Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Glossary

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

  • search-icon Clear Definitions
  • search-icon Practical
  • search-icon Technical
  • search-icon Related Terms

Paper Wallet

Pronunciation
[pay-per woll-it]
Analogy
A paper wallet is like writing your ATM PIN and account number on paper and storing it in a safe—it’s offline but fragile.
Definition
A physical printout of a public address and its corresponding private key (often as QR codes), allowing cold storage of crypto assets.
Key Points Intro
Paper wallets secure keys by:
Key Points

Air‑gapped: Generated offline to avoid digital exposure.

Printable format: QR codes for easy scanning.

No digital footprint: Immune to online hacks.

One‑time use: Best for long‑term cold storage.

Example
Using an offline computer, a user generates a Bitcoin paper wallet, prints the address and private‑key QR codes, then transfers BTC to that address.
Technical Deep Dive
Paper wallet tools generate a BIP‑39 seed or raw private key offline, derive the public address via elliptic‑curve operations, and render both as QR codes in HTML/CSS for printing. Verify no network interfaces are active during generation.
Security Warning
Paper can be lost, damaged, or photographed; lamination and secure physical storage are essential.
Caveat
Paper wallets lack backup if print is destroyed; consider multiple copies in separate locations.
Related Terms
Cold Wallet
Cold Storage
Hardware Wallet
Seed Phrase
Hot Wallet

Paper Wallet - Related Articles

No related articles for this term.