Bitcoin Forum

I want to create my own Bitcoin paper wallet at home with keys I control using the most durable paper or material ever created. It's no secret that standard paper tends to get wet, breaks easily, and ink could erase itself over time. I have an inkjet printer at home, but I've heard that laser printers have better quality.

I'd like to know which paper/material is the best for printing paper wallets at home? If there's a way to make ink last forever, it'll be great. I've stumbled upon something called "Archival Ink" used in fountain pens which lasts a very long time. But I don't think such an ink would be available for an inkjet printer. I could try writing the seed words or private keys manually with said ink, but I'd need a very strong and durable paper that will last a lifetime (if possible) to preserve my BTC funds.

Any recommendations or suggestions will be highly appreciated. Thanks in advance. ;)

I don't really worry about standard paper with a standard laser printer. I expect it to last several lifetimes (as long as it stays dry). I have many different books and other pieces of paper collected over the years, and non of them looks even close to becoming unreadable.
If you're looking for much more durable solutions, you can consider a piece of sheet metal, letter punches and a hammer.

A very simple way to make your paper lasts for years is to laminate the paper
You can find some solutions like that on stationary store, and with this the only thing that will destroy your paper is fire or if someone stoles

you could go on a printing place too, but you have to trust on another person, so it's safer to do what I said above

You're right, if you are looking for a good alternate of paper in paper Bitcoin wallet you can use any metal that do you want. Of course, inkjet will not work on metal so it's better to use laser printers. Probably for the easiest to work by laser you can use alloy metal it is not much hard compared to other metals. It will be engraved the QR code and text information that must be read even for long term purposes without worried about being wet and easily break because it is fireproof and waterproof. It will all work if you have laser printing.

There are some thick bond papers mostly used for hard copy printing it should be better than a normal paper that uses for printing. Then to make sure it won't erase the text easily you need to set up your printer to high quality(Slow printing) to make a clear and strong copy of paper wallet.
And then after that, you can protect your paper with some tricks to make them water-resistant.

Read this "3 Ways To WaterProof Paper (https://www.wikihow.com/Waterproof-Paper)"

I'm sure those steps can help protect your Paper wallet to any damages except for fire.  

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I would like to add the 2nd method from this "Coating Paper With Chemicals (https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Fireproof-Paper)"
it seems it can help to make the paper fire proof.

A combination of Wax and the chemical might help to protect the paper on both fire and water.

Thanks for the tip. I've thought that printed text from an inkjet paper would fade over time. But based on your experience, it looks like it'll last a lifetime. I believe that glossy paper tends last more than regular/standard paper used for everyday printing. This, combined with lamination could make the BTC paper wallet last for a very long time.

I've heard about the steel wallets, but they're much more expensive than printing your own wallet at home. The "CryptoSteel" metal wallet is the most expensive one yet. But, I'd say it's worth every penny for securing your BTC funds for a lifetime. The other one called the "ColdTi" is made of Titanium at a much more affordable price than the "CryptoSteel". In times of turmoil (like the ones we're facing today) metal wallets are so much better than paper wallets because they're resistant to almost thing you could imagine.

As a last resort, one could always make a "tattoo" of Bitcoin keypairs that will always be with you wherever you go. It's painful, but at least your Bitcoin will be safe as long as you're alive in the real world. ::)



Thanks. But, I'd prefer to laminate the wallet myself than using a third-party service for privacy reasons. There are many cheap laminators out there on retail stores, so I could just print the wallet on standard paper and laminate it for safekeeping. I'm sure it'll last a lifetime. The only downside is that it won't be resistant against fires. But I wouldn't worry about this since the wallet itself will be contained in a fireproof safe. It'll be buried someplace on the ground so I expect it to last for many generations. :)




I did not know that. Thanks for sharing. The wax and chemical combination for protecting the paper wallet against fire and water is genius. If it works as intended, this could be a cheaper alternative to existing metal wallets like the "CryptoSteel" and the "ColdTi". I'll be sure to try this before laminating the paper itself for added protection. ;)

You could contact Polymerbit (www.polymerbit.com), they have made a wide range of paper wallet notes. They print their designs on high quality polymer.

