Topic: Who would like better PHYSICAL storage? (Read 1281 times)

then you should not run your local wallet on your desktop or storing your balance on any exchange, because those run on a physical mahcine as well

bitcoin isn't non-physical, because it run on a physical things...

No. I don't want any kind of physical storage. Being immaterial is one thing I like most about BTC.

Make 5 of them. Drop them at friend's house etc.
Solved.

...and then your USB stick has a technical fault and everything is lost.  No way I would rely on one solitary USB stick alone. 

Not planning to mint coins either, that would be copying what others have done, no originality there.

The point that was made about "lots of competition in a slow market", this is a very interesting point.  Perhaps the Bitcoin ecosystem is still to small to launch a profitable product into.  That makes it hard for small-timers like me because often the companies that can launch products are willing and able to sustain big losses in the beginning years in return for getting their brand name out and known early.  Small-timers like me can't sustain any commercial-scale loss.

Well...thats why Im here asking you.  So far its been very helpful.

Ok, where are you situated?

In most countries it's illegal to mint any form of coins, without governmental approval. 

You are opening yourself up for a huge shit storm, if you go about it in the wrong way... Here is a old article on the matter:

Source : http://www.coindesk.com/us-regulators-bitcoin-mint-casascius-shut/

FinCen will hunt you down, if you are US based. 

In the last week I've seen at least 3 users who were gathering interest for a Bitcoin Paper wallet.
As good as offline storage is, you'll find it hard to sell in a slow market with quite a bit of competition.
What would your wallets offer that give it the edge over your competitors?

Encrypted wallet in an encrypted container on an encrypted USB stick.

The hell do you need more ? Cost is the cost of a USB stick.

Good point about the multiple copies. I'm always reluctant to make multiple copies of my hard wallets because the more copies there are, the more vulnerable you become to someone finding your hidden copies.

Amazing response, I am happy with the interest people have shown regardless.

Lots of good points raised, I've been through all of these methods myself but I always had a nagging paranoia compared to how I feel about my bank account (fairly chilled).  Now I use an easy solution that makes me feel super secure and generally happier, though I apologise for not directly sharing it - it's something I may want to patent.

I recognise, as many have said, that the current methods are very cheap (which may be difficult to compete with in the market).
Hardware wallets like Trezor are waaay too expensive though.



I mean that paper is weak because it could disintegrate over time, even from common things like dampness in the house, drying up over many years and disintegrating, a rogue child could puke on it, a rogue teenager could spill beer on it, you could spill beer on it, insects might much it down.  Of course when that happens say goodbye to all the money.

Making multiple copies may seem like the solution...2 (still scared), 3 (just about OK), screw it I need to make 5!  Now the problem is that there are 5 copies hidden in different places and this brings a completely new kind of paranoia because 5 is a full time job to monitor and it's even harder to know if one of them has been discovered.  It's very possible that I could even forget the location of one when there are lots of them and suddenly I have no idea if the wallet is safe or not.

 
Vires in Numeris

Engraving is good if you have the professional equipment to do it. I hand-engraved wallets onto silver bullets once, but when the people I gifted them to wanted to redeem them, we went through great torture trying to figure out the print (on such a small bullet).
If you get your local jeweler to do the job, he could take a pic of the private key or retrieve it later from the CCTV footage.

Dude, yes I would be interested. I frequently do a google search to see if new physical bitcoins or wallets are available. If you have an idea to begin a Bitcoin startup company of any sort, by all means, go for it!

I am much interested in a BETTER physical storage if it is not expensive. Actually, I am using a cheap (but good quality) USB for this purpose and it does its job well. However, if you have a reliable idea of a mobile, quick and easy to use alternative, I am open-minded to read about it in case it does not necessitate special reader since I can use my current USB almost anywhere.

I can't help but get paranoid when I use paper wallets.
I always do a virus check first & then disconnect from the internet but I just can't help always thinking what if.......

/Advocate of the devil here;

-You could loose the paper
-You could loose the password of the wallet number
-You could have ur house and/or the paper burned
-And it could get unreadable after a year or so depending on the printer and or inkt cartridge.

And let me add to that:
How are they weak?

If you create a paper wallet on an offline computer, then completely erase all data from that computer (hell, even get a cheap old pc and destroy it afterwards),
how is that weak?

Please enlighten me.

i predicted that(not that hard to predict :d ) and in fact i have more than 1 usb, exactly 3 to be precisely

it's impossible that all 3 will be damaged at the same time

How about if you lost your usb, or your usb is damaged? If that happen, your wallet is gone forever.

If thieves are clever enough, they may steal your money, and know btc wallet. 

You can engrave your private key on a metal plate if you want to but there's always a better option such as using a hardware wallet. Works as great as a paper wallet, the only downside is you have to pay for it. I already have one with me right now and good thing is you don't need third party services as it already have its own built-in program to guide you through.

Agree, it can't be more expensive than average USB.
In reality truecrypt + usb is good enough and actually best security there is.

Brutally honest?  Ok.

How is paper not physical?