send crypto from existing paper wallet

[porparek]

Hello,
I've generated an offline paper wallets via paper-wallet-generator desktop application (https://snapcraft.io/paper-wallet-generator).
What is the cheapest and safest way to send crypto from the paper wallet generated via the above application.
I have only public address and private key.
I'd like to do it for Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Thank you for help.

[1715226000]

1715226000

[jackg]

I think the safest and easiest way for bitcoin imports is probably to use electrum to import the private keys.

Be sure to check what letters the address starts with as you might have to adjust the private keys if there's no abbreviation on them.

If the private keys begin with a P or your address begins with a 1 then you can just input them normally, otherwise you might need to add extra letters to tell the client what address you're wanting to import.

I think metamask or myetherwallet.com are the best to use with ethereum - I'd use Google to find them and click on the first non-ad result.

Once both are imported, you can then make a new wallet with a mnemonic phrase which cna be written down and used as a backup for your new wallet (you can leave a version online too).

[Welsh]

The only way you can send a transaction from your paper wallet, would be to bring it online i.e import the private keys into another wallet software. As soon as you do this, you open yourself up to more attack vectors, however that doesn't necessarily mean its less secure, depending on your situation. It's generally recommended that if you have to send regular transactions, then a hardware wallet is probably the most suited for you. However, if you only intend on sending a one off transaction, then you could do so, and then go about creating another paper wallet, and then send the remaining balance back to that new paper wallet.

[hosseinimr93]

I think the safest and easiest way for bitcoin imports is probably to use electrum to import the private keys.

The easiest way is to create a new wallet on electrum, import the private key(s) and spend the fund.
The safest way is to create two wallets. One offline wallet that contains the private key on an air-gapped device and one watch-only wallet on an online device. The unsigned transaction is created on the online wallet. After that, it is signed on the offline wallet and then it is broadcast using the online device.

[Charles-Tim]

The only way you can send a transaction from your paper wallet, would be to bring it online i.e import the private keys into another wallet software. As soon as you do this, you open yourself up to more attack vectors, however that doesn't necessarily mean its less secure, depending on your situation.

You are right, the person that move from paper wallet into online wallet makes the funds to be less safe, but it is very possible to still transfer the whole bitcoin amount or some Bitcoin amount from paper wallet leaving the paper wallet private key offline, but your method is also still great if the person transfer the remaining funds into another newly and safely created paper wallet. But he/she can safely do the transfer with the private key remaining offline, although, I am sure you know about these and not new to you at all. These are the two most recent useful link about this on this forum:

Re: Safest wallet and method to sweep a paper wallet
Re: Most Secure Method To Sweep Paper Wallet

With this approach above, I can setup an airgapped device, decide to make use of Electrum cold storage on the airgapped device for the paper wallet private key importation and also setup its watch-only wallet on another device, make a transaction on my watch-only wallet and sign the transaction offline on the cold wallet on the airgapped device using QR code generated on the watch-only wallet. I believe the paper wallet private key will remain offline and yet I will be able to spend from it.

[hosseinimr93]

------I believe the paper wallet private key will remain offline and yet I will be able to spend from it.

Right. In this way, the private key will remain offline and it will be 100% safe even if the remaining balance isn't sent to a new address.
But with using the same change address as the paper wallet address, you may damage your privacy.
In my opinion, the best is to create a new paper wallet before making the transaction and use it as the change address.

[LTU_btc]

If you're looking for safest method, probably you should follow links posted by @Charles-Tim. Though, it may be not that easy, especially if you're newbie.
If you're looking for simple way, download Electrum wallet and import your private keys to it. Same about Ethereum, you can use MyEtherWallet or MetaMask.
As said above, if you have to send crypto from paper wallet on regular basis, then it would be good to buy hardware wallet for convenience and security - then you won't have to import private keys every time when you want to move funds.