With over 20% of Bitcoin stuck in lost wallets due to forgotten passwords, you must safeguard your BTC in a proper 24-word Bitcoin wallet.
Known as your seed phrase, these 24 words are your backup method for accessing a lost or stolen crypto wallet. It is literally the only way to regain access to your Bitcoin.
This guide will explain what a 24-word seed phrase is, why it’s critical for crypto security, and how to create one yourself using BIP39.
Why You Need to Secure Your Crypto
Cryptocurrencies function on a decentralized network.
This means, that unlike a centralized bank, there is no central authority to govern your assets.
Not even if you lose access to them!
Although it can be dangerous for some users who do not know how to take responsibility for their Bitcoin seriously, decentralization is great because it gives you self-custody of your crypto.
One of the most crucial parts of Bitcoin security is your wallet, which stores your private keys.
If someone gains access to your private keys, they control your crypto.
Here is where having a cold metal backup is vital!
Backing up your wallet using a 24-word seed phrase is the only way to guarantee your digital assets remain safe and in your custody, regardless of what happens to your wallet.
What Is a 24-Word Bitcoin Wallet?
A 24-word Bitcoin wallet is a crypto wallet that secures your 24-word seed phrase.
It’s a series of random words used to back up and restore access to your cryptocurrency.
If your wallet is lost, stolen, or damaged, entering this 24-word phrase into a compatible crypto wallet will instantly recover your digital assets.
Seed phrases are created using BIP39 (Bitcoin Improvement Proposal 39).
This is an industry-standard system for generating your recovery phrase and can be 12,18 or 24 words.
The system uses a list of 2,048 unique words, making each combination distinct and impossible to guess.
Using a 24-word seed phrase provides much higher security than 12 or 18 words as there are more possible combinations.
Did You Know?
A 24-word phrase has 256 bits of security, which is much harder to crack than shorter backup options.
What Happens If You Don’t Use a Seed Phrase Backup?
Losing your seed phrase can result in devastating consequences for your Bitcoin.
➡️If your hardware wallet is lost, stolen, or damaged, your funds are now permanently inaccessible. Remember, there’s no recovery option in decentralized finance!
➡️Electronic hardware and software wallets can expereince malfunctions and fail. If you don’t have a backup, your funds are gone forever.
➡️If a hacker gains access to your wallet, they can wipe out your funds. If you have a seed phrase stored offline, you can quickly recover your Bitcoin on a new device.
➡️You don’t want to think that a wallet provider would shut down, but it’s happened before! The only way to recover your crypto in this case, is through your seed phrase. Without it, bye-bye crypto!
Why a 24-Word Seed Phrase Is Critical for Crypto Security
- Enhanced Security: More words mean a stronger backup.
- Backup & Recovery: If your wallet is lost, damaged, or stolen, the seed phrase is the only way to restore access.
- Cross-Compatibility: Works with various crypto wallets following the BIP39 standard.
Compatible Wallets Supporting 24-Word Seed Phrases
Securing your 24-word seed phrase requires a backup wallet that can withstand extreme conditions and won’t expereince technical failures.
We suggest always using a metal recovery phrase wallet that supports not 12, not 18, but 24 seed words.
As you can see from this Reddit user, having this backup would have saved a lot of trouble…
Why, yes!
We have some solutions: Here are five top 24-word Bitcoin wallets for seed phrase security.
1️⃣Material DIY
Our 24-word Bitcoin wallet is a secure backup for storing your 24-word seed phrase.
Made from high-grade stainless steel, it’s resistant against the elements providing maximum protection from environmental threats.
Using the included tungsten pen, simply engrave each word on the indicated line and store it in a home safe, separate from your crypto wallet.
🛡️ Designed for long-term storage.
🔨 Laser-engraved steel plates mean that it’s resistant to wear and fading.
🔥 Fire, water, and corrosion-proof.
🏆 Ideal for BIP39 backup by manually securing your seed phrase.
2️⃣Cryptosteel
A durable, offline backup solution for storing your crypto seed phrase securely. Crytosteel comes in different formats such as the capsule and cassette.
Made from stainless steel, it’s durable against physical damage.
Store your seed phrase by using the customizable letter plates to manually assemble your recovery phrase.
💪 Metal backup with letter tiles to spell out each word.
🔥 Fire, corrosion & damage resistant.
📦 The capsule version is extremely compact & portable.
3️⃣Billfodl
The Billfodl Wallet is a stainless steel backup device designed to protect your crypto seed phrase from fire, water, and physical damage.
