Bitcoin Forum

Holiday season is just around the corner and I am planning to come up with my own design of card with holiday seasons message and a QR code that they can scan and get Bitcoins as a gift. Its not limited to Holiday seasons only, it maybe used for special occasion too like birthday and weddings. Its a simple way to promote Bitcoin and increase awareness. What do you think guys?

There's quite a lot of scam potential here, not implying that you are a scammer, but that if your app does ever make it big, you can bet that there are going to be making apps similar to yours, or even impersonating your APP and then sending our wrong QR payments/addresses that instantly redirect to their own personal address.

It definitely sounds festive and right in the spirit for the holidays, but unfortunately, there are terrible people out in the world and QR codes just end up becoming scams when you see the number of fake QR scanners out on the play store nowadays.

Its not an app, its just a greeting card and a QR code is printed there that they can scan. Its just an idea, I don't have any knowledge of how to build or create an app. Maybe I'll use an existing platform and use their services for this idea. Probably the downside there is they need to download that app, app that is not mine or i'm not related to the owners.

Just imagine those physical Bitcoins that are being sold in the Collectibles section, some of those that are being sold are funded.

It's great if that will be however this will surely take time to integrate along with the app you are planning to use.

So where do the bitcoin goes when I scan the QR code in greeting card? Hope it goes into the personal wallet and not on the app as this will be the downside, like obviously people will be having second thoughts of buying the card.

I think what the OP wants to do is provide gift cards which point to an address with bitcoin and its private key as a way of sending money to people as gifts, instead of the more traditional money-in-envelope style of giving. Laymen would be introduced to bitcoin easier, and they'll surely learn how to deal with the card since there's money in it, unless they're rich that they won't even care the extra effort of taking it. Simple idea and action that could attract more people in the ecosystem.

It's a great idea. When the holiday comes, people will come to other people including in your house, so if you can paste the QR code in the greeting card, people will curious, and they will ask you how you made that greetings card. Maybe it looks weird for them, but that could attract them to search for information about the barcode, and if they found about bitcoin, then I think they will ask some questions to you. Maybe you can give a note in the bottom of the QR code, and you can write "you need to download (the name of the app) to know about the barcode ;D

That is  a nice idea but the real problem comes with the programming. How will they get free bitcoin from scanning your qr code since what we usually do is to scan the qr code of the receiver and not the other way around. I think your idea will be just an imagination in today except if you can create a program wherein when they scan a qr code they will receive a bitcoin.

it is an interesting thought and it could interest some people in bitcoin specially if it is not given and promoted as an investment but instead as a gifted "money" which they could use to buy anything they wanted (assuming they could find a shop to spend it at).
this could be a card with a nice design on the front and the private key inside of it with a short walk-through about what bitcoin is, how they could claim it and which wallet they could use.

No that's not an imagination, that's actually possible today. I not have tried it, but I know there are apps that will support that kind of gift where the recipient will claim Bitcoin or USD upon scanning the QR code.
I even found this in the internet ;
https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-make-personalized-qr-code-gift-tags/  (https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-make-personalized-qr-code-gift-tags/)
It's a customized QR gift tag.
If you visit that website, there a tutorial on how to make that kind of gift possible.
The Idea of the OP could also be applied to that kind of holiday gift using QR codes. Example : make a video tutorial on how to claim his/her Bitcoin gift in an online wallet.

Basically what is better is if you are attaching the private and public keys of the wallet directly into the card. Or for much better. try to use RFID cards and writer. Through this, you can attach the wallet information to the card, and if you create an RFID card reader, there they can see the amount and manage it at the same time. It is quite better and secured compared to QR codes since there's allot of issues concerning the security of it.

with QR codes you need to be very careful not to run into scammers

I actually saw a youtuber do a similar thing, where he got a bunch of flyers with QR code for different amount of bitcoin and put them up in different places and his fans went around scanning them and getting free btc, and it was very successful and a lot of people liked it, and i think that it would be a great and more interesting and exciting way to not only give people money rather than just sending them regular paper money but also as said it would introduce new people to btc.

This is very wholesome, I'm assuming you want to build an application that basically generates codes/qr codes that you can send to your friends and family and they can claim some BTC off it?

It's a decent idea, like giving your friends a gift card that they can only redeem in bitcoin, really innovative stuff and as long as they are able to keep everything under control they'll be fine.

Since cryptocurrencies are essentially digital, their physical representation can take many forms. I can think of some ideas:

 - Wear your bank: Bitcoin Qr printed T-shirts, the outer part contains the public key, and the inner part is the private key covered with a removable layer.
 - 3D Designs: You can design some Children's /famous figures. as gifts that contain these public keys and encryption of the private keys.
 - Traditional gifts: Some gifts as Collectibles section.

I think it is a great idea because it is practical and helps promote the image of Bitcoin, so popularity is increasing and people find a practical use.

I like the reason for your initiative, bitcoin is indeed in need of help and action to achieve massive adaption for it was the only thing that bitcoin is lacking. So delighted to know that there are people making steps and is really in for making bitcoin popular and raise awareness about its existence. But somehow your initiative has a downside, crypto enthusiasts are already aware that there are lots of scams that just around the corner waiting for their victims and they might not buy yours due to being careful and cautious. It's still a good initiative tho.

This is good for bitcoin as we help to promote and this is the way that some people will know and adopt bitcoin. I don't know if this is not easily compromised from others since every code is generated. I think it would be better if you include a physical bitcoin that represents a digital bitcoin that you have given. I sure those who did not know yet probably will keep asking you about your gift. However, I like the idea it's a very initiative of promoting Bitcoin to others.

