Security
The Proton suite explained
Proton is a Swiss company that started with encrypted email and grew into a full privacy suite: Mail, VPN, Drive, Pass, Calendar and Wallet. We recommend Proton because the services are end-to-end encrypted, largely open source, and governed by Swiss privacy law. This is education, not investment advice.
What is in the suite
The parts are separate services under one account. Most people start with Mail, because email reveals the most about you.
Services and what to use them for
| Service | Use | Watch out |
|---|---|---|
| Proton Mail | Encrypted email with aliases | Store recovery codes offline |
| Proton VPN | Public wifi, network privacy | Some exchanges block VPN logins |
| Proton Drive | Encrypted document storage | Not a place for your seed phrase |
| Proton Pass | Password manager with alias generator | Keep 2FA outside the vault |
| Proton Calendar | Calendar without ad tracking | Share links stay public |
| Proton Wallet | Self-custody bitcoin wallet | For daily amounts, not savings |
Why Swiss law matters
Proton sits outside the EU and the US. Data requests run through Swiss courts and the company publishes a transparency report.
The technical design matters more: with end-to-end encryption Proton cannot read your content. Metadata still exists.
Using Proton with crypto
Aliases give the biggest win. Create one per exchange, broker or wallet service; a breach then tells you exactly who leaked.
Keep passwords in Pass, but put your second factor elsewhere to avoid a single point of failure.
Drive is fine for invoices, KYC documents and tax files. Your seed phrase belongs offline, preferably in metal.
- One alias per platform
- Passwords in Pass, 2FA outside
- Never a seed phrase in the cloud
Limits and cost
Free plans limit storage, aliases and VPN locations. Custom domains and unlimited aliases need a paid plan.
Proton does not fix everything: clicking a phishing link or losing recovery codes still hurts.
Recommended by our newsroom
External parties. Block #9 does not hold or manage your assets at these providers. Not investment advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is Proton free?
There is a free tier with limited storage and features; paid plans add unlimited aliases, custom domains and full VPN.
Can I store my seed phrase in Proton Drive?
No. Keep a seed phrase offline, ideally on a metal backup such as the Trezor Keep Metal.
Does Proton Mail work with KYC exchanges?
Yes. Your email address is separate from identity verification.
Read next
Privacy and crypto
Anyone who knows you own crypto knows where to knock. A practical privacy guide on email, phone numbers, addresses and metadata.
A separate email for your crypto
Your email address is the key to every account. Set up a separate encrypted mailbox for crypto, with aliases and a recovery plan.
Storing your seed phrase safely
How to store and back up a seed phrase without exposing it to hacks, loss or theft. Practical methods and common mistakes explained.