Easy Offline Bitcoin Storage

Keep your Bitcoin keys offline and disconnected from the internet. Physical access required for theft — comparable to gold in a safe.

What You Need

1 Acquire Hardware

Purchase a COLDCARD Q, two steel plates, and a steel punch. Buy directly from coldcard.com to avoid supply chain risks.

2 Create a PIN

Power on your COLDCARD Q and create a secure PIN code. This PIN protects the device from unauthorized use. Choose something memorable but not guessable.

3 Generate Your Seed Words

On the COLDCARD, select "New Seed Words" and choose 24 words. The device will display your seed phrase — this is the master key to your bitcoin.

4 Back Up Your Seed on Steel

Stamp your 24 seed words into both steel plates using the punch. Store each plate in a separate, secure location.

Critical: Anyone who sees these words can steal your bitcoin. Never enter them into a computer or phone. Never photograph them. Only enter them directly into a COLDCARD when restoring.

Optional: practice recovery by importing the seed into a second COLDCARD to verify your backup works.

5 Install Cove Wallet

Download Cove Wallet on your phone (iOS / Android). Cove is a Bitcoin-only mobile wallet with full COLDCARD support via QR codes.

6 Pair COLDCARD with Cove

On your COLDCARD Q, go to Advanced/Tools > Export Wallet > Cove Wallet and display the QR code. In Cove, tap Import Wallet and scan the QR. This creates a watch-only wallet on your phone — it can see your balance and generate receiving addresses, but cannot spend without the COLDCARD.

To send bitcoin: Cove builds the transaction and displays a QR code. Scan it with your COLDCARD Q, verify the details on the device screen, approve and sign, then scan the signed QR back into Cove to broadcast. Your keys never leave the COLDCARD.

7 Buy Bitcoin

Purchase bitcoin through a non-custodial broker like Bull Bitcoin, Strike, River, or Relai. Once purchased, withdraw to your Cove wallet by scanning a receive address QR code. Never leave bitcoin on an exchange — transfer it to your own wallet as soon as possible.

8 Practice

Start with a small amount first. Practice the full send flow — build, scan, sign, broadcast — until it feels natural. Once comfortable, transfer the rest. This is the same process you will use for any amount.

Next steps: Read the full Bitcoin Security Guide for advanced topics like passphrases, multisig, operational security, and inheritance planning. Explore the Bitcoin Security Glossary to understand every term.