DCZia MK9 Badge at DEF CON 34 · United States · 2026

DCZia MK9 Badge (DEF CON 34)

Pre-event RP2040 mechanical macropad BadgeLife project

DCZia's MK9 is a public-source 3×3 mechanical macropad intended as a neck-wearable DEF CON 34 BadgeLife project. Project documentation specifies nine MX switches, RGB per-key and edge lighting, an accelerometer, two 6-pin SAO connectors, USB-C or three-AAA power, CircuitPython firmware, and QMK-compatible hardware. A public August 2 announcement says the project plans BadgeLife pickup, but this remains a pre-event independent badge rather than an official DEF CON admission credential.

DCZia MK9 DEF CON 34 United States Las Vegas BadgeLife Pre-event RP2040 CircuitPython Macropad USB HID Mechanical Keyboard WS2812B SK6812 Accelerometer SAO QMK KiCad North America

EventDCZia MK9 Badge at DEF CON 34

SeriesDCZia

LocationLas Vegas Convention Center and DEF CON BadgeLife pickup context, Las Vegas, Nevada

CountryUnited States

People

Authors & Credits

badge project and public source-archive publisher

DCZia

The public repository is owned by the `dczia` GitHub account and identifies the MK9 as DCZia's 2026 DEF CON 34 badge; reviewed sources do not name individual designers or assign more specific roles.

Source

Why It Mattered

It adds a current independent DEF CON BadgeLife release with a notably complete public technical record before the conference: KiCad design material, BOM and fabrication outputs, CircuitPython source, hardware pinout, and a documented user-flashing path. The dossier preserves the distinction between publicly visible source files and an explicit reuse or source license, and between planned pickup and confirmed attendee delivery.

Hardware

The MK9 documentation describes a 3×3 grid of nine standard-MX-footprint mechanical switches with translucent blue keycaps, nine WS2812B LEDs under the switches, six side-firing SK6812 LEDs, an RP2040, a 3-axis accelerometer, two standard 6-pin SAO connectors with I2C and two GPIOs each, USB-C for power/data, a three-AAA battery pack with power switch, and Reset and BOOTSEL buttons. The public hardware tree includes KiCad schematic/PCB/project files, a BOM spreadsheet, fabrication-output directory, drill material, and a STEP file. A public launch announcement additionally says a planned add-on board can expose three more keys or an I2C display. The reviewed sources do not establish final production quantity, final shipped battery-holder details, completed add-on distribution, enclosure/accessory scope, or radio capability.

Software & Apps

The badge ships with CircuitPython firmware according to the project documentation. Its public firmware README describes an RP2040 CircuitPython 8+ state machine, a 3×3 `keypad.KeyMatrix`, 15 NeoPixel LEDs on GP22, an MSA301-compatible accelerometer on I2C1, dual SAO I2C/GPIO pinout, a startup diagonal colour wipe, rainbow/breathing/sparkle patterns, accelerometer tilt and shake behavior, per-key ripples, and USB HID numpad output with N-key rollover. It documents a BOOTSEL-to-`RPI-RP2` / CircuitPython-UF2 flash process and file-copy update workflow. The project calls the hardware QMK-compatible but says QMK setup instructions will be posted separately, so no final QMK firmware or setup is claimed here.

Lore

The project page presents the MK9 as a badge that can be worn at DEF CON and then used as a desk macropad. A public August 2 announcement identifies it as the 2026 DCZia badge, links the public source tree, and says Friday and Saturday BadgeLife pickup is planned at 12:30. The conference had not yet occurred on this August 3 catalogue pass, so these are announced logistics rather than a delivery report. The MK9 is an independent BadgeLife project, not the official DEF CON 34 Human badge.

Lifecycle

Add-ons & Upgrades

badge expansion publicly documented / pre-event add-on plan

SAO and planned add-on expansion

The board documents two standard six-pin SAO connectors with I2C and GPIO access. A public launch announcement separately says a planned add-on board can expose three more keys or an I2C display; final add-on distribution remains unconfirmed.

Compatibility: DCZia MK9 Badge (DEF CON 34)

Source

firmware workflow publicly documented

CircuitPython flashing and customization

The project documents BOOTSEL entry, a CircuitPython UF2 copied to `RPI-RP2`, library and Python-file copy steps, and source-level paths for remapping keys, patterns, colours, and states.

Compatibility: DCZia MK9 Badge (DEF CON 34)

Source

input and host interface publicly documented

Mechanical macropad and USB HID

The MK9 is a nine-switch 3×3 mechanical macropad with N-key-rollover USB HID output; the published badge mode maps it as a numpad when connected to a host.

