How to Create Paper Wallet

[kik1977]

I don't understand paper wallets.

Hi FinShaggy, what do you mean? That you don't see the usefulness of papaer wallet and cold storage?

[pcannon]

As i said, learn how bitcoin works.

You will "load" it exactly like you send bitcoins to any other address. It IS an address.

You are a little late. Others helped me understand the process -- and in a much nicer way.

Now you can get down from your high horse.

[FinShaggy]

I don't understand paper wallets.

Hi FinShaggy, what do you mean? That you don't see the usefulness of papaer wallet and cold storage?

No, I don't understand how you get a coin from a wallet to a serial number or barcode or whatever. I don't really understand how they put information in a barcode either...

[pcannon]

I don't understand paper wallets.

Hi FinShaggy, what do you mean? That you don't see the usefulness of papaer wallet and cold storage?

No, I don't understand how you get a coin from a wallet to a serial number or barcode or whatever. I don't really understand how they put information in a barcode either...

This is exactly what I did not understand either! Well it turns out all you need to do is sent an BTC amount to the bitcoin address that comes with the private key. As somebody mentioned earlier, the "value" of your paper wallet will be sum of all transactions at this address.

EDIT: For others also looking for clarifications on how to use paper wallet. This is what I have understood so far (could be a little wrong):
1. Paper wallet services allow you to create a "bitcoin address + private key"
2. You can print this information on a piece of paper; art is optional
3. To load this wallet, send BTC to the listed address. You can send multiple times and the value will be equal to sum of all transactions.
4. When you want to spend the money, use the private key or scan the code with a suitable app.

PS: There are a billion concerns about security, apparently no computer or system on the planet is hack-proof. See somebody is standing behind you and looking at your puter:)

[cypherdoc]

I don't understand paper wallets.

Hi FinShaggy, what do you mean? That you don't see the usefulness of papaer wallet and cold storage?

No, I don't understand how you get a coin from a wallet to a serial number or barcode or whatever. I don't really understand how they put information in a barcode either...

go here:  https://www.bitaddress.org

notice how a Bitcoin address (double hash of public key) and private key are generated with the corresponding QR codes (just another way of representing the key).

keep clicking.  each click will generate a brand new, unique, never been seen before keypair.  you can use anyone of these pairs for your own.  just send coins to the address and save the private key somewhere safe.  from then on, you can keep sending as many coins to that address as you want and the sum will be collected there waiting for you to cash them out using the private key one day.

[kik1977]

I don't understand paper wallets.

Hi FinShaggy, what do you mean? That you don't see the usefulness of papaer wallet and cold storage?

No, I don't understand how you get a coin from a wallet to a serial number or barcode or whatever. I don't really understand how they put information in a barcode either...

I can tell you my experience: I have my wallet with blockchain. I access it online but I also have the app on my phone. From the website, I exported my wallet into a paper form (easy guided process online). Now in this piece of paper I have both the pubkey and the private one. I made a copy of the pubkey only - it comes both in the usual form (1hmsn84...) and in QR code. If anyone want to pay some BTC to me, I just give him the piece of paper or he can scan the QR code. Exactly same process if I want to pay my bill at a bar: the waiter will show me the bill QR code, I scan it and pay!

Is it helpful?

[FinShaggy]

So each coin already has a serial number?

[pcannon]

So each coin already has a serial number?

No and yes. There is no serial number. There is
1. The bitcoin address -- that you send BTC to load it up and
2. It has a private key that you use to spend the money associated with the bitcoin address.

[FinShaggy]

So each coin already has a serial number?

No and yes. There is no serial number. There is
1. The bitcoin address -- that you send BTC to load it up and
2. It has a private key that you use to spend the money associated with the bitcoin address.

So like a private wallet for the coin?

[kik1977]

So each coin already has a serial number?

No and yes. There is no serial number. There is
1. The bitcoin address -- that you send BTC to load it up and
2. It has a private key that you use to spend the money associated with the bitcoin address.

This is something I also struggled with at the beginning: don't think about bitcoins like coins! Let me try to explain it in an easy way:
There are no "coins" but "balances". The pubkey (and the correspondent private key) doesn't identify a "coin", but your wallet. And this wallet has a balance (2,7242482 BTC for example). When you transfer some BTC to someone, you transfer your balance (or part of it).

Does it make sense to you?

[aantonop]

We're making illustrated instructions, single-key-press wallet printing software and LiveCD-based bootable secure OS packaging as part of the Safe Paper Wallet project.

Expect the first batch to ship this week to customers. Then we release the software and instructions as open source.

We will need more testers and feedback...

[xeroc]

1) Install a LaTeX distribution (aka, miktex or texlive)
2) load the sources from github (https://github.com/xeroc/LaTeX-PaperWallet)
3) ./import-wallet.py
4) ./generate.sh

See also: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=213946.0

[Gabi]

As i said, learn how bitcoin works.

You will "load" it exactly like you send bitcoins to any other address. It IS an address.

You are a little late. Others helped me understand the process -- and in a much nicer way.

Now you can get down from your high horse.

It seems despite that you had the need to reply to me, interesting. Oh and do your homework please.

[vhaasteren]

I can't believe nobody in this thread mentioned Armory yet: http://www.bitcoinarmory.com/

It is very easy to use, and makes making paper wallets a breeze.

[pcannon]

As i said, learn how bitcoin works.

You will "load" it exactly like you send bitcoins to any other address. It IS an address.

You are a little late. Others helped me understand the process -- and in a much nicer way.

Now you can get down from your high horse.

It seems despite that you had the need to reply to me, interesting. Oh and do your homework please.

You are annoying to say the least. What is it with you wanting me (a stranger) to follow your order? Give me a good reason why should I follow anything you said?

I feel for people around you in the physical world. I am sorry for them that they have to deal with you.

[pcannon]

1) Install a LaTeX distribution (aka, miktex or texlive)
2) load the sources from github (https://github.com/xeroc/LaTeX-PaperWallet)
3) ./import-wallet.py
4) ./generate.sh

See also: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=213946.0

Nice! will give it a try. Thanks.

[pcannon]

I can't believe nobody in this thread mentioned Armory yet: http://www.bitcoinarmory.com/

It is very easy to use, and makes making paper wallets a breeze.

Seems useful. But I was trying to avoid installations. Just my preference ...

[pcannon]

We're making illustrated instructions, single-key-press wallet printing software and LiveCD-based bootable secure OS packaging as part of the Safe Paper Wallet project.

Expect the first batch to ship this week to customers. Then we release the software and instructions as open source.

We will need more testers and feedback...

Please post and update when you are ready.

[szchrist422]

Did you find any useful links?