It comes with laser-etched plates and letter tiles that you slide into each row to spell out your recovery phrase words.
🔧 Engineered for long-lasting protection against the elements.
🔥 Fireproof, waterproof & impact-Resistant.
✏️ Customizable seed phrase storage with tile inserts.
4️⃣ColdBit Steel
ColdBit Steel is designed for storing your crypto seed phrase.
Built from stainless steel, it’s resistant to the elements.
Use the letter and number stamps, along with the hammer tool to manually stamp your seed phrase.
🔑 BIP39 Compatibility for 12, 18 or 24 words.
💪 Tamper-proof as it comes screwed shut.
5️⃣BitBox Steel
The BitBox Steel Wallet is a stainless steel backup for storing your 24-word seed phrase.
Use the included pick to engrave the first four letters of each word by following the appropriate column and row indicated for each letter.
🔥 Withstands extreme heat up to 2192°F.
📦 Includes felt storage pouch.
Pro Tip: Use a durable metal backup like the ones we’ve mentioned, to ensure that your recovery phase is never lost to daily wear and tear or damage due to the elements.
| 24-Word Bitcoin Wallet | Pros & Cons | Ease of Use |
|---|---|---|
| 1️⃣ Material DIY | Pro: Simple, durable, and easy to set up. Con: Requires manual engraving. |
✔️ Simple Engraving with Tungsten Pen |
| 2️⃣ Cryptosteel | Pro: Durable and compact. Con: Time-consuming letter tile insertion. |
🔧 Manual Tile Insertion |
| 3️⃣ Billfodl | Pro: Fire, water, and impact-resistant. Con: Requires precision when inserting tiles. |
🔧 Letter Tile Insertion |
| 4️⃣ ColdBit Steel | Pro: Secure and tamper-proof. Con: Requires special tools for stamping and extreme precision. |
🔨 Manual Stamping with Letter Tools |
| 5️⃣ BitBox Steel | Pro: High-temperature resistance. Con: Requires manual engraving with the included tool by identifying each specific row and column pertaining to the letter. |
✏️ Manual Engraving with Pick Tool |
A Step-by-Step Guide: How to Generate a 24-Word Seed Phrase Using BIP39
Follow these steps to manually create a 24-word seed phrase using the BIP39 standard.
It’s important to note that some electronic hardware wallets will automatically create and give you your seed phrase recovery.
But in case you need to do it yourself, here’s an easy-to-follow guide.
Understand the BIP39 Standard 📚
- BIP39 is used to create a seed phrase from a fixed list of 2,048 predefined words.
Use a Secure Environment 🔒
- Generate your seed phrase offline in a private environment to avoid hacking malware, or spying attempts.
Choose a Reliable Tool ⚙️
- Use a trusted tool BIP39 Generator. Make sure you download and run it offline!
Generate the Seed Phrase 📝
- Open the BIP39 tool.
- Select “24 words” as the seed length.
- Store the generated words in the exact order that they appear.
Double Check and Verify ✅
- Verify each word carefully to avoid typos.
- Back up the phrase using a metal backup wallet like Material DIY.
For further details on how to set up and use your Material DIY seed phrase wallet, check out our tutorial.
| Security Best Practices for Managing a 24-Word Bitcoin Wallet | |
|---|---|
| ✅ | Store in a Secure Location:
|
| ✅ | Use Fireproof, Waterproof, and Tamper-Proof Storage:
|
| ✅ | No Digital Backups:
|
Secure Your Crpyot With a 24-Word Bitcoin Wallet
A 24-word Bitcoin wallet is your only backup for safeguarding your cryptocurrency.
Without it, you risk losing access to your digital assets forever.
Make sure to stay on top of crypto best practices and back up your wallet using a metal seed phrase wallet.
FAQs
What Is a 24-Word Seed Phrase?
- A 24-word seed phrase is a form of backup to recover your crypto wallet if it’s lost, stolen, or damaged.
Why Is It Important to Back Up My Seed Phrase?
- Without a backup, losing your wallet means losing access to your funds permanently.
How Should I Store My Seed Phrase?
- Store it in a secure, fireproof, and waterproof device like Material DIY, and never store it digitally.
Can I Use the Same Seed Phrase for Multiple Wallets?
- You can, but it’s not recommended.
What Happens If I Lose My Seed Phrase?
- If your seed phrase is lost, you won’t be able to access your funds. It’s suggested to keep multiple secure backups.
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