Bitcoin Forum

I have a few friends on Facebook which have never heard about crypto or even used it in their lives. I'd like to contribute towards the adoption of crypto by sending them small fractions of Bitcoin and Ethereum through Facebook. But I'd need to be very careful in order to prevent disclosure of private keys from prying eyes.

I'm wondering how will I be able to achieve this in the safest and secure way possible? This will be done through instant messaging of course (Facebook Messenger) with the intention of sending crypto in the most private way possible. My friends are not tech-savvy like me, so I'd need to figure out a method that's easy enough for them to get access to their crypto.

Which is why, I'm very intrigued to know how to send crypto to a non-crypto person through Facebook? Any help, suggestions, or recommendations will be highly appreciated. Thanks :)

Not sure if it is actually possible to send crypto currencies using facebook directly and that by using the messenger (can bots and scripts be added on messenger? I am not sure, but if you can I guess you can make your own script to achieve this function). The receiver should have a wallet of his own. You probably can send them Ethereum or Bitcoin through email by using coinbase. Just ask for their email address and send the coins to that email address. The receiver should receive an email from coinbase and will be able to go through a step by step process of opening a wallet at coinbase to claim the coins.

If it's a fraction of bitcoin, I guess you can experiment with that by simply sending the private keys through messenger and let them install the wallet for the importation of the PK.
Give them an instruction first and let them download the wallet, I think they can follow that as long as they know how to follow instructions and has background using a computer.

No way. You must teach your friends about some basic knowledge about crypto first. How to create a wallet, send and receive, what is public address and private key, and some information about crypto security is very necessary.
Unless that Facebook support sending crypto via instant message (Facebook Messenger) or username. I don't think Facebook will do that in near future when their project Libra is put in postpone since last year.

I dont know about your friends but most people tend to relate the first time they hear crypto or bitcoin to gambling and trading - which is essentially gambling to them too since very few people understand the subtle difference between the two.

You may feel like you are doing a good thing making them aware of these things but it can go really bad too. Your friends may think you to be someone who wastes money on gambling and is using crypto as a excuse to spend money. This can lead to bad consequences among your friend circle where you will get trolled as bitcoin-lover and laughed at.

Giving coins to someone to accept something new is a type of forcible induction and less productive. When a person is curious and is being shown a new thing the chances of accepting is more.

How about using privnote? I don't know if Facebook can still read the information in there without self-destructing before your friend gets to read it.

The best way is to introduce them to newbie friendly wallets like mobile wallets. With little guidance, even newbies should be able to understand how to download, save a seed phrase, and copy a wallet address.

The safest in my opinion by sending a Private Key and other information to your friends in the form of other files such as .rar .Zip files that have been secured with a password.

That way the file will remain safe and only your friends will know the password for the file. even if there are other people or spies nobody will be able to open the file.

You should also provide education on how to use it and how to store phrases or Private Key securely, mobile wallet applications that are easier to use are widely available and can be chosen which is safer.

Actually there are many ways that can be done and can use other than Facebook and more private like telegram and Wahstapp.

The safest will still be a wallet.
There are wallets at android application by now. It is easier and user friendly.
I don't trust sending messages thru facebook. I would rather put it in an e-mail or raw text message.

Just give your friends instructions on how to create a public address.
Use one application like Metamask or Electrum.
Then tell them you will have a surprise afterwards.
Also, bring up that they won't need to pay anything. Some people are scared of this.

It seems difficult to implement such a system, but if you intend to introduce crypto to them then you need to tell about the crypto basics of how to trade and crypto wallets. but for a kind of give away via Facebook it seems vulnerable to private messages, it's better to use via WA to make it look formal & safe.

Knowledge can be given to your friends not by giving them crypto, and even you wanted to give them cryptocoins how will you do that using Facebook? They not implemented or used any blockchain related on their platform. Im not sure if FB will employ using Libra project for their cryptofunds.

Like many suggested already. Teach them the way on how to properly have crypto, by starting on wallets, how to do and create and used it. By thay way, they can find their interest more than simply have a coin that they just have from you.

Teach them to use oand create thier own wallet.
And how they will secured that wallet by storing the keys.

This is the only option you can help them if you want you can show them all the link that you think can help them to create thier own wallet. In that case you dont need to teach them all they just need to read the article then after they create thier own wallet transfer a BTC or ETH.

If you are sending a private key or seed through facebook or any other method which include online instant messaging, it's very risky and prone to be compromised. Afaik, there's a service through which you can send BTC and some other crypto to any mobile number even though they are not registered with the service. Just tell him in facebook how to claim that crypto from the site.

Yes that is also the only thing that comes into my mind because sending a plain text of your keys and seeds is a very risk task and you might end up losing your coins so just teach them to create their own wallets and then afther they create ask their address and then send them btc or eth, the fact that this invloves money they will be interested about it and after they know about crypto i am quite sure that they will be interested more and finally adopt to cryptocurrency.

