As far as I am concerned, this is not a widespread issue, if you can, please post or send me some pictures of your coins with faded firstbits for analysis.
What I can say is that sometimes, depending on the letters comprising the Firstbits it gets printed a bit blurrier, having a much smaller font size, also sometimes with the hologram on top it affects readability as window is not 100% transparent. What I make sure is that the private key letters are all complete, firstbits are just extra information.
See:
https://i.imgur.com/0QI8rPN.jpg
Here is a picture of a 2014 Dogecoin: https://i.imgur.com/W2iVjhv.jpg
Firstbits have not faded there, I have been using the same ink and process for the last six years. For what I have seen in my collection, some are "barely readable" since the beginning. (Having released the coin list should not make that a problem)
Furthermore I have my own "Canary", a couple tubes of 2014 10k Dogecoins + 2014 10k Bits BTC stored in humidity of 60%+, which I open and redeem from time to time to ensure the key is still readable, no issues so far.
I want to be as open and transparent about this as possible, and verify if some firstbits are indeed fading, as far as I know no private key has "suffered" from this issue. But bear in mind that no process, of any maker, is bulletproof and there will always be risks with physical keys.
Any doubt, please let me know.
Topic: . (Read 310 times)
If you own a coin or two that has been called to attention here, [INFO] The Canary Thread is interested in taking a closer look. Moreso to ensure the private key insert is not fading.. but can also scope the first bits window to compare against another CI coin with strong readable first bits for this thread. (First bits is not something The Canary Thread will be monitoring, the primary goal is to ensure the private key is readable after multiple years)
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