Bitbox Bridge is a free, open-source bridge service for Windows that lets browser-based wallets communicate with a BitBox02 hardware wallet. It is aimed at BitBox02 owners who want to sign transactions from web wallets such as Rabby or MyEtherWallet instead of using only the device's own desktop software.
The program runs in the background and passes messages between your browser and the hardware device. Your keys stay on the BitBox02, and the bridge only relays requests and responses. Because the project is open source and its code is public on GitHub, developers and security-minded users can review how it works before installing it.
What Is a Hardware Wallet Bridge?
A hardware wallet bridge is a small background program that sits between a browser-based wallet and a hardware device. Browser wallets run inside a web page or extension, and they cannot always reach a USB device directly. The bridge provides the link, so the web wallet can send requests to the device and receive the answers.
Bitbox Bridge does this job for the BitBox02. The project describes it as a service that connects web wallets such as Rabby and MyEtherWallet to that device. The software is free and open source, and its source code is public on GitHub, which lets developers and security-minded users read how it works.
The bridge does not replace the hardware wallet. Keys stay on the BitBox02, and the bridge only relays messages. Think of it as a courier rather than a vault: it carries requests to the device and brings the signed results back, but it does not hold the secret material that protects your funds.
Who Bitbox Bridge Is For
Bitbox Bridge suits people who already own a BitBox02 and want to use it with a browser wallet. A typical case is someone who manages Ethereum assets through Rabby or MyEtherWallet and prefers a hardware device to approve each transaction.
Developers are another group. Because the code is open source and written in Rust, a developer can review it, build it, or adapt it for testing. The project also lists macOS, Linux and Docker alongside Windows, which helps teams that run mixed environments.
People who only use the BitBox02 through its own desktop app may not need the bridge at all. It is most useful when a web interface is part of your workflow. Keeping the bridge as a separate program also makes its role easy to understand: it moves messages, and nothing more.
How Web Wallets Reach a Hardware Device
When you click to sign a transaction in a browser wallet, the request is created inside the web page. The hardware device cannot read that page, so the request needs a route. The bridge receives it from the browser side, passes it to the BitBox02, and returns the signed result.
The most important check happens on the device. You should see the transaction details on the BitBox02 screen and confirm them with the physical buttons. If the details on the device do not match what you expected, reject the request. That check is the main protection a hardware wallet offers, and no bridge can replace it.
This flow also explains why the bridge deserves attention before you install it. It sits between the browser and the device on every signing request, so the device screen remains your final checkpoint.
Key features
Connects browser wallets to BitBox02
Free and open source
Windows installer and other platforms
Supported coins
Bitbox Bridge is built for the BitBox02 hardware wallet and works with browser wallets that support connecting to that device. The networks and assets you can use depend on the web wallet you choose, so check its documentation for the chains it supports.
How to install Bitbox Bridge on Windows
- 1
Download from the official source
Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub Releases page. Avoid mirror sites, search ads and links shared in chats, even if they look identical to the original. Open the latest release and locate the Windows installer.
- 2
Choose the Windows build
The same release page also lists files for macOS and Linux. Make sure you pick the Windows installer so the file matches your system. Save it to a folder you can find easily.
- 3
Verify the file
Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the downloaded installer with the value published on the release page, if one is listed. If the checksum does not match, delete the file and download it again from the official source before running it.
-
Run the installer
Launch the installer and follow the on-screen prompts. Keep the bridge running while you use your browser wallet, and connect your BitBox02 to the computer as your wallet's instructions describe.
How to use Bitbox Bridge
Once the bridge is installed, the workflow is short. Keep the bridge running, connect your BitBox02, and open the web wallet you want to use. The steps below follow the general pattern used by most hardware wallet connections.
- Launch Bitbox Bridge and leave it running in the background.
- Plug in your BitBox02 and unlock it using your device password.
- Open your browser wallet, such as Rabby or MyEtherWallet.
- Choose the option to connect a hardware wallet and select the BitBox device from the list.
- Compare the address shown in the web wallet with the address displayed on the BitBox02 screen.
- When you send or sign a transaction, read the details on the device before confirming.
- Reject any request you did not start, and disconnect the device when you finish.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, with the code available on GitHub
- Works with browser wallets such as Rabby and MyEtherWallet
- Windows installer available, plus builds for macOS and Linux
- Keeps private keys on the BitBox02 rather than on the computer
- Only useful alongside a BitBox02; it is not a wallet on its own
- The last code update in the repository dates to September 2024
- Setup guidance is brief, so new users may need to rely on the BitBox and web wallet documentation
Is Bitbox Bridge safe?
Bitbox Bridge sits in the middle of your signing requests, so treat the installer as sensitive software. Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub Releases page, and never from a mirror or a link shared in a chat. After saving the file, compare its SHA-256 checksum with the value published with the release. If the project provides a signature, check that as well. A mismatch means the file should be discarded.
The latest code update in the repository dates to September 2024, which is more than a year ago. That does not make the program unsafe by itself, but review recent activity and check the latest version on the official website before installing. Never enter your seed phrase on any website or in any program that asks for it, because the bridge has no reason to request it.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/BitBoxSwiss/bitbox-bridge. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Several bridge-style tools exist for different hardware wallets. Trezor Bridge fills a similar role for Trezor devices, linking browser interfaces to the hardware. Bitbox Bridge is built for the BitBox02 and the web wallets that work with it.
BitBoxApp takes a different approach. It is a full desktop application for BitBox02 owners who want to manage the device directly, without a browser wallet in the middle. Ledger Wallet, which runs as Ledger Live, is likewise a complete management app for Ledger devices rather than a connector.
If your goal is browser-based signing with a BitBox02, the bridge is the narrower and more specific choice. If you want one application for device management, BitBoxApp fits better.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- v1.6.1
- Last update
- 4 Sept 2024
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/BitBoxSwiss/bitbox-bridge
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Bitbox Bridge is free and open source. You can download it without payment and review its source code on GitHub. Being free does not change the need to verify the installer before running it.
Yes, the project provides a Windows installer on its GitHub Releases page. The same page includes builds for macOS and Linux, so pick the Windows file when you download it. Check the checksum before running the installer.
It can be, if you take basic precautions. Download only from the official website or GitHub Releases, verify the SHA-256 checksum, and never enter your seed phrase on a website or in a program that asks for it. The last code update dates to September 2024, so review recent activity too.
Not always. If you manage your BitBox02 through BitBoxApp, you do not need the bridge. It is intended for web wallets that need to communicate with the device through a browser.
The project names Rabby and MyEtherWallet as examples of web wallets it connects to the BitBox02. Other browser wallets may work if they support BitBox hardware connections, so confirm compatibility in the wallet's own settings before relying on it.
Your seed phrase is created and kept on the BitBox02 itself, not in the bridge. The bridge only relays requests and responses. You should still never type your seed phrase into any app, website or support message.
Verdict
Bitbox Bridge is a free, open-source connector for people who own a BitBox02 and want to sign transactions from browser wallets such as Rabby or MyEtherWallet. Its scope is narrow: it passes messages between the browser and the device while the keys remain on the hardware. The last code update dates to September 2024, so it suits users who will verify the download and keep an eye on the project. If you only manage your BitBox02 through its own desktop app, you can skip it.