Paper Wallet
A paper wallet is an offline physical record containing a private key, seed, or other wallet recovery information, sometimes with a public address.
✦ Key Insight
It removes some online exposure but creates major risks around generation, theft, copying, and secure spending.
✕ Common Misconceptions
Paper wallets are easy to damage, photograph, duplicate, or generate insecurely and are generally unsuitable for beginners.
Detailed Explanation
In Practice
Dig Deeper
Private Key
The secret number that authorises spending from a crypto address.
Seed Phrase
A list of 12 or 24 ordinary words that is the master key to every account in your wallet.
Cold Storage
Cold storage keeps cryptocurrency private keys offline to reduce exposure to internet-based attacks.
Air-gapped
An air-gapped device is intentionally isolated from normal network connections to reduce direct exposure to remote attacks.
Wallet Backup
A wallet backup is recovery material or data kept so access can be restored after device loss, failure, or software removal.