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Topic: Give bitcoins as a gift to someone that haven't got bitcoin wallet (Read 2096 times)

newbie
Activity: 39
Merit: 0
I'm not sure what the best options are when it comes to physical tokens other than paper wallets. But I think it's worth mentioning that you can send Bitcoin directly to any email address from a Coinbase account. The recipient will be prompted to create an account with Coinbase (if they don't have one) in order to retrieve the funds.

That would be a good option too. Thanks for the tip.

I do not know, if a paper wallet will be the best option. Imagine if you gave someone a gift card, but before they can use it, they must first signup to some sort of service and then figure out how to transfer this money from the gift card to the wallet service, before he can spend it.

Just create a wallet for him, and deposit some money into it. Then give him the url to the site and the username and password. This way you can help him, if he gets stuck or even take back that money, if he prefer cash or something else. < He would be a shitty friend, if he does that > ^joke^

This is a good option too. Luckily, in my case, my friend is a tech guy, so I gave him the paper wallet on Saturday, along with a walkthrough on how to get started using the wallet, and it didn't take him long to figure things out.
legendary
Activity: 3542
Merit: 1966
Leading Crypto Sports Betting & Casino Platform
I do not know, if a paper wallet will be the best option. Imagine if you gave someone a gift card, but before they can use it, they must first signup to some sort of service and then figure out how to transfer this money from the gift card to the wallet service, before he can spend it.

Just create a wallet for him, and deposit some money into it. Then give him the url to the site and the username and password. This way you can help him, if he gets stuck or even take back that money, if he prefer cash or something else. < He would be a shitty friend, if he does that > ^joke^
legendary
Activity: 1148
Merit: 1000
I'm not sure what the best options are when it comes to physical tokens other than paper wallets. But I think it's worth mentioning that you can send Bitcoin directly to any email address from a Coinbase account. The recipient will be prompted to create an account with Coinbase (if they don't have one) in order to retrieve the funds.
newbie
Activity: 39
Merit: 0
Yes, it looks good. Just remember that if the address is in your wallet, then your wallet will think it is ok to spend the bitcoins. Also, when you send bitcoins to the address, you wallet may warn you that you are sending bitcoins to your own address, because sometimes people do that by mistake.

Thanks for the heads-up. I'll make sure to remove the address from my wallet as soon as my friend confirms that he's accessed the wallet.

Looking forward to giving him the paper wallet now. The wallet printed from bitaddress.com looks really nice.

Thanks for all the help, guys!
legendary
Activity: 4522
Merit: 3426
If you want to be extra careful, make sure that the bitcoin address on the paper wallet comes from the private key on the paper wallet. That will ensure that your friend can actually spend the bitcoins at that address. You can import the private key into a wallet and check that it generates the same Bitcoin address. Don't use you normal wallet because you might accidentally spend your friend's coins. I have a separate wallet specifically for doing this.

You can verify that the address has bitcoins by viewing it in a block explorer like blockr.io or blockchain.info.

Yesterday I used my Blockchain android app, and scanned the "Load & Verify" part of the paper wallet. The paper wallet was imported into my app as a "Watch only" address. Today I scanned the "Spend" (i.e. private key) part of the paper wallet, provided the password, and the address changed state by removing the "Watch only" text. I guess this means everything works perfectly, and that the paper wallet is done as soon as I transfer (rest of the) bitcoins to it. Correct?

Yes, it looks good. Just remember that if the address is in your wallet, then your wallet will think it is ok to spend the bitcoins. Also, when you send bitcoins to the address, you wallet may warn you that you are sending bitcoins to your own address, because sometimes people do that by mistake.
newbie
Activity: 39
Merit: 0
If you want to be extra careful, make sure that the bitcoin address on the paper wallet comes from the private key on the paper wallet. That will ensure that your friend can actually spend the bitcoins at that address. You can import the private key into a wallet and check that it generates the same Bitcoin address. Don't use you normal wallet because you might accidentally spend your friend's coins. I have a separate wallet specifically for doing this.

You can verify that the address has bitcoins by viewing it in a block explorer like blockr.io or blockchain.info.

Yesterday I used my Blockchain android app, and scanned the "Load & Verify" part of the paper wallet. The paper wallet was imported into my app as a "Watch only" address. Today I scanned the "Spend" (i.e. private key) part of the paper wallet, provided the password, and the address changed state by removing the "Watch only" text. I guess this means everything works perfectly, and that the paper wallet is done as soon as I transfer (rest of the) bitcoins to it. Correct?
hero member
Activity: 672
Merit: 500
Hi all.

I'd like to give (part of a) a bitcoin as a gift to a friend that probably haven't used bitcoins before, and therefore don't have a wallet. In fact, I haven't bought and used bitcoins myself even, so it's quite new to me too.