I wrote "later printer" but I meant "laser printer". I haven't tested inkjet printers for paper wallets, and although it will probably be okay for a very long time, I expect a laser print to last longer.

It can be as cheap as a letter punch and a piece of metal, although the steel wallet looks much nicer.

Some crypto ATMs tend to have thermal printing on their receipts/paper wallets, I'm guessing he might have some experience with these as those do deteriorate, and pretty fast at that. Laser printing on regular paper should do in my opinion as well, and yes he'd have to take care of wheather conditions wherever he stores it. But it isn't nearly as bad as thermal printed paper, the first time I made a paper wallet was in one of those and it turned out to be as I'm describing and ooh boy, thankfully I had a picture on my phone from the time I got it, but just a few weeks after printing it you could already see marks obscuring the sides of the print.

That's exactly what I was thinking--a "paper wallet" doesn't have to be made out of paper by any means.  In fact, it's better if it's not.  

When I bought my Ledger, I got it on Amazon in a package deal that included a SteelWallet.  I probably paid too much for it, but I did put the SteelWallet to use once I managed to get all of those damn little letters in the slots.  It's small, convenient, and it would certainly have a better chance of surviving a fire than if you had your private keys printed on anything paper-based.  

But anyway, my thoughts about paper:  I wouldn't care much what kind of paper was used if I was making a true paper wallet.  Why?  Because I'd laminate it in the end anyway.  That's exactly what I did with the Ledger seed phrase that I wrote down on the card that was provided with the device--I just used clear packing tape, and it did the trick.

Edit:
Ah, you mentioned it first--I probably should read the entire thread before posting, but my attention span needs some work.  I was pretty sure I wasn't the only one who'd had that idea anyway.

This is big problem, better to find out lamination home solution because Bitcoin is not about trust at all.
Most common solutions laminated paper or metal sheet.

Oh, it's normal  :D

It's interesting to see you share the same idea, and I did the same thing as you, I laminated my paper.
We are from different countries (Brazil here), but I work in a printing place, so it's easy to me, I have access to all kind of materials and papers, I have some sample of laminated papers here since year 2000, 20 years of lifetime, and still perfect

(thanks for merits)

They do indeed. I've been collecting various banknotes/bills they've made over the years, and I'd have to say that they're very high quality. The best thing about them is that you can load them with your crypto keypairs yourself. I've managed to bend some bills and was impressed that they came back to their original shape/form. While they're indeed waterproof, I'm not sure how fireproof they are. I don't want to risk one of my rare Polymerbit bills doing this, so I'll just keep them as collectible items. For real durability, metal wallets like the "ColdTi" and the "CryptoSteel" are true winners. I believe they'll last many generations, which is good for leaving your hard-earned Bitcoin as a heritage to your descendants. :)




Yes. Laser printers' ink/toner, really lasts a long time compared to inkjet printers. While they don't come in cheap, they're worth the price because of their high-quality printing. If I'd make an extremely durable Bitcoin paper wallet, I'd use a laser printer, the highest quality paper covered with wax and other chemicals to protect my funds against water and fire, and a laminator to "laminate" the wallet. For the very paranoid person, this is the way to go. But I wouldn't care more or less buying DIY wallets like the ones provided by Polymerbit, metal wallets, or even DIY physical coins (like the ones from Finite-by-design) in order to safely store my Bitcoin for many generations.

I've seen somewhere that it was possible to print a wallet using a "Thermal Printer" (the ones used to print receipts). I know that ink from a "Thermal Printer" easily fades over time, but I'm interested to know how to do this at home for a little side project I'm working on. I've seen some cheap "Thermal Printers" at eBay, but I'd need some sort of template or software that would generate the BTC keys to print them right from the device into a paper receipt. But again, I wouldn't use this to store BTC in the long term as ink won't last for long.



