diff --git a/crates/daemon/keyforkd-client/src/tests.rs b/crates/daemon/keyforkd-client/src/tests.rs
index a3aabfb..d12f528 100644
--- a/crates/daemon/keyforkd-client/src/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/daemon/keyforkd-client/src/tests.rs
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ fn secp256k1() {
             );
             let response =
                 DerivationResponse::try_from(client.request(&req.into()).unwrap()).unwrap();
-            assert_eq!(response.data, test.private_key);
+            assert_eq!(&response.data, test.private_key.as_slice());
         }
 
         handle.abort();
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ fn ed25519() {
             );
             let response =
                 DerivationResponse::try_from(client.request(&req.into()).unwrap()).unwrap();
-            assert_eq!(response.data, test.private_key);
+            assert_eq!(&response.data, test.private_key.as_slice());
         }
 
         handle.abort();
diff --git a/crates/daemon/keyforkd/src/service.rs b/crates/daemon/keyforkd/src/service.rs
index 1b4058b..fee1cad 100644
--- a/crates/daemon/keyforkd/src/service.rs
+++ b/crates/daemon/keyforkd/src/service.rs
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ impl Service<Request> for Keyforkd {
                     info!("Deriving path: {}", req.path());
                 }
 
-                req.derive_with_master_seed((*seed).clone())
+                req.derive_with_master_seed(seed.as_ref())
                     .map(Response::Derivation)
                     .map_err(|e| DerivationError::Derivation(e.to_string()).into())
             }),
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ mod tests {
                     .unwrap()
                     .try_into()
                     .unwrap();
-                assert_eq!(response.data, test.private_key);
+                assert_eq!(&response.data, test.private_key.as_slice());
                 assert_eq!(response.chain_code.as_slice(), test.chain_code);
             }
         }
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ mod tests {
                     .unwrap()
                     .try_into()
                     .unwrap();
-                assert_eq!(response.data, test.private_key);
+                assert_eq!(&response.data, test.private_key.as_slice());
                 assert_eq!(response.chain_code.as_slice(), test.chain_code);
             }
         }
diff --git a/crates/derive/keyfork-derive-util/README.md b/crates/derive/keyfork-derive-util/README.md
index 20135ff..55fb1e1 100644
--- a/crates/derive/keyfork-derive-util/README.md
+++ b/crates/derive/keyfork-derive-util/README.md
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     let key1 = request.derive_with_mnemonic(&mnemonic)?;
 
     let seed = mnemonic.seed(None)?;
-    let key2 = request.derive_with_master_seed(seed)?;
+    let key2 = request.derive_with_master_seed(&seed)?;
 
     assert_eq!(key1, key2);
 
diff --git a/crates/derive/keyfork-derive-util/src/extended_key/private_key.rs b/crates/derive/keyfork-derive-util/src/extended_key/private_key.rs
index f63846e..ad15994 100644
--- a/crates/derive/keyfork-derive-util/src/extended_key/private_key.rs
+++ b/crates/derive/keyfork-derive-util/src/extended_key/private_key.rs
@@ -31,6 +31,68 @@ type Result<T, E = Error> = std::result::Result<T, E>;
 type ChainCode = [u8; 32];
 type HmacSha512 = Hmac<Sha512>;
 
