Bitcoin Forum

Crosspost from:
  Google+: https://plus.google.com/110115274401376136283/posts/PqnJgC528jb
  Reddit: http://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/jn6kq/received_my_bitbills_bankcards_today/
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Just received my order of Bitbills Bankcards today!

These are just as advertised: cheap(ish) aluminum cards, engraved with the public and private keys. Two cards come in a set: a 'payee card,' which includes the public key only, both in human-readable Base 58 and QR code formats; and a 'bank card,' which includes the private key in QR, as well as the public and private keys in human-readable Base 58 format.

The cards are somewhat fragile, easily bent and scratchable. Some slight scratches exist on the cards from shipping, but I am satisfied with them overall.

As for suggestions of improvement, I wouldn't mind seeing these in some stronger metals, perhaps dyed stainless steel or actual brass (not just brass colored). Also, having the human-readable keys in HEX, in addition to the Base 58, would be nice.

Thanks bitbills, for raising the bar again.

Long live Bitcoin!

https://i.imgur.com/WubES.jpg

What's the point of these?

Bitcoins saved offline!

Your private key exists in an offline physical format.  As long as you keep it that way, it's impossible for a hacker or virus to steal your key and the coins attached to it, since they don't ever exist on your computer.  Instead, they'd need to break into your house or your safe deposit box or whatever and steal the card.

When you want to cash out, you can temporarily use the key on a secure machine to send the coins.

No need for Bitbills, choose 64 random characters in [1234567890abcdef], change it into a Bitcoin address -> instant free bitbill

Do you guys realize that now anyone would be able to google Michael Wally (https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7TFm01zlVfc/Tk2gzSG1ebI/AAAAAAAAABE/FUcfWcBaEmU/Michael%252520Wally.jpg) (Google Profile (https://plus.google.com/110115274401376136283/posts)), find out his income, spendings and how much he has on his Bitbills Bankcard (https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b8EDAmmOTks/Tk2iG78qyqI/AAAAAAAAABQ/KxUGcl_RxkU/s640/WubES.jpg) with the address 17r7tL1DmeHVBjFT8D1qkfQfWHh97HEnoS ?

I really don't think that using one address for everything is good for privacy, it hearts not only personal, but overal anonymity of the network by making it easier to make connections between anyone using bitcoin and addresses that belong to them.

I was aware of this risk when I posted the images.  I'm not entirely worried about this.

I plan to use the cards as a savings medium, but all my day-to-day transactions will still happen from my desktop computer and android device.  I don't expect to be needing to dip into these savings anytime soon.

edit: typos

I request an idiots guide to doing this. I can't compile anything, but yet I don't want to do it on a website either.

Here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=37997.0
If it's not clear enough feel free to ask anything you don't understand (on the thread above, not this one)

These are very cool. Nicely done.

I wonder why it's taking so long for bitbills to get their ordering system back online?
There are numerous other solutions available now that appear easy enough to integrate.

It seems like a wasted opportunity not to have ordering back up during the bitcoin conference too.
I don't know if bitbills has anyone going to NY for it.. but even if they couldn't be there in person - they could surely find an agent in the community to run a stand and sell/evangelize them..


When did you order your Bitbills Bankcard?   

I ordered them on the first day they were made available, 07/20/2011 (09:36 am et).

I paid BTC3.25 for two sets of cards (4 physical cards) plus shipping.  Expensive yes, but I wanted to support the cause.