What's my options when it comes to giving bitcoins as a gift? I'm going to give him a birthday card, so some physical token symbolising the bitcoin would be great.

Regards, kenneho


If you want to give some bitcoin to someone who didn't have a bitcoin wallet, you can take another ways because bitcoin is online currency. But obviously you can give your friends physical bitcoin, I think it is good gift because it is very beautiful but still glamour.
legendary
Activity: 3248
Merit: 1072
a cool way would be to do it like with lottery ticket, where you unveil the private key by scratching the surface

this can be done with a paper wallet, it would be funny for him, to unveil it and see hopw much that key hold

it can also be the lottery fo the future based on bitcoin
legendary
Activity: 1456
Merit: 1002
Paper wallet is fine, but you can actually spend $30 bucks on ledgers cold wallet usb chip.

And welcome them that way since they wont be tech savy and its user friendly for people who arent too informed with bitcoin.

https://www.ledgerwallet.com/

Since its more of a plug in type of deal.
sr. member
Activity: 501
Merit: 252
Make a greeting card with the help of paperwallet. And gift your friend with some satoshi in it.

legendary
Activity: 4522
Merit: 3426
I like this idea. I have created an account over at localbitcoins.com. I'm not quite sure how to transfer bitcoins to the wallet created at bitaddress.org though. Will I have to download an android app and set up yet another wallet, as described on https://blockchain.info/wallet/paper-tutorial?

Just send the bitcoins from your blockchain.info wallet to the address on the paper wallet.

I think I got it now. I printed the paper wallet created at bitaddress.org site, and on the paper wallet is a bitcoin address. I'll just transfer bitcoins to that address, and then hand over the paper wallet to my friend.
Next thing for me is to find a way to verify that the paper wall indeed is loaded with the bitcoins I send over.

If you want to be extra careful, make sure that the bitcoin address on the paper wallet comes from the private key on the paper wallet. That will ensure that your friend can actually spend the bitcoins at that address. You can import the private key into a wallet and check that it generates the same Bitcoin address. Don't use you normal wallet because you might accidentally spend your friend's coins. I have a separate wallet specifically for doing this.

You can verify that the address has bitcoins by viewing it in a block explorer like blockr.io or blockchain.info.
legendary
Activity: 2296
Merit: 1014
Hi all.

I'd like to give (part of a) a bitcoin as a gift to a friend that probably haven't used bitcoins before, and therefore don't have a wallet. In fact, I haven't bought and used bitcoins myself even, so it's quite new to me too.

What's my options when it comes to giving bitcoins as a gift? I'm going to give him a birthday card, so some physical token symbolising the bitcoin would be great.

Regards, kenneho

I would give him paper wallet (without encryption). He would have nice time figuring out how to use it.
newbie
Activity: 39
Merit: 0
I think I got it now. I printed the paper wallet created at bitaddress.org site, and on the paper wallet is a bitcoin address. I'll just transfer bitcoins to that address, and then hand over the paper wallet to my friend.
Next thing for me is to find a way to verify that the paper wall indeed is loaded with the bitcoins I send over.
newbie
Activity: 39
Merit: 0
Go to https://www.bitaddress.org and click on "Paper Wallet". Print out one or more and then send bitcoins (or a fraction of a coin) to the address on the wallet you are sending to him. I recommend keeping a copy so that if your friend loses it, you can still recover the bitcoins for him.

I like this idea. I have created an account over at localbitcoins.com. I'm not quite sure how to transfer bitcoins to the wallet created at bitaddress.org though. Will I have to download an android app and set up yet another wallet, as described on https://blockchain.info/wallet/paper-tutorial?
RJX
legendary
Activity: 1078
Merit: 1003
I want to be your friend  Grin but don't give him something that he can't appreciate it, since he doesn't know about bitcoin yet,
It is not the right time to give it to him, better exchange it and give him a real money instead of bitcoin.

How can somone get to appreciate something when he doesn't start using it, or get involved with it? Gotta start somewhere right? You just tell him 'don't do it'.