I don't think that there are ways for us to send crypto to facebook because there is no e-wallet that you can use in facebook, so the best thing that you can do is to inform him or her first about the crypto, give him or her some ideas about different cryptocurrency, you can use facebook or messenger to do that, just message him or her about that, then advise him or her to create e-wallet so you can send the cryptocurrency.

Just be patient on teaching about crypto world because being a beginner in crypto world is not that easy.

I think the easiest and quickest way is for you to show them how to create a wallet and use it. Previously I also encountered a few situations like you described and after a few hours of instruction my friend was able to use the wallet and receive bitcoin smoothly

I dont think that facebook is a nice variant. Try to use telegram at least

Send the private key? That's the safest option according to you? Lol, it might be safe for you, but it won't be safe for "your" friend. You know the private key of your friend, which means you will always have access to your friends wallet. For your friend, this no longer means he is the sole owner of the crypto currency. Again, if you even protect your file with a password and send it to your friend through facebook, you will also have to send him the password. Now, if you send the password through a message, then the file is no longer secure. Either your or your friends facebook account can get hacked anytime which means that the password might also get leaked along with the private key.

send crypto through facebook ?! it's impossible why don't you just send them referral links from your crypto wallet

of course for ordinary people is the messanger or message feature on Facebook. with an unknown risk, can hacking occur when we send the address of our bitcoin or etherum contract through the messanger. but in my opinion it is the easiest way for beginners. and don't forget to tell how to use it, withdraw it and also deposit it.

Non crypto users are going to be puzzled about how it works and may have to read careful so you better tell them that its a real money and they can use the btc to buy stuff online. By that they will be careful not to show privatekeys to anyone. They'd have to learn it unless you let them download a bitcoin app wallet.

Can we be friends in facebook?  ;D

Before sending them Crypto it's better to educate them first on what Cryptocurrency is and how and what it can contribute to society and how they are going to profit from holding it, I will never send Crypto to someone who is not interested in receiving it will be just a wait of coins and time, ignorant people do not deserve to receive.

First you need to educate them about crypto.

Like for example, in our country, we have a local exchange where we can cash out our bitcoin through banks and remittance center.
Tell them to watch video tutorial in youtube and when they figure out how to create their own wallet, then you can send them the cryptocurrency you like to send and maybe just guide them on how to cash it out, that way it's safer, you don't need to share some private key or some vital information online.

I do not really understand how to send crypto via Facebook media directly. but as I know, if you want to send eth or bitcoin to your relatives on facebook, you must first teach them how to make eth or bitcoin wallets and introduce bitcoin.

You could just tell your friends about crypto and offer to try it yourself, help with the purchase but sending tokens and ready wallet is not a good gift in my opinion. Crypto is still not so friendly for newbies

How can they get cryptocurrency if they don't have knowledge about it? At least they must know how to create a wallet and know how to access it to be able to receive and use them. And I think your idea is really hard to work on, you need to guide them before you want to send a few tokens or bitcoins to them

I do not think this is possible, maybe one day there will be a technology or a platform which will make it possible but as for now there is none, maybe none that I know of. I think the best way is to teach them about cryptocurrencies, wallets and so on, you might not go deep but preliminary knowledge is a good one and will keep them on the good track. Also, by sending them fractions of your desired coins, will give them a sense of belonging and will make them develop more interest in knowing more.

when we can explain it well I think new people who like development will accept the explanation we give. crypto will become something big in the future when the use and function of crypto becomes more widespread in the real world.

I think sending it through facebook for newbies or non crypto person is gonna make it complicated for them to understand how it works or implications of making a mistake.
I think the best way is to educate them about the basics, encourage them to get a trust wallet, or coinomi wallet, or imtoken 2.0 wallet for starters, teach them how to secure their secret phrases, and how to send /  receive bitcoin.

Once they pick up interest, we can then teach facebook bitcoin integration.

I am not sure if you have heard of a project called Airwire. It was launched a long time ago. The project allows someone to send crypto to the individual via email, SMS, Facebook, etc. maybe you can try them out

Thanks for the initiatives mate and your attempt to spread the cryptocurrency adaptation, But I don't think it's possible for now in the way that you mention I believe that Facebook/messenger has not yet ready for such kind of function because their Libra program is halted for while, But I remember there is some multi-purpose wallet that has the function to send cryptocurrency via the Facebook account, SMS and Email, of their friends (But you must use the same wallet in order to do that) The wallet is Coins.ph. in the Phillippines and I'm using it to send money to my family to pay utility bills game credits, with built-in crypto to fiat exchange especially these time of home quarantine it's very useful to me.

That's why I suggest no such radical methods. First, to develop great system for everyone (crypto evolve), then tell others - and not just throw tokens to people and say " wow, this is a crypto you hold and use bro!"