+/// A reference to a variable-length seed. Keyfork automatically supports a seed of 128 bits,
+/// 256 bits, or 512 bits, but because the master key is derived from a hashed seed, in theory
+/// any amount of bytes could be used. It is not advised to use a variable-length seed longer
+/// than 256 bits, as a brute-force attack on the master key could be performed in 2^256
+/// attempts.
+///
+/// Mnemonics use a 512 bit seed, as knowledge of the mnemonics' words (such as through a side
+/// channel attack) could leak which individual word is used, but not the order the words are
+/// used in. Using a 512 bit hash to generate the seed results in a more computationally
+/// expensive brute-force requirement.
+pub struct VariableLengthSeed<'a> {
+    seed: &'a [u8],
+}
+
+impl<'a> VariableLengthSeed<'a> {
+    /// Create a new VariableLengthSeed.
+    ///
+    /// # Examples
+    /// ```rust
+    /// use sha2::{Sha256, Digest};
+    /// use keyfork_derive_util::VariableLengthSeed;
+    ///
+    /// let data = b"the missile is very eepy and wants to take a small sleeb";
+    /// let seed = VariableLengthSeed::new(data);
+    /// ```
+    pub fn new(seed: &'a [u8]) -> Self {
+        Self { seed }
+    }
+}
+
+mod as_private_key {
+    use super::VariableLengthSeed;
+
+    pub trait AsPrivateKey {
+        fn as_private_key(&self) -> &[u8];
+    }
+
+    impl AsPrivateKey for [u8; 16] {
+        fn as_private_key(&self) -> &[u8] {
+            self
+        }
+    }
+
+    impl AsPrivateKey for [u8; 32] {
+        fn as_private_key(&self) -> &[u8] {
+            self
+        }
+    }
+
+    impl AsPrivateKey for [u8; 64] {
+        fn as_private_key(&self) -> &[u8] {
+            self
+        }
+    }
+
+    impl AsPrivateKey for VariableLengthSeed<'_> {
+        fn as_private_key(&self) -> &[u8] {
+            self.seed
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 /// Extended private keys derived using BIP-0032.
 ///
 /// Generic over types implementing [`PrivateKey`].
@@ -101,10 +163,10 @@ where
     /// # };
     /// let seed: &[u8; 64] = //
     /// #   b"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA";
-    /// let xprv = ExtendedPrivateKey::<PrivateKey>::new(seed);
+    /// let xprv = ExtendedPrivateKey::<PrivateKey>::new(*seed);
     /// ```
-    pub fn new(seed: impl AsRef<[u8]>) -> Self {
-        Self::new_internal(seed.as_ref())
+    pub fn new(seed: impl as_private_key::AsPrivateKey) -> Self {
+        Self::new_internal(seed.as_private_key())
     }
 
     fn new_internal(seed: &[u8]) -> Self {
@@ -191,7 +253,7 @@ where
     /// # 102, 201, 210, 159, 219, 222, 42, 201, 44, 196, 27,
     /// # 90, 221, 80, 85, 135, 79, 39, 253, 223, 35, 251
     /// # ];
-    /// let xprv = ExtendedPrivateKey::<PrivateKey>::new(seed);
+    /// let xprv = ExtendedPrivateKey::<PrivateKey>::new(*seed);
     /// let xpub = xprv.extended_public_key();
     /// assert_eq!(known_key, xpub.public_key().to_bytes());
     /// # Ok(())
@@ -215,7 +277,7 @@ where
     /// # fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     /// let seed: &[u8; 64] = //
     /// #   b"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA";
-    /// let xprv = ExtendedPrivateKey::<PrivateKey>::new(seed);
+    /// let xprv = ExtendedPrivateKey::<PrivateKey>::new(*seed);
     /// let pubkey = xprv.public_key();
     /// # Ok(())
     /// # }
@@ -280,7 +342,7 @@ where
     /// # fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     /// let seed: &[u8; 64] = //
     /// #   b"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA";
-    /// let root_xprv = ExtendedPrivateKey::<PrivateKey>::new(seed);
+    /// let root_xprv = ExtendedPrivateKey::<PrivateKey>::new(*seed);
     /// let path = DerivationPath::default()
     ///     .chain_push(DerivationIndex::new(44, true)?)
     ///     .chain_push(DerivationIndex::new(0, true)?)
@@ -326,7 +388,7 @@ where
     /// # fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     /// let seed: &[u8; 64] = //
     /// #   b"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA";
-    /// let root_xprv = ExtendedPrivateKey::<PrivateKey>::new(seed);
+    /// let root_xprv = ExtendedPrivateKey::<PrivateKey>::new(*seed);
     /// let bip44_wallet = DerivationPath::default()
     ///     .chain_push(DerivationIndex::new(44, true)?)
     ///     .chain_push(DerivationIndex::new(0, true)?)
diff --git a/crates/derive/keyfork-derive-util/src/lib.rs b/crates/derive/keyfork-derive-util/src/lib.rs
index ba170d4..ce2c1a7 100644
--- a/crates/derive/keyfork-derive-util/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/derive/keyfork-derive-util/src/lib.rs
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ pub mod public_key;
 mod tests;
 