Clearly, a paper wallet in a birthdaycard, or whatever the occasion, is a splendid way to introduce people to bitcoin. There are lots of businesses accepting BTC and it's a fun alternative to existing moneys.

hero member
Activity: 3220
Merit: 636
DGbet.fun - Crypto Sportsbook
I want to be your friend  Grin but don't give him something that he can't appreciate it, since he doesn't know about bitcoin yet,
It is not the right time to give it to him, better exchange it and give him a real money instead of bitcoin.
copper member
Activity: 1442
Merit: 529
Best would be if you install to your friend phone Mycelium if he/she has a Android phone, or BreadWallet if he/she has a Iphone. Get the receiving address from the wallet and send them what you want to send as gift. Just make sure you don't see their encryption Bip37 as there is no need to do this, a wallet should be as much personal as possible. This is good for a start. Then after he/she gets familiar with it, send them an email telling about desktop wallets and hardware wallets so he/she can have a more clear idea how this works.
hero member
Activity: 750
Merit: 511
I think a paper wallet is the best option for you. Another good option if you setup a wallet to friend's phone and do transaction in real time.
And don't forget to instruct about security, backups and other important things regarding Bitcoin.
legendary
Activity: 3472
Merit: 10611
i also think using a paper wallet as a gift has a nice thing to it, you just have to make it the right secure way.

but also you always have the option to open up a wallet in other forms for them, like on coinbase for example, because it is easy to use and newbie friendly. or also you can use other wallets like eletrum for pc or one of the phone wallets for convenience.
hero member
Activity: 630
Merit: 502
She uses a phone right?
Just download a bitcoin wallet app and tell her this is a internet money bank to store her money in and you will send her some. Then it will ding when you send it to her. That will get her curious on how it works. She will be instantly hooked.  Wink
sr. member
Activity: 294
Merit: 250
Hi all.

I'd like to give (part of a) a bitcoin as a gift to a friend that probably haven't used bitcoins before, and therefore don't have a wallet. In fact, I haven't bought and used bitcoins myself even, so it's quite new to me too.

What's my options when it comes to giving bitcoins as a gift? I'm going to give him a birthday card, so some physical token symbolising the bitcoin would be great.

Regards, kenneho


Use a paper wallet. Write him a card with the paper wallet inside it.

Don't just send him bitcoins. He'll just waste it on worthless fiat once he receives them. But with paper wallets, he will actually have to import the private keys himself.
hero member
Activity: 812
Merit: 1000
I find giving him a paper wallet to be the best option at the moment, as the birthday is coming up real soon. Did a quick google search, and there seems to be a lot of sites where one can order paper wallets from, but rather I'd like to use my own printer and put that piece of paper in an envelope together with the birthday card. I'll do some more googling, but if anyone want to point me to relevant resources please feel free to do so.

By the way, is it possible for my to buy say 1/4 of a bitcoin, or must I buy a whole bitcoin and split it up?

Definitely, print the paper wallet yourself.

Go to https://www.bitaddress.org and click on "Paper Wallet". Print out one or more and then send bitcoins (or a fraction of a coin) to the address on the wallet you are sending to him. I recommend keeping a copy so that if your friend loses it, you can still recover the bitcoins for him.

Others will warn you about security and such, but this is a gift and the chance of losing the bitcoins to hackers is low, so don't bother with precautions that seem excessive.

I just think that printing paper wallets online would always have security risks, no matter who you're printing them for, if the key is compromised then the only gift someone would receive is a piece of paper worth nothing, especially if that someone is new to bitcoins and don't know how to transfer them to their wallet right away and by the time they do, it is possible that the hacker might have already wiped it clean.

So even though these precaution may seem excessive, I am still going to recommend that OP downloads the source code from github, verifies the download, takes it offline and prints the paper wallets there. And I would also print a little set of instructions in the back, telling them how to go about redeeming them. Using electrum wallet would be more than easy and it has a sweep key function.
legendary
Activity: 1456
Merit: 1000
That's nice gift but due to high prices for most physical bitcoins I would advise on buying some satori coins which is the cheapest one out there and has nice bitcoin symbol in a nicely made texture too but the problem is how his going to use it because neither him or you have used it in the past so better learn a little bit of how bitcoin works so you could teach your friend as well. Another option would be buying t-shirts that have bitcoin symbols as well and it might be more useful to him because he could simply wear it without any further knowledge.

A physical coin would not be right for every gift you are right.  But some actually go up in value depending on which one you pick.   But it is possible to have a nice token and it go up over time.   I doubt we will see any have the jump like some of the originals but still possible.

But with OP mentioning needing it soon a paper wallet is best idea.   Coin takes some planning ahead.   OP just make sure to read on creating a secure paper wallet, and do it at home on home printer.  Also look at clearing printer cache and don't store it digitally on computer is my advice.
legendary
Activity: 4522
Merit: 3426
I find giving him a paper wallet to be the best option at the moment, as the birthday is coming up real soon. Did a quick google search, and there seems to be a lot of sites where one can order paper wallets from, but rather I'd like to use my own printer and put that piece of paper in an envelope together with the birthday card. I'll do some more googling, but if anyone want to point me to relevant resources please feel free to do so.

By the way, is it possible for my to buy say 1/4 of a bitcoin, or must I buy a whole bitcoin and split it up?

