Paper wallet vs bitcoin-qt

[Feri22]

Hello guys,

i would like to ask for your help. I would like to transfer my bitcoins from bitcoin-qt wallet to paper wallet but i am not sure how the BIP38 Encrypt works and if this is more secure way than standard paper wallet....? I had my bitcoins for a while on bitstamp, i didn't feel confident about it, now i have it on the bitcoin-qt wallet, but i don't feel much confident about it either, even when i have it encrypted and i have backups. I am afraid of keyloggers and malware (but also for the paper wallets, because they can see it while i am printing it). Maybe i am paranoid, but i just don't want to lose my bitcoins.

I read also about deleting whole bitcoin wallet from pc (while having back ups on more usb sticks) - would it make some difference and is it safe for long time storing?

So the questions:

1. How the BIP38 exactly works? And how is it different from non BIP38 encrypted paper wallet?
2. Would you recommend more encrypted paper wallet or bitcoin-qt? If bitcoin-qt, will deleting it from pc help?

Thank you very much for your help 

[1715083282]

1715083282

[1715083282]

1715083282

[1715083282]

1715083282

[1715083282]

1715083282

[OhShei8e]

1. How the BIP38 exactly works? And how is it different from non BIP38 encrypted paper wallet?
2. Would you recommend more encrypted paper wallet or bitcoin-qt? If bitcoin-qt, will deleting it from pc help?

Thank you very much for your help  

First get the private key from your bitcoin address. See:

http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/7536/how-do-i-export-my-private-keys-from-my-bitcoin-qt-client

You can print this key out or write it down. I would advise against encryption. The biggest danger is that you forget the passphrase over the years. Has already happened to me. Is not a nice feeling. Do not underrate it. I am a professional, and even it happened to me.  

For re-import see:
https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/How_to_import_private_keys

If you need to encrypt printed private keys, do not overdo it and take only passwords that are buried deep in your mind.

I'd probably would just use my GPG key. I have stored my GPG key at many places (in all my mail clients for example). Someone who takes the GPG encrypted paper wallet, will hardly even have my GPG key. And a hacker who steals my GPG key, does not have the paper wallet. Not a perfect protection, but good enough.

But I will have a look at BIP38. I do not know it yet. Thanks for the note.

[Feri22]

Thank you for your reply

[lnternet]

look for cold storage perhaps

if you have coins to lock away for a while, I suggest you create a private key someone offline, then back that key up (print it, put it on a usb stick, write it onto your will), and then send the coins to the corresponding address. This way there is no chance (besides random guessing) that someone gains access to your private key, i.e. no trojan or keylogger could ever get your coins.