Defcon’s 2026 conference badge contains the Baochip-1x, a largely open-source microcontroller designed by hardware hacker Andrew “bunnie” Huang to make computer-chip security more transparent and independently verifiable. Its removable core can also be used after the event as a hardware security token, giving the badge a practical purpose beyond the conference.

Unlike conventional chips sealed in opaque plastic, the Baochip can be examined through its silicon with infrared light, allowing researchers to compare visible structures with the published design and look for manufacturing-stage tampering. Huang has released the chip’s operating system, firmware, processor core, cryptographic engines and input-output system, and developed it over three years by sharing a fabrication run with security-chip company Crossbar.