Bitcoin Forum

As the holiday season is approaching I was wondering what the best bitcoin gift would be. They all have pros and cons like the security of generating your own keys. I'm sure that we, as bitcoiners, would rather have the paper wallet, but is my little sister really going to be impressed with a slip of paper versus a shiny silver coin?

I would go with paper wallet and keep a backup yourself, in case she looses hers.  And make sure she doesnt post pictures of her new gift on social media.  That would be bad.  Just make sure she understands what she has and the security risks.  It will literally be the gift that keeps on giving.

I'd suggest avoiding Bitcoin as a gift unless they are already into it or are very curious. Considering the difficulty in finding somewhere to spend it or to convert it to fiat, it will most likely become lost coins and not really be appreciated.

Very interests ::)

This is a cool idea I might think about doing it too. But I think a nicely made paper wallet with instructions would be really cool.

I don't think so, I think it's easy to spend BTC, really there are sites everywhere taking BTC, it's just too hard to get bitcoin.

Coins are doing much better than I thought they would.

I would first ask the person if he has a wallet, and then I will send BTC to his address. I can't recommend giving BTC to someone who isn't familiar with it already.

Give her the public address of the bitcoins but give her one bit of the private key every week. In 5 years she'll like you again.

If you want her to like you now, have the public key engraved in a locket.

Easiest way I have done is to create a vanity address. Give them a card with the vanity address and private key. Tell them to safeguard the private key with a simple link to the blockchain.info link where they can import the private key.

Then send your bitcoin to that vanity address.

Keep a copy of the private address just in case they forget about it then ask about it later (when they find out more about it) telling you they lost the card.

If you don't want to make your own, I think www.PrintCoins.com is pretty cool.
There is also www.BitBills.com

Throw those into a holiday card and bam

I'd would just tell the recipient that I have {n} BTC for them and I'll take care of it until they want it or want to cash it out.  In fact, that is what I have done.  Not as fun as some shiny trinket, but also not as onerous as trying to get them to deal with the hassles and confusion generally associated with Bitcoin.  And much safer for the recipient.

This is exactly what I'm planning to do - but I have to mention that the recipient is already interested in Bitcoins on his own (more or less), but was hesitant to buy so far.  I'm not sure whether a paper wallet (or a print of the address) is going to excite someone who doesn't yet know about Bitcoin.

I have a plan/pipe dream...to offer this as a gifting service.  I generate a random wallet qr code which is on a keychain.  Comes loaded with .05 btc.  Could wear it with their keys and NOW they can accept bitcoin easily.   Give them the private key stored on a laminated card.  ON the back of the laminated card, have generic directions that say to import your coins into a new wallet to be able to spend them that right now as it stands this wallet only acts as deposit only and requires a different wallet app to "import" the savings key in so that the funds can be spent.

If I make these for sale on honeybadgerofmoney.com do you guys think that they could sell?  I was thinking about selling them for .06 BTC but pre-loaded with .05 BTC.  I'll make an [ann] thread when this idea is in motion.  I was thinking of a generic circular keychain that I would print the address and store inside of.  (page would be printed on both sides so that one side shows the bitcoin logo the other side would show the Public QR address)  The private key card would have the public address and private key in case the keychain itself is destroyed or stolen.

I really like the idea of holding a backup private key for someone. Takes some of the burden off of the receiver knowing there is another way to retrieve the funds.

Plus popping a paper wallet is less costly than popping a Casascius. We are, after all, gifting the BTC primarily.

Unfunded coins: https://www.bitmit.net/en/item/69585-brand-new-physical-bitcoins-limited-edition

They are brass with silver&gold plating - very nice! Dont know the exact weight, but similar to casascius coins.

How about a slip of shiny paper? :)

Seriously though, my project is specifically tailored for giving away BTC as paper wallets, and the design is (1) attractive, and (2) has optional hologram stickers which provide added tamper-proof measures... AND make it shiny and valuable-looking.

https://bitcoinpaperwallet.com/bitcoinpaperwallet/images/finished-sample-sealed.jpg

https://bitcoinpaperwallet.com

It is quite pretty.

