Today I will to talk about a nice topic that for many is somewhat overcome but for others who are learning about BCH it is still not understood, and it is about how to use paper wallets.
Trought almost 9 months close to BCH, this is for me the most original and cheapest way to invite someone to use BCH.
Requirements: an original design, some satoshis, bravery and a smile. With this you can capture the attention of any stranger.
Security
Paper wallets are a safe way to store your BCHs if you do it the right way, by keeping private keys in a safe place you can keep them out of reach of any hacker trying to unlock or access the normally used live / hot wallets or exchange wallets, remember there are thousands of people looking to access your information and keeping it safe off-line is the safest way, so you prevent an intruder from entering your device and accessing your BCH without being seen or leaving traces.
Bitcoin theft cases there are many, people who noticed this months later when they thought that their coins were stored and then found their wallets empty without being able to recover anything, therefore you have the responsibility to take the issue of security seriously, Here you can see a recent case:
In Venezuela we must take care of ourselves in the field work, trying to separate the camera from the device where we have the BCH, therefore it is safer to use paper wallets with small amounts in dangerous places (everywhere).
Where to get paper wallets
Paper wallets can be obtained in different ways, different versions are currently available and for free:
BitcoinCashNotes
There is @bitcoincashnotes.com this option is super interesting for the Latin American market because it allows you to alternate languages between English / Spanish, another language barrier overcome and very easy to generate.
You can also clone the repository by github and thus generate the paper wallets offline.
Link to clone offline:
github.com/bitcoincashnotes/user-generated
Suggestion: To make the process offline safely you must disconnect from the internet, print the wallet and close the browser before reconnecting.
Bitcoin Bileto
Another version and with an interesting project using an Electron Cash plugin that allows you to recover the funds in case of not being claimed is Bitcoin Bileto, although this is not recommended to use as cold storage, it is perfect for the onboard of new merchants and is a super original way to share a prize which remains hidden until revealed by the merchant.
Access to this project is through ambassadors around the world, the project is led by @Huckfinne @BitcoinBileto
Bitcoin.com Paper wallets
You can get other alternative paper wallets on the pages of Bitcoin.com for free and with various designs available, these have been used and have worked perfectly for us, in advanced options, then add BIP38 to add a password to decrypt the private key.
Similarly you can clone the repository and generate it offline.
github.com/Bitcoin-com/paperwallet.bitcoin.com/
Crescent Cash Paper Wallet
These are easily accessible and a little smaller in size although they do the same job.
CashAddress
I particularly live this generator, it has multiple options and you can also encrypt the private keys with BIP38 and this way you can place a special key to be able to import or sweep the keys. This is perfect worldwide and overcoming language barriers. Available in 12 languages.
It allows you to generate them offline by cloning this repository:
github.com/theantnest/bccaddress
Your keys, your Bitcoins
Now we already know the benefits of having the wallet off line and where we can find the ways to generate them to share them, but we cannot forget the most important thing, having control of private keys.
I can add some Tips:
Hide it in a safe place in your home or where only you have access.
Protect it with some anti moisture packaging.
As a particular method I save the html file of the generated wallet and I save it in a USB or HD offline device and on the other hand I have a printed backup or physical copy.
Avoid generating them online and on a publicly accessible computer or device.
Put names or pseudonyms on your wallets, and they will be like your children, so you avoid confusing them after a long time.
Controlling the keys and access, we have control of the coins.
Import Private Keys
This option is basically used to access a wallet from various devices through a specific application or software.
For that you need to scan or enter the private key to import them, once this is done, you have access from all the devices where you previously imported the private keys.
When doing the import you would be adding new private keys in the same wallet, if someone else can import this private key from the paper wallet they will also have access to your coins, in this case you should only import keys that only belong to you, only you are sure of what you do.
Sweep Private keys
In this case, the action you will take will be to extract or sweep all the coins that are in that private key and they will be sent to a new BCH address with a private key associated with the software or app you are using.
Once this step is done, the old private key of the paper wallet will be empty, until it is recharged again.
Recommended applications
Among my applications to manage private keys the preferred one is Electron Cash available in several languages and recently in Spanish, then Bitcoin.com available in multiple languages, Crescent Cash in English and finally Ibitcome. All from my point of view very good but they can be improved in several aspects.
I am sure that here are missing details that I would like to complement with the help of you and your experiences.
Sharing BitcoinCash is very simple, if I can do it, you can do it, without big investments or luxuries but with many dreams and bravery.
Venezuela is a country with many calamities and just like my country, there are others who are having a very hard time in these difficult times, but I don't want to show you that dark side, you can see the graph below and you will understand.
I want you to see hope and work as a solution accompanied by BitcoinCash.
In this article I want to congratulate all the nodes that managed to fulfill their expectations of financing through voluntary donations with @Flipstarter and also make a special mention.
Thank you @MarcDeMesel for your courage in defending the ideas expressed against the IFP proposal and for all your immense contributions in each campaign, largely to these actions it is still possible to continue dreaming of a Bitcoin Cash with decentralized development, with multiple alternatives of thought and of course, with freedom = Sound Money for the world!
Thanks also to all the other anonymous collaborators and personalities who made their contribution as a grain of sand to achieve the objective.
Sofia 💚❤💜
If you feel identified with our efforts and activities as an independent group, your collaboration will be grateful for helping us to reach the goals around the BCH in 2020.
When you feel sentient and exhausted it is because the message you have been delivering with true love, if you feel comfortable and relaxed, you have not given your best.
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I'm new in cryptocurrency. What I love about Bitcoin Cash BCH is because it has lower transaction fee. Here in Philippines, those are not yet available. Maybe because many people here did not yet know about cryptocurrency especially Bitcoin Cash BCH. I'm inviting ny friends here to introduce cryptocurrency to them.