Clear DefinitionsMetal Backup
2 min read
Pronunciation
[met-l bak-uhp]
Analogy
Think of a metal backup as the modern equivalent of carving important information into stone tablets. Just as ancient civilizations recorded their most important knowledge on materials that could withstand the test of time, cryptocurrency users stamp their seed phrases into metal to ensure they survive disasters that would destroy more fragile storage methods like paper or digital media.
Definition
A physical method of storing cryptocurrency recovery information (such as seed phrases or private keys) by engraving, stamping, or etching the data onto durable metal plates or devices. Metal backups provide resilience against physical threats like fire, water, and environmental degradation that would destroy paper records.
Key Points Intro
Metal backups provide exceptional physical resilience for long-term cryptocurrency seed storage.
Key Points
Disaster resistance: Withstands extreme conditions including fire (up to 1500°C depending on metal type), water damage, and environmental degradation.
Longevity: Properly created metal backups can preserve information for decades or even centuries, far longer than paper or digital media.
Tamper evidence: Unlike digital storage, physical alterations to metal backups are typically visible, making unauthorized modifications detectable.
No electronic vulnerabilities: Immune to electromagnetic pulses, power surges, bit rot, and other threats that affect electronic storage.
Example
After purchasing Bitcoin as a long-term investment, Maria created a metal backup of her 24-word seed phrase by stamping each word onto a series of stainless steel plates. She placed the plates in a fireproof safe in her home. Years later, when a house fire destroyed most of her possessions, she was able to recover her cryptocurrency holdings because the metal backup survived intact.
Technical Deep Dive
Metal backups vary in design and implementation, with trade-offs between security, durability, and ease of creation. Common metals used include stainless steel (resistant to corrosion but lower melting point), titanium (exceptional corrosion resistance and higher melting point), and copper (malleable for easy stamping but susceptible to corrosion). Some designs use pre-cut letter tiles that slide into a frame, while others require direct stamping with metal punches. Advanced implementations may incorporate multi-plate designs with Shamir Secret Sharing, requiring multiple plates to reconstruct the seed. To mitigate the risk of physical theft, some users distribute multiple metal backups across different secure locations.
Security Warning
Metal backups should be stored in locations with controlled physical access, as they are vulnerable to theft if discovered. Consider using a decoy system or splitting the backup using Shamir Secret Sharing if storing in locations you don't fully control. Never include identifying information like 'Bitcoin Seed' or wallet names directly on the metal backup, as this makes the purpose obvious to potential thieves.
Caveat
While metal backups provide excellent protection against environmental threats, they offer no inherent protection against physical theft or observation. Additionally, the creation process itself presents a security risk if performed in an environment with surveillance or if the tools used (such as letter stamps) leave impressions on underlying surfaces that could be recovered later. The permanence of metal backups also means errors during creation cannot easily be corrected.
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