 #[doc(inline)]
-pub use crate::extended_key::{private_key::ExtendedPrivateKey, public_key::ExtendedPublicKey};
+pub use crate::extended_key::{private_key::{ExtendedPrivateKey, Error as XPrvError, VariableLengthSeed}, public_key::{ExtendedPublicKey, Error as XPubError}};
 
 pub use crate::{
     index::{DerivationIndex, Error as IndexError},
diff --git a/crates/derive/keyfork-derive-util/src/request.rs b/crates/derive/keyfork-derive-util/src/request.rs
index cb5c63b..d6f5830 100644
--- a/crates/derive/keyfork-derive-util/src/request.rs
+++ b/crates/derive/keyfork-derive-util/src/request.rs
@@ -19,10 +19,11 @@
 //! ```
 
 use crate::{
-    extended_key::private_key::Error as XPrvError,
+    extended_key::private_key::{Error as XPrvError, VariableLengthSeed},
     private_key::{PrivateKey, TestPrivateKey},
     DerivationPath, ExtendedPrivateKey,
 };
+
 use keyfork_mnemonic_util::{Mnemonic, MnemonicGenerationError};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
@@ -64,7 +65,8 @@ impl DerivationAlgorithm {
     ///
     /// # Errors
     /// The method may error if the derivation fails or if the algorithm is not supported.
-    fn derive(&self, seed: Vec<u8>, path: &DerivationPath) -> Result<DerivationResponse> {
+    fn derive(&self, seed: &[u8], path: &DerivationPath) -> Result<DerivationResponse> {
+        let seed = VariableLengthSeed::new(seed);
         match self {
             #[cfg(feature = "ed25519")]
             Self::Ed25519 => {
@@ -207,7 +209,7 @@ impl DerivationRequest {
     /// # }
     pub fn derive_with_mnemonic(&self, mnemonic: &Mnemonic) -> Result<DerivationResponse> {
         // TODO: passphrase support and/or store passphrase within mnemonic
-        self.derive_with_master_seed(mnemonic.seed(None)?)
+        self.derive_with_master_seed(&mnemonic.seed(None)?)
     }
 
     /// Derive an [`ExtendedPrivateKey`] using the given seed.
@@ -231,10 +233,10 @@ impl DerivationRequest {
     /// let path: DerivationPath = //
     /// #   DerivationPath::default();
     /// let request = DerivationRequest::new(algo, &path);
-    /// let response = request.derive_with_master_seed(seed.to_vec())?;
+    /// let response = request.derive_with_master_seed(seed)?;
     /// # Ok(())
     /// # }
-    pub fn derive_with_master_seed(&self, seed: Vec<u8>) -> Result<DerivationResponse> {
+    pub fn derive_with_master_seed(&self, seed: &[u8]) -> Result<DerivationResponse> {
         self.algorithm.derive(seed, &self.path)
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/derive/keyfork-derive-util/src/tests.rs b/crates/derive/keyfork-derive-util/src/tests.rs
index eb9d6f4..3f2eba3 100644
--- a/crates/derive/keyfork-derive-util/src/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/derive/keyfork-derive-util/src/tests.rs
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ fn secp256k1() {
             } = test;
 
