Is my bitcoin paper wallet valid

[mpeill]

I've just created my first paper wallet, and purchased a small amount of bitcoin to test the process.
I first printed off securely a paper wallet, that provided a public and a BIP38 secured private key.
I then purchased the bitcoin mBTC and deposited that using the public key.
I checked that the bitcoin had arrived at my public key address.
I then tried to reverse the process, so first decrypted my private BIT38 key and found that the decrypted public key was different to the initial public key I had used for the deposit !
Is this normal? Can different public keys still point to the same private key?
If I then deposit more coins into the now different public key, will the deposit still end up in MY same wallet?

[1714829204]

1714829204

[1714829204]

1714829204

[1714829204]

1714829204

[LoyceV]

I've just created my first paper wallet

How did you create this paper wallet?

I first printed off securely a paper wallet, that provided a public and a BIP38 secured private key.

How did you print this securely?

I then purchased the bitcoin mBTC and deposited that using the public key.

I think you mean Bitcoin address where you say "public key", correct? The one that most likely starts with a 1......

I checked that the bitcoin had arrived at my public key address.

Did you check a website like this?
https://blockchain.info/address/1BitcoinAddress

I then tried to reverse the process, so first decrypted my private BIP38 key and found that the decrypted public key was different to the initial public key I had used for the deposit !

How did you decrypt it?

Is this normal? Can different public keys still point to the same private key?
If I then deposit more coins into the now different public key, will the deposit still end up in MY same wallet?

I'd say stop depositing until you've answered all questions

[mpeill]

As a newbie, answering your last question first, I only deposited a small amount until I'm confident on the whole deposit to withdrawal mechanism, so no more deposits until it all works for me.
I created the paper wallet using bitaddress.org, offline, from a pc booted from a Ubuntu operating system on a usb stick.

Yes, I meant "Bitcoin address" where I deposited the bitcoin, starting 17P....

yes, I did use https://blockchain.info/address/17P....     (the same bitcoin address as above)

I used the same bitaddress.org utility using the Ubuntu booted pc to decrypt my Private Key 6P..... There didn't seem to be any issue there, and it gave me a WIF address of 5K...

[LoyceV]

I created the paper wallet using bitaddress.org, offline, from a pc booted from a Ubuntu operating system on a usb stick.

This is all good.

I used the same bitaddress.org utility using the Ubuntu booted pc to decrypt my Private Key 6P..... There didn't seem to be any issue there, and it gave me a WIF address of 5K...

Now it all makes sense: you used the Private Key WIF to swipe your funds, while your paper wallet uses the Private Key WIF Compressed. Try the same again, but use the compressed private key.

[mpeill]

Ah, did it!! It's always the simple things. Thanks for your help.

[TheAndy500]

I created the paper wallet using bitaddress.org, offline, from a pc booted from a Ubuntu operating system on a usb stick.

This is all good.

I used the same bitaddress.org utility using the Ubuntu booted pc to decrypt my Private Key 6P..... There didn't seem to be any issue there, and it gave me a WIF address of 5K...

Now it all makes sense: you used the Private Key WIF to swipe your funds, while your paper wallet uses the Private Key WIF Compressed. Try the same again, but use the compressed private key.

I had a very similar problem and I did similar things, good advice! I greet and wish you good luck.