I was looking into Amazon lately, and saw a steel block which you use to punch letters into a piece of metal. Even an metal engraving tool will do the trick. With just $20 - $35 I can save my BTC seed into a piece of metal for safekeeping. It's a better solution that relying solely on paper which tends to bend, break, and fade over time. ;)



Yes. You can even make a "tattoo" of Bitcoin keys on your own body for safekeeping. With this, you'll be able to carry your Bitcoin with you wherever you go. There are so many ways to do this in order to create a durable BTC wallet that'll last a lifetime. You just have to just your creativity. I'd definitely use metal wallets or polymer crypto banknotes bills for making a durable wallet for my extra BTC funds. :)

I have books that were printed in the 50s and 60s and some of them spent years in very moist and cold climate (attic of an old house with temperatures ranging from -30C to +30C) and they are still very much readable. The paper became yellow, even brownish but it's still completely fine to read and doesn't tear or break easily.

A piece of paper put in a sealed plastic bag will survive for 200 years with ease as long as it's protected from direct sunlight. 

Other very durable and easy to engrave options include soft metal plates like aluminum or copper. You can engrave them with a simple screwdriver.

    I think if you own a laser printer you don't have to worry about the paper used to print your paper wallet. This printer is expensive, but I think it does its job and worth all the money. If you own a laser printer, choose a metallic material so that your wallet can withstand any conditions. I recommend materials such as aluminum and copper, because its are more malleable. I do not recommend using a thermal printer.

If the question is about paper, then I can’t tell, but many countries produce polymer banknotes that are much more durable than usual, repel dirt, sweat and many other contaminants. But they have disadvantages, and if the ability to burn is inherent in paper, then the ability to crack in great frost is a minus.

You could always engrave your keys on stainless steel or something. If you decide against that then how about a tattoo in a less than visible place :D

As an alternative solution you can check this thread (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5230920.msg53976837#msg53976837) where we discussed about metal plates, and about their durability and resistance to various influences. I think this is still safer than regular paper, no matter how it is stored.

One of my favorite solutions is just to make tiny numbers/alphabets with malleable metal like copper and tie/hold them together like a bunch of physical keys. The letters could be as small as letter on laptop keyboard and as large as typical car  keys.
You could make shaping the keys easy by firstly creating a hard tool that contains all the numbers/alphabets common in Crypto private keys, then get yourself a  tiny but strong long copper wire, bend it around the tool's numbers/alphabets... shape & cut the way you want.
Example: you create a single tool with small alphabets a-z shapes, then get your copper wires and shape it around the tools alphabets.     Assuming your private keys is azetsnitsvkgcsdhysdgywiinn, you shape your copper wire around the tool to mold out all the alphabets azeynit....

The tool could easily be created with a good wood....and you engrave all the necessary letter/number on the wood.    
  I would create the private keys without the tool though.

I didn't even use it but you may want to look at this: https://bitkee.com/
It seems not very secure. Still someone produce something to you so I am not sure if it is %100 secure.

usually you store a paper wallet in a safe place that is not in direct contact with the environment. so there is no water damage, sunlight damage,... like storing it in a safe or even in a desk drawer. that means a simple paper without any kind of special protection could last for decades unless exceptionally low quality paper and ink were used.

the only other possibility for damage is if the house itself is caught on fire. in which case no type of paper is safe. a lot of other materials are also unsafe such as wood, plastic and maybe even some metals.
but there is a simple solution to avoid this possibility and that is to store a duplicate of the paper wallet elsewhere like in a safety deposit box in a bank. if the amount is high enough the cost is justifiable too.

this is of course the cheap and easy solution that people like me who don't want to spend money for creating a wallet would like .

Engraving on a piece of metal is the most efficient way to protect your Bitcoin funds against harm. Metal is resistant to water, tear, and even fire. That's not possible with paper. Still, the latter is much more affordable than the former. Anyone can easily print Bitcoin wallets or even write seed words on a piece of paper, than doing so on metal itself. A tattoo would be a great way to preserve for Bitcoin for many years. No one will know about the Bitcoin if you've placed the tattoo on places hidden from prying eyes (if you know what I mean). But be aware that if anyone knows about it, you could easily lose a body part possibly leading towards death.