Definitely, print the paper wallet yourself.

Go to https://www.bitaddress.org and click on "Paper Wallet". Print out one or more and then send bitcoins (or a fraction of a coin) to the address on the wallet you are sending to him. I recommend keeping a copy so that if your friend loses it, you can still recover the bitcoins for him.

Others will warn you about security and such, but this is a gift and the chance of losing the bitcoins to hackers is low, so don't bother with precautions that seem excessive.
legendary
Activity: 3234
Merit: 1214
Casinopunkz - Anonymous Crypto Casino
To avoid complications better create a wallet and send him the identifier with password through a gift card. Also indicate all those online stores that accept bitcoin. This might go good on birthday.
legendary
Activity: 1078
Merit: 1024
You can simply hand out the private key of an address which has funds on it on paper (which is basically a paper wallet).
Since you're new and your friend is too, make sure you understand how they work and how to keep them secure.
legendary
Activity: 1946
Merit: 1137
physical coins is not a good idea because they are mostly expensive and more of a collectible thing.

you can create a nice paper wallet, with a neat design on your own. just print out the bitcoin logo with the private key and public key of the bitcoin address with the coins in it and give it a cool background then print it.
sr. member
Activity: 552
Merit: 250
Thanks for the excellent replies.

I find giving him a paper wallet to be the best option at the moment, as the birthday is coming up real soon. Did a quick google search, and there seems to be a lot of sites where one can order paper wallets from, but rather I'd like to use my own printer and put that piece of paper in an envelope together with the birthday card. I'll do some more googling, but if anyone want to point me to relevant resources please feel free to do so.

By the way, is it possible for my to buy say 1/4 of a bitcoin, or must I buy a whole bitcoin and split it up?

kenneho

I suggest that you do not use any online website for your Paper Wallet but make one on your own with Vanitygen

And YES! , you can buy whatever amount you want - you do not have to buy the whole thing
newbie
Activity: 39
Merit: 0
Thanks for the excellent replies.

I find giving him a paper wallet to be the best option at the moment, as the birthday is coming up real soon. Did a quick google search, and there seems to be a lot of sites where one can order paper wallets from, but rather I'd like to use my own printer and put that piece of paper in an envelope together with the birthday card. I'll do some more googling, but if anyone want to point me to relevant resources please feel free to do so.

By the way, is it possible for my to buy say 1/4 of a bitcoin, or must I buy a whole bitcoin and split it up?

kenneho
legendary
Activity: 1400
Merit: 1001
Op. If you want him to have bitcoin then simply tell him to create wallet and you will credit it.
But if you want give him a great gift and something that will make him 'oomph' with awe then there is only 2 options for you:

1. Buy him hardware wallet, I believe the most popular is Trezor https://bitcointrezor.com/ the problem is that wallet alone costs $99
2. Buy him a physical bitcoin - on the form of beautiful coin, there are huge variety of designs an you can check some on the here: http://www.coindesk.com/10-physical-bitcoins-good-bad-ugly/
member
Activity: 70
Merit: 10
just make him create a wallet and send them to it
member
Activity: 118
Merit: 100
That's nice gift but due to high prices for most physical bitcoins I would advise on buying some satori coins which is the cheapest one out there and has nice bitcoin symbol in a nicely made texture too but the problem is how his going to use it because neither him or you have used it in the past so better learn a little bit of how bitcoin works so you could teach your friend as well. Another option would be buying t-shirts that have bitcoin symbols as well and it might be more useful to him because he could simply wear it without any further knowledge.
legendary
Activity: 1456
Merit: 1000
Hi all.

I'd like to give (part of a) a bitcoin as a gift to a friend that probably haven't used bitcoins before, and therefore don't have a wallet. In fact, I haven't bought and used bitcoins myself even, so it's quite new to me too.

What's my options when it comes to giving bitcoins as a gift? I'm going to give him a birthday card, so some physical token symbolising the bitcoin would be great.

Regards, kenneho


You can order a physical coin if you want that token, there are lots of options and priced vary greatly.   But you can do a coin and load it with however much coins you want.   Some come already with key in coin, others you do yourself.  Always be careful on making sure it is secure.

Other most popular will be a paper wallet.  You can print off a piece of paper and put that in a card.   Again lots to make it secure.   But you have a LOT of different options out there.
newbie
Activity: 39
Merit: 0
Hi all.

I'd like to give (part of a) a bitcoin as a gift to a friend that probably haven't used bitcoins before, and therefore don't have a wallet. In fact, I haven't bought and used bitcoins myself even, so it's quite new to me too.

What's my options when it comes to giving bitcoins as a gift? I'm going to give him a birthday card, so some physical token symbolising the bitcoin would be great.

Regards, kenneho
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