade-offs - but I currently cannot estimate, if and when we'd be able to realize them.

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