Defcon 34’s conference badges will contain Baochip-1x, a largely open-source microcontroller designed by hardware hacker Andrew “bunnie” Huang to make computer chips more transparent and verifiable. The removable core can also function as a hardware security key after the event, giving the badge a practical use beyond the conference.

Huang has released the chip’s operating system, firmware, processor core, cryptographic engines and input-output design, allowing researchers to inspect much of its intended operation. Crucially, its packaging permits infrared inspection of the silicon itself, addressing the risk that opaque, conventionally packaged chips could be altered during manufacturing; the project took three years and was made affordable by sharing a manufacturing run with Crossbar.