Ah, my apologies. So, I'm assuming that the greeting care would be different for each user and they'll basically be able to claim X amount of BTC from the QR code? Interesting.

There's actually no existing platform by the sound of it, it's definitely a unique idea and I doubt anyone has even thought of it before.

Having a faucet a system where you are rewarded with a small amount of BTC at the start, and then they are able to complete surveys, even use their phone for mining and watch ads for BTC. There definitely are apps like this, just not sure if they'd use BTC.

Well, I don't know how this idea works. Just because of the greetings card they can able to have an amount of Bitcoin.
Sounds interesting and I don't have an idea yet. This is good, bitcoin may be used as digital collectibles. I 'm sure those who can relate in crypto were felt happy but those never heard I don't know what will be the reactions. Indeed, this idea is unique. If you have done making greetings card with QR code, can I request to show it here?

A good gift idea. I will just suggest that the QR code will be concealed because if it is exposed, there is a chance that persons, other than the intended giftee, can scan and steal the bitcoins.

Actually this is a good idea. You can give it to your friends and relatives to let them be aware of bitcoin, however isn't this too much work to do?? Cause for me, you're the one already giving the gift and you still have to work on the card itself. But if you're really willing to do it, why not?
For me this idea is good for companies who will offer this kind of reward and such for their customers, but as an individual, it'll be a lot of work.

After some thoughts, looks like its going to be more technical. Cant find a simple way on how to give Bitcoins to someone with zero knowledge in Bitcoin. I was thinking of just giving away an online wallet like Blockchain, complete with username and password. All the receiver needs to do is log-in using the provided wallet id written on the card and the password. BTC Address is funded.

I thought giving a QR code to someone with zero knowledge to crypto is like giving complex mathematical equation to a 3rd grade. Once they receive, they might stare at it for a long time and throw it away.

I think it's a good idea! The technology of QR codes is now very common and scanners for them are in every smartphone. Truly, this is the easiest and most enjoyable way for people to get acquainted with cryptocurrencies. Be sure to show us the prototype of such a map later, it will be very interesting to see the embodiment of your project in life!

This is a great idea. It is so straight forward and easy. Just add the QR code and print out the card. You can teach the person you giving the gift to how to safely make their own wallet and then how to import the QR code.
It will probably be exciting for them since it is a new experience. Nice conversation starter as well.

Please also include in the card places to spend the bitcoin and maybe a few easy to find links with some decent and clear info about the bitcoin basics. Just so they understand they are in control of their funds and how to keep them safe.

I think you have a lot of storage assets so you are thinking of going on vacation later this year, and what you are talking about QR Codes might not be of interest to us, but I advise you to be very careful when making transactions with bitcoin using third-party QR codes because now their scammers always use things like that to steal our bitcoin.

That's a unique idea but what bothers me is that, are you just going to give it to someone with an account and keys already? Or even with people who doesn't have idea with bitcoin. If yes, it means they still have to create a wallet? But what if since they lack knowledge, they might get scammed by others or what if when you gave it to them, they might lose the greeting cards?

Yes I've thought of that too, not everyone can and will be able to understand how to create a wallet and how to sweep the coins in an existing Bitcoin wallet. The term "private keys" sounds like an alien word to those with zero knowledge. I am still working on this idea since I still have more than a month to work on it before the holiday season.

It is possible, but this method is prone to security concerns as using QR induce a lot of issues that relate to cryptocurrency hacking. There is an article from forbes (https://www.forbes.com/sites/billybambrough/2019/09/12/researchers-have-issued-a-serious-bitcoin-qr-code-warning/#640db92d6d12) wherein utilizing QR is not safe for some reasons. What you can do is to directly indicate the private key in the wallet as well as the public key, this will serve as a new and fresh bitcoin wallet that is much safer than using QR codes. Though using QR codes make it simpler for users to have their wallet, for us to ensure the security of our funds, sometimes it is better to go back to the traditional.

there are a lot of more confusing terms and concepts to people with zero knowledge than "private key", in fact this is one of the most clear terms that is also self explanatory! it is a "key" that does exactly what a key does, it "unlocks" your secrets and should be kept "private". :P

Its possible that they might end up feeling remorse about it because of scammers since they don't have enough understanding on how they can use it, maybe its better that you give them idea so they won't fall into some sort of scam. As you can see scammers these days are using strategies and techniques to deceive others and they can take advantage on it to get the benefits that they wanted, but if you have given them some ideas and information that can enlighten them then I think it will be much better, right? in that way they won't get confuse.

Let me make it simple and safe for you. Just print some paper wallets on a old computer and printer not connected to the internet and fund them

with a few coins (Important : record the private key) and then buy a commercial Xmas card and put the paper wallet in there. This way you do not

have to deal with scam QR code scanners that might grab the private keys. The reason why you record the private key is simple, if they do not use

those paper wallets in the time period you specified, then you just sweep them yourself and give them the fiat value.  ;)  A lot of people are very

lazy, so they will not go through the trouble to use those coins, so you can still take it back.  :D

I have made a gift card for each member of my family. I will teach my brother how to buy steam gift cards with his and I will show my parents how easy it is to buy things online with it. They might not adopt it but I at least want them to have the opportunity to experience it and just so they can actually say they have not only used bitcoin and but also made a purchase with it.



Exactly. I don't see why it is so difficult to grasp for some. Even mining is easy to understand I understood is within the first ten or twenty minutes fo learning about bitcoin. It basically the same as actual mining which is why they called it that  ::) Makes me wonder what goes on in some peoples heads.


That's why you educate them. Teach them and arm them with the things they need to know. That with common sense and some patience and they will be fine.