The History of Edge Wallet and Its Founders

Edge Wallet is a leading self-custody cryptocurrency wallet known for its strong focus on privacy, security, and ease of use. But before it was known as Edge, the company had already made waves in the crypto world under a different name — Airbitz.

Origins as Airbitz (2014)

Edge Wallet was originally founded as Airbitz in 2014 by a small team of privacy and security advocates based in San Diego, California. The company’s initial product was a mobile Bitcoin wallet that emphasized:

• Client-side encryption (only the user controls their data)

• Zero-knowledge architecture (the company can’t access user accounts)

• User-friendly design for mainstream adoption

One of Airbitz’s early innovations was automatic wallet backup tied to just a username and password — no complex seed phrases required.

Airbitz also gained recognition for launching the Airbitz Business Directory, an in-app tool that helped users discover brick-and-mortar businesses accepting Bitcoin.

Rebranding to Edge (2017)

In 2017, as the cryptocurrency landscape expanded beyond Bitcoin, Airbitz rebranded to Edge to reflect its broader mission. The Edge application would be deployed on the same server as Airbitz, therefore Airbitz's users are able to access their accounts universally on Edge.

• Support for multiple cryptocurrencies

• Integration with in-app exchanges and decentralized finance (DeFi)

• Continued self-custody and client-side security

The rebrand came with a new app — Edge Wallet — which retained the user-first privacy model while offering a more modern, scalable platform. 

Founders

Paul Puey is the CEO and co-founder of Edge Wallet.

• A former electrical engineer and software developer, Paul became interested in Bitcoin in 2013.

• He saw the need for tools that made crypto more secure, intuitive, and accessible to everyday users.

• Under his leadership, Edge has remained a non-custodial platform committed to open-source software and decentralized principles.

William Swanson is the Chief Architect and co-founder of Edge Wallet.

• William Swanson has been writing software since he was 11 years old.

• Although he has a degree in Electrical Engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, he is just as comfortable working with software as he is with electronics.

• He has built systems at every level of the technology stack, from custom circuit boards with embedded firmware up through web sites and 3D graphics applications.

Edge’s Core Philosophy

Edge has always stood for:

• User sovereignty (only you control your crypto)

• Privacy by default (no personal data stored or required)

• Open-source software (transparent and community-vetted)

• Security without sacrificing usability

They were among the first wallets to integrate features like:

• In-app buy/sell with multiple providers

• Built-in two-factor authentication

• Private username/password login with client-side encryption

Edge Today

Edge now supports dozens of cryptocurrencies, including:

• Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), Sui (SUI)

• Stablecoins like USDT and USDC

• Layer 2 networks and privacy coins

It offers seamless integration with:

• MoonPay, Simplex, Banxa, and Kado for fiat onramps

• Bitrefill and LibertyX for real-world spending

• Decentralized exchanges (DEXs) for advanced users

Edge continues to be trusted by users worldwide who value freedom, security, and sovereignty over their assets.