There are some very nice looking paper wallets, it doesn't even have to be paper as long as it has the private key on it :)

Point of fact, I recommend "Teslin" synthetic paper over regular paper. It's waterproof and tear-proof. A bit expensive, but worth it.

Now even prettier (for the holiday season)

https://bitcoinpaperwallet.com/holiday-design/bitcoin-paper-wallet-gift.jpg

actually a nice coin is my favourite here. just a piece of paper seems for the most people cheap, buts not so bad at all ;-) .

I like the paper wallet approach. Now a question.

I'd like to gift one to each of the grand-kids. But I would like to have a '2 of 2' authorization, so their parents can authorize their purchases. Any already-developed way to do this with an existing pretty paper wallet?

I'd give a paper wallet to anybody older than, say, 14 or 15 years old, although probably on the proviso that I also kept a copy if they are under eighteen. There's definitely a novelty to owning a "physical" whole bitcoin, but once you start giving people 0.5 BTC in coin form it loses some of that charm. I don't see the problem with using paper, to be honest.

Firstly, how old is your sister? I mean, I don't really think a small child would be that impressed with some Bitcoin, even though it's a nice gesture from you as a potential investment. Personally if I was to gift somebody some BTC, I'd get a nice paper wallet printed out, maybe customise it for the person, and have a back-up of the keys just in case they lose it. Maybe you could design and print the paper wallet out as a Christmas card or whatever with a brief description of what Bitcoin is on the back, why it's potentially a decent investment and how to redeem the value at a later date

She's a sophomore at university this year. 

Got her phone number? Haha JK. I'd go for it, I know I would definitely appreciate an amount of bitcoin as a gift, but obviously not everybody would, but hopefully she'll appreciate the gesture and the potential investment value. You could casually ask her if she's heard of Bitcoin to gauge her interest.

I just created new public addresses from my cold storage for everyone in my family and deposited some coins in each address. I was worried that if I gave them a paper wallet or a physical coin they would just lose it. I'm going to just give them a nice xmas card with their public address. If they ever want to spend or sell the coins all they have to do is ask and I will show them how! 

Best form to gift BTC in traditions that give away "red envelopes" (in case you missed this post on Jan 31st the Chinese New Year (lunar new year)


This paper wallet design is available at https://bitcoinpaperwallet.com in both traditional and simplified chinese translations.

If you want perfectly sized envelopes try to find ones approximately 15cm x 8cm (6" x 3").

https://i.imgur.com/FAdWuAf.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/0F3XFOu.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/1uqm2JI.jpg

Thanks to "Libin" for the translations used in this design.

Try it live here:
https://bitcoinpaperwallet.com/bitcoinpaperwallet/generate-wallet.html?design=chinese-new-year (https://bitcoinpaperwallet.com/bitcoinpaperwallet/generate-wallet.html?design=chinese-new-year)

And if you have a friend who is obsessed with LOTR/Tolkien, there's a secret "hobbit" design available. You have to add ?design=hobbit to the end of the URL when loading the generator (locally or online) e.g.

https://bitcoinpaperwallet.com/bitcoinpaperwallet/generate-wallet.html?design=hobbit

Folded (no hologram stickers):
https://bitcoinpaperwallet.com/bitcoinpaperwallet/images/finished-sample-hobbit.jpg

Front & Back:
https://i.imgur.com/77Q4mur.jpg

I think paper wallet would be the best.  You know the money is secure, and you can easily transfer it another wallet somewhere else.

http://bitcoinsgifting.com/manxfella

Join the site. You'll see the rewards

I second that.  The red envelope and hobbit designs make paper wallets even better!

http://youtu.be/0jDXvGpt_S8

Paper wallet seems to be the easiest, but the coins look way cooler.

BTC gift for Valentine? Hmm..