             // Tests for ExtendedPrivateKey
-            let xkey = ExtendedPrivateKey::<SecretKey>::new(seed);
+            let varlen_seed = VariableLengthSeed::new(&seed);
+            let xkey = ExtendedPrivateKey::<SecretKey>::new(varlen_seed);
             let derived_key = xkey.derive_path(&chain).unwrap();
             assert_eq!(
                 derived_key.chain_code().as_slice(),
@@ -50,7 +51,7 @@ fn secp256k1() {
 
             // Tests for DerivationRequest
             let request = DerivationRequest::new(DerivationAlgorithm::Secp256k1, &chain);
-            let response = request.derive_with_master_seed(seed.clone()).unwrap();
+            let response = request.derive_with_master_seed(&seed).unwrap();
             assert_eq!(&response.data, private_key.as_slice(), "test: {chain}");
         }
     }
@@ -75,7 +76,8 @@ fn ed25519() {
             } = test;
 
             // Tests for ExtendedPrivateKey
-            let xkey = ExtendedPrivateKey::<SigningKey>::new(seed);
+            let varlen_seed = VariableLengthSeed::new(&seed);
+            let xkey = ExtendedPrivateKey::<SigningKey>::new(varlen_seed);
             let derived_key = xkey.derive_path(&chain).unwrap();
             assert_eq!(
                 derived_key.chain_code().as_slice(),
@@ -95,7 +97,7 @@ fn ed25519() {
 
             // Tests for DerivationRequest
             let request = DerivationRequest::new(DerivationAlgorithm::Ed25519, &chain);
-            let response = request.derive_with_master_seed(seed.to_vec()).unwrap();
+            let response = request.derive_with_master_seed(&seed).unwrap();
             assert_eq!(&response.data, private_key.as_slice(), "test: {chain}");
         }
     }
diff --git a/crates/keyfork-shard/Cargo.toml b/crates/keyfork-shard/Cargo.toml
index f1ae88b..8c2d75a 100644
--- a/crates/keyfork-shard/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/keyfork-shard/Cargo.toml
@@ -7,11 +7,10 @@ license = "AGPL-3.0-only"
 # See more keys and their definitions at https://doc.rust-lang.org/cargo/reference/manifest.html
 
 [features]
-default = ["openpgp", "openpgp-card", "qrcode"]
+default = ["openpgp", "openpgp-card", "qrcode", "sequoia-openpgp/crypto-nettle", "keyfork-qrcode/decode-backend-rqrr"]
 openpgp = ["sequoia-openpgp", "anyhow"]
 openpgp-card = ["openpgp-card-sequoia", "card-backend-pcsc", "card-backend", "dep:openpgp-card"]
 qrcode = ["keyfork-qrcode"]
-bin = ["sequoia-openpgp/crypto-nettle", "keyfork-qrcode/decode-backend-rqrr"]
 