Hence, the safest and most reliable way to do this would be using a piece of metal that will last a lifetime. I'd choose either the "ColdTi" or "CryptoSteel" wallet for piece of mind. ;)



Thanks for sharing. The list of metal wallets is of real use to me. I was not aware there were other wallets besides the "ColdTi" or the "CryptoSteel". I have to agree that they're much safer than paper because of their unmatched durability and resilience. It comes at a cost, but I'd say they're worth every penny. :)



I've heard about this before, and was a bit skeptical of using it. But I think security will not be an issue with them, as you could easily send your encrypted BTC private key (BIP-38). Just make sure to use a long passphrase that will prevent anyone from decrypting your private key easily. They offer both Stainless Steel and Titanium wallets at an affordable cost. I'd definitely use a Bitkee wallet card for storing BTC a long time. This will simply be a copy of my main BTC wallet that will be a "ColdTi" stored on a bank safe deposit box. Redundancy is key to help preserve your Bitcoin for many generations. :D

You're welcome :)

Obviously, many have seen the opportunity to sell products like this, as more and more people use crypto and are beginning to realize the importance of making a quality backup. I think this is just another level of protection, which can be useful in some emergency situations such as fires, floods, earthquakes, but also accidents involving the accidental destruction of backups by pets, young children...

I'm also considering buying something from the offer I posted in my thread, because investing in security is never a pointless investment.

The best store is writing the secrets into the sand at the dark side of the moon

 ;D

Well I think you might want to look into synthetic and hybrid tear resistant papers .
Or you might want to just print that up onto a cloth fabric which is durable and trustable , no one will even think about it and you can fold that particular thing and put it into your normal wardrobe and even if there is some kind of robbery I don't think they will look every t-shirt 😂
Metal is a great option but you would have to use a expensive one since normal metals can get rusted and you can have problems with that .

Agree. It's better to be safe than sorry. I don't care about prices as long as I'm able to achieve durability and resiliency than anything else. Metal wallets are proven to be extremely secure against anything you could imagine. It's the best thing out there when you want to safeguard your Bitcoin for many generations. The "ColdTi" wallet which is made of Titanium is known to last a lifetime. AFAIK, Titanium does not oxide (rustproof) and has a high melting point. It's even tougher than Stainless Steel.

Besides the "ColdTi" wallet, Bitkee offers Titanium wallet cards which are extremely portable to carry with you anywhere. They easily fit on your everyday wallet, just like a credit card would. It's a great way to store Bitcoin indefinitely without worrying about durability. You can also use them as "gift cards" for sending Bitcoin to your loved ones.

As a last resort, one could make a tattoo with Bitcoin keypairs on it. You'll always carry your Bitcoin with you no matter what. As long as no one knows the place where you've hidden your Bitcoin, it'll remain safe for a long time. :)




Interesting. I was not aware about these types of paper. But it's good to know they exist, as they could be used for creating a Bitcoin paper wallet that's resistant to wear and tear. I have to say that "Polymer" is another great material which doesn't bend unlike paper. It's also highly resistant against water. The "Polymerbit" company offers "DIY" polymer banknotes/bills which are a great alternative to existing paper wallets at an affordable price.

Broidering the seed on fabrics sounds like a great idea. You can randomly place the words on your shirt, without anyone noticing it's related to Bitcoin or another crypto. The only downside is that a shirt is not resistant to fire, which is a risk you'll have to take if you go this route.

Nonetheless, metal wallets are the true winner when it comes to storing your Bitcoin against dust, fire, water, and shocks. They're more expensive than other materials, but worth every penny because of the unmatched durability they provide. Until now, metal is my material of choice when making my own Bitcoin paper wallets for long-term use. Thanks to everyone for all the helpful tips and recommendations! :)