You may want them to create or install any bitcoin wallet apps like Trust wallet, Imtoken, or myetherwallet. Actually it is not that hard to really learn those app if you explore them. There are lots of tutorials on youtube that could help them on how the the apps work and once they get the hang of them then it would be easy for them to use it.

There are blog already that you can send them for tutorial how to create wallet even in bitcoin there are also tutorial how to make and secured your wallet.
If the OP really want to give then they can show them with providing that link and saying that he will give bitcoin as a gift.


They will ask more about the currency sended but its another issue after they make a wallet thats the basic they need to do.

It is very kind of you to share part of your Bitcoin and Ethereum to your friends to help increase the adaptation of cryptocurrency usage. But I think it will not be directly helpful for they do not know how to manage on using cryptocurrencies. It will be helpful and worthy for your effort if you will teach them first about cryptocurrency before giving them a fraction of your cryptocurrencies. It does not mean that giving out cryptocurrency will immediately increase the adaptation because they do not know anything about cryptocurrency so they will not contribute to its adaptation. It is still best to educate them all the things they do need to know before doing such thing

With regards to Facebook, I do not know or I am not really sure if it is possible to directly send cryptocurrency through it. What I know is it is possible to send fiat through digital wallets which I can mostly see during birthday notification on messenger to send a gift on digital wallet. That is why you need to teach them how to create their own wallet, how to secure it and of course how to use it so that they can be able to generate their own private key for their wallet to be used on accepting your cryptocurrencies that you are going to give them.

I think you should wait until Libra from Facebook is launched, if I'm not mistaken Libra will be able to be used to transfer crypto through Facebook

Years ago I think there was a project which tried to carryout such, I think Social wallet or Wire project but I do not know about it now. Their aim is similar to yours and that is sending crypto to a friend via social media. The idea is good and if successfully carried out will bring more users to this space since crypto will be easily accessible and acquired. Nevertheless, I think it is very important you teach them what they need to know about crypto so that they can be free from scammers.

My candid opinion is just that, teaching them how to fish would be better than giving them fish. I think they need to create interest first in crypto, if not if you're trying to convince them by giving them BTC or ETH, at the end of the day they may not appreciate it.  I could remember when my friend approached me and told me about crypto, he explain some basics to me and what I stand to gain, then I personally developed interest in it.  Today I can endure the ups and down of crypto biz because I personally developed interest in it.

If they are really interested, I think learning for themselves would be ideal, like reading a certain reference and you could provide that one. They would be the one asking you questions if they have them then start letting them create their own wallet then start actually sending them the Bitcoin.

The best approach that you could give them IMO, is to install it in their smartphones and start from there. If they are not going to own a large amount of BTC, I think a custodial wallet would be okay. Maybe a wallet service that could easily convert it to FIAT or whatever currency that they have.

Let them note that if it has sensitive information to be sent through social media or something, use privnote.com

Why not do it the simple and effective way, and that is by explaining them all about Bitcoin and you want to send them a small fraction of Bitcoin, I'm sure they have heard or read about Bitcoin but had small idea on how it will works, don't send them unless they know how to receive them or it will just become a waste of time.

I was not aware this was possible with Coinbase. Thanks a lot! It seems to be the safest path to take when sending crypto over Facebook. I can also try sending an encrypted private key over Facebook's messaging app, that would only be unlocked via an specific passphrase. The passphrase could be sent discreetly within an image file for added security. I've also seen the option of sending Bitcoin through SMS using a third-party service which could be used as a last resort if all else fails.

Maybe if Facebook launches its Libra stablecoin sometime in the future, the messaging app will also serve as a wallet for crypto? If that happens, I believe that mainstream adoption for Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies on the market will rise like never before. By then, sending Bitcoin through Facebook would be a piece of cake.

In the meantime, I'll use Coinbase for sending Bitcoin through Facebook in the safest way possible. :)



Great idea. But I sometimes wonder if Privnote truly deletes messages or not. The server could leave a trail of messages posted over time, so I'm very skeptical about it. The only way to do this safely would be using Coinbase or a mobile wallet of your choice. I'd go with Coinbase as none of my friends have a crypto wallet. The service allows you to send crypto over email without a wallet, making it extremely convenient for non-crypto individuals. I know that it's a third-party service, but it's the best route to take if the person you're sending crypto to has never created a wallet.



Thanks for the tip. I'll keep this in mind if other options fail. Since messaging apps allow you to send .zip files through them, this could be a no-brainer for sending crypto to anyone in the safest way possible. I know that there are privacy-focused messaging apps like Telegram and Signal, but most of my friends are using Facebook. I doubt they'd want to switch to another messaging app just for receiving crypto in a private manner.

Little wonder, I do not understand how a non-crypt can be supplied or delivered to a non-crypt. However, if you want to share with your friend, then you need to get him involved in the crypt base will be easy.