 [dependencies]
 keyfork-prompt = { version = "0.1.0", path = "../util/keyfork-prompt", default-features = false, features = ["mnemonic"] }
diff --git a/crates/keyfork-shard/src/openpgp.rs b/crates/keyfork-shard/src/openpgp.rs
index c3c1aad..c07396a 100644
--- a/crates/keyfork-shard/src/openpgp.rs
+++ b/crates/keyfork-shard/src/openpgp.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ use aes_gcm::{
 };
 use hkdf::{Hkdf, InvalidLength as HkdfInvalidLength};
 use keyfork_derive_openpgp::{
-    derive_util::{DerivationPath, PathError},
+    derive_util::{DerivationPath, PathError, VariableLengthSeed},
     XPrv,
 };
 use keyfork_mnemonic_util::{Mnemonic, MnemonicFromStrError, MnemonicGenerationError, Wordlist};
@@ -648,7 +648,8 @@ pub fn combine(
     // TODO: extract as function
     let userid = UserID::from("keyfork-sss");
     let path = DerivationPath::from_str("m/7366512'/0'")?;
-    let xprv = XPrv::new(&secret).derive_path(&path)?;
+    let seed = VariableLengthSeed::new(&secret);
+    let xprv = XPrv::new(seed).derive_path(&path)?;
     let derived_cert = keyfork_derive_openpgp::derive(
         xprv,
         &[KeyFlags::empty().set_certification().set_signing()],
@@ -679,10 +680,11 @@ pub fn combine(
 /// The function may panic if the metadata can't properly store the certificates used to generate
 /// the encrypted shares.
 pub fn split(threshold: u8, certs: Vec<Cert>, secret: &[u8], output: impl Write) -> Result<()> {
+    let seed = VariableLengthSeed::new(secret);
     // build cert to sign encrypted shares
     let userid = UserID::from("keyfork-sss");
     let path = DerivationPath::from_str("m/7366512'/0'")?;
-    let xprv = XPrv::new(&secret).derive_path(&path)?;
+    let xprv = XPrv::new(seed).derive_path(&path)?;
     let derived_cert = keyfork_derive_openpgp::derive(
         xprv,
         &[KeyFlags::empty().set_certification().set_signing()],
diff --git a/crates/keyfork/src/cli/wizard.rs b/crates/keyfork/src/cli/wizard.rs
index fb52abe..3c6e1db 100644
--- a/crates/keyfork/src/cli/wizard.rs
+++ b/crates/keyfork/src/cli/wizard.rs
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ pub struct PinLength(usize);
 
 type Result<T, E = Box<dyn std::error::Error>> = std::result::Result<T, E>;
 
-fn derive_key(seed: &[u8], index: u8) -> Result<Cert> {
+fn derive_key(seed: [u8; 32], index: u8) -> Result<Cert> {
     let subkeys = vec![
         KeyFlags::empty().set_certification(),
         KeyFlags::empty().set_signing(),
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ fn generate_shard_secret(
     keys_per_shard: u8,
     output_file: &Option<PathBuf>,
 ) -> Result<()> {
-    let seed = keyfork_entropy::generate_entropy_of_size(256 / 8)?;
+    let seed = keyfork_entropy::generate_entropy_of_const_size::<{256 / 8}>()?;
     let mut pm = Terminal::new(std::io::stdin(), std::io::stderr())?;
     let mut certs = vec![];
     let mut seen_cards: HashSet<String> = HashSet::new();
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ fn generate_shard_secret(
     .to_fn();
 
     for index in 0..max {
-        let cert = derive_key(&seed, index)?;
+        let cert = derive_key(seed, index)?;
         for i in 0..keys_per_shard {
             pm.prompt_message(Message::Text(format!(
                 "Please remove all keys and insert key #{} for user #{}",
diff --git a/crates/util/keyfork-entropy/Cargo.toml b/crates/util/keyfork-entropy/Cargo.toml
index 1d5a444..20a75c2 100644
--- a/crates/util/keyfork-entropy/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/util/keyfork-entropy/Cargo.toml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ license = "MIT"
 # See more keys and their definitions at https://doc.rust-lang.org/cargo/reference/manifest.html
 
 [features]
-default = []
+default = ["bin"]
 bin = ["smex"]
 
 [dependencies]
diff --git a/crates/util/keyfork-entropy/src/lib.rs b/crates/util/keyfork-entropy/src/lib.rs
index d7512b5..8f1580f 100644
--- a/crates/util/keyfork-entropy/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/util/keyfork-entropy/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 //! Utilities for reading entropy from secure sources.
 