Compatibility: DCZia MK9 Badge (DEF CON 34)

Source

interactive lighting publicly documented

RGB and accelerometer interaction

The public firmware documentation describes nine per-key WS2812B LEDs and six SK6812 edge LEDs, plus tilt-reactive colour changes, shake-to-cycle patterns, and per-key ripple effects using an MSA301-compatible accelerometer.

Compatibility: DCZia MK9 Badge (DEF CON 34)

Source

Operational history

Issues & Camp Impact

QMK and final configuration boundary note

The project says the hardware is QMK-compatible but says QMK setup instructions will be posted separately. The reviewed sources also do not establish the final production configuration, exact recipient population, completed three-key/I2C add-on distribution, or a final post-event firmware image beyond the documented CircuitPython workflow.

The record distinguishes current CircuitPython documentation and documented hardware capability from an asserted shipping QMK configuration or final delivery configuration.

Confidence: public project documentation
Status: partially documented
Timeframe: pre-event source pass
Source note: DCZia MK9 repository README, firmware README, and launch announcement.

missing rights-cleared image note

No DCZia MK9 image is published because the public repository, source documentation, and launch announcement do not pair a specific badge image with source URL, reusable license or explicit permission basis, attribution, and processing notes.

The United States entry remains source-backed and image-free rather than copying repository files, Reddit media, store media, screenshots, placeholders, or generated approximations.

Confidence: local project policy
Status: needs licensed original replacement
Timeframe: current catalogue build
Source note: badge.gallery image policy and reviewed DCZia MK9 sources.

pre-event pickup and fulfillment boundary note

The public August 2 announcement says Friday and Saturday BadgeLife pickup is planned, but DEF CON 34 has not yet occurred and public sources do not provide a completed delivery report, production count, recipient list, or confirmed distribution outcome.

The catalogue records an announced independent badge and pickup context, not a completed run, universal attendee issue, or confirmed post-event use report.

Confidence: public project source and announcement
Status: awaiting DEF CON 34 outcome
Timeframe: pre-event as of 2026-08-03
Source note: DCZia MK9 project repository and public August 2 announcement.

source license and reuse gap note

DCZia publicly describes the design files and firmware as available and the repository exposes KiCad, BOM, fabrication, and CircuitPython material, but the reviewed repository root does not expose an explicit software, hardware, or image-reuse license.

The record may describe the publicly visible technical material but does not treat availability as a license to redistribute source, hardware, firmware, or images.

Confidence: public repository inspection
Status: needs explicit license statement
Timeframe: current source pass
Source note: dczia/mk9-badge repository root and public file tree.

Resources

DCZia MK9 Badge repository public hardware and firmware repository · Public DCZia source tree titled `dczia's defcon 34 badge for 2026`. Its README documents the 3×3 mechanical macropad, hardware/features, CircuitPython/QMK direction, KiCad/BOM/fabrication material, and update path. Public repository images are evidence only, not a reuse license. DCZia MK9 public launch announcement public pre-event announcement · Public August 2 announcement identifying the 2026 DCZia MK9, tying it to DEF CON 34, summarizing the hardware and public source trail, and announcing planned Friday/Saturday BadgeLife pickup. Its animated/post image does not establish reusable image rights. MK9 firmware README firmware and flashing documentation · Public CircuitPython documentation covering the RP2040 pinout, key matrix, LEDs, MSA301-compatible accelerometer, SAO buses, state-machine behavior, USB HID numpad mapping, libraries, and BOOTSEL/UF2 update workflow.

Sources

GitHub / dczia: dczia/mk9-badge Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Primary public project source that calls the MK9 a DEF CON 34 2026 badge and documents the mechanical macropad form, nine switches, WS2812B and SK6812 LEDs, RP2040, accelerometer, SAO connectors, USB-C/AAA power, CircuitPython, QMK-compatible hardware, KiCad design files, BOM, fabrication outputs, and update path. The reviewed repository root does not expose an explicit license. GitHub / dczia: MK9 Badge — Firmware Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Primary public firmware source for the CircuitPython 8+ state machine, 3×3 key matrix pinout, 15 NeoPixels, MSA301-compatible accelerometer, SAO I2C/GPIO, visual behavior, USB HID numpad mapping, required libraries, and BOOTSEL/UF2 flash steps. Reddit / r/Defcon public post: DCZia Mk9 Badge Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Public August 2 pre-event announcement tying the 2026 MK9 to DEF CON 34 and planned BadgeLife pickup. It corroborates the launch context and a planned add-on, but is not used as final fulfillment proof or as an image-reuse license.