-use std::{fs::{read_dir, read_to_string, File}, io::Read};
+use std::{
+    fs::{read_dir, read_to_string, File},
+    io::Read,
+};
 
 static WARNING_LINKS: [&str; 1] =
     ["https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20211223141113.1240679-2-Jason@zx2c4.com/"];
@@ -84,3 +87,24 @@ pub fn generate_entropy_of_size(byte_count: usize) -> Result<Vec<u8>, std::io::E
     entropy_file.read_exact(&mut vec[..])?;
     Ok(vec)
 }
+
+/// Read system entropy of a constant size.
+///
+/// # Errors
+/// An error may be returned if an error occurred while reading from the random source.
+///
+/// # Examples
+/// ```rust,no_run
+/// # fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
+/// # std::env::set_var("SHOOT_SELF_IN_FOOT", "1");
+/// let entropy = keyfork_entropy::generate_entropy_of_const_size::<64>()?;
+/// assert_eq!(entropy.len(), 64);
+/// # Ok(())
+/// # }
+/// ```
+pub fn generate_entropy_of_const_size<const N: usize>() -> Result<[u8; N], std::io::Error> {
+    let mut output = [0u8; N];
+    let mut entropy_file = File::open("/dev/urandom")?;
+    entropy_file.read_exact(&mut output[..])?;
+    Ok(output)
+}
diff --git a/crates/util/keyfork-mnemonic-util/Cargo.toml b/crates/util/keyfork-mnemonic-util/Cargo.toml
index 3707884..10c88dc 100644
--- a/crates/util/keyfork-mnemonic-util/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/util/keyfork-mnemonic-util/Cargo.toml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ edition = "2021"
 license = "MIT"
 
 [features]
-default = []
+default = ["bin"]
 bin = ["smex"]
 
 [dependencies]
diff --git a/crates/util/keyfork-mnemonic-util/src/lib.rs b/crates/util/keyfork-mnemonic-util/src/lib.rs
index c34e305..b1eb04b 100644
--- a/crates/util/keyfork-mnemonic-util/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/util/keyfork-mnemonic-util/src/lib.rs
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ impl Mnemonic {
     }
 
     /// Clone the existing entropy.
-    #[deprecated]
+    #[deprecated = "Use as_bytes(), to_bytes(), or into_bytes() instead"]
     pub fn entropy(&self) -> Vec<u8> {
         self.entropy.clone()
     }
@@ -353,8 +353,8 @@ mod tests {
         random_handle.read_exact(&mut entropy[..]).unwrap();
         let wordlist = Wordlist::default().arc();
         let mnemonic = super::Mnemonic::from_entropy(&entropy[..256 / 8], wordlist).unwrap();
-        let new_entropy = mnemonic.entropy();
-        assert_eq!(&new_entropy, entropy);
+        let new_entropy = mnemonic.as_bytes();
+        assert_eq!(new_entropy, entropy);
     }
 
     #[test]
diff --git a/crates/util/keyfork-prompt/examples/test-basic-prompt.rs b/crates/util/keyfork-prompt/examples/test-basic-prompt.rs
index fe4ad86..801c35c 100644
--- a/crates/util/keyfork-prompt/examples/test-basic-prompt.rs
+++ b/crates/util/keyfork-prompt/examples/test-basic-prompt.rs
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
         3,
         transport_validator.to_fn(),
     )?;
-    assert_eq!(mnemonics[0].entropy().len(), 12);
-    assert_eq!(mnemonics[1].entropy().len(), 32);
+    assert_eq!(mnemonics[0].as_bytes().len(), 12);
+    assert_eq!(mnemonics[1].as_bytes().len(), 32);
 
     let mnemonics = mgr.prompt_validated_wordlist(
         "Enter a 24 and 48-word mnemonic: ",
@@ -31,8 +31,8 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
         3,
         combine_validator.to_fn(),
     )?;
-    assert_eq!(mnemonics[0].entropy().len(), 32);
-    assert_eq!(mnemonics[1].entropy().len(), 64);
+    assert_eq!(mnemonics[0].as_bytes().len(), 32);
+    assert_eq!(mnemonics[1].as_bytes().len(), 64);
 
     Ok(())
 }