Frequently Asked Questions
Plus a few tips and tricks
BIP39 stands for Bitcoin Improvement Proposal 39, which is a widely-used standard for generating and storing mnemonic phrases (also called seed phrases) for cryptocurrency wallets.
In simple terms, a mnemonic phrase is a series of words (usually 12, 18, or 24) that are randomly generated and used to securely back up and restore a cryptocurrency wallet. These words are derived from a pre-defined list of words, and the combination of words generates a unique key that is used to access the wallet.
BIP39 provides a standardized method for generating these mnemonic phrases, making it easier for different wallets and platforms to interoperate. It also includes a checksum to help detect errors in the phrase, and supports multiple languages to allow for wider adoption and accessibility.
Overall, BIP39 is an important tool for securely managing and backing up cryptocurrency wallets, and has become a widely-adopted standard in the industry.
Many hardware wallets allow you to use a passphrase, sometimes called the "25th word." Your first 24 words create your main wallet, but adding a passphrase is like creating an entirely new wallet hidden on top of your main wallet. To access this, you would need the original 24 seed words AND the additional passphrase. See your hardware wallet providor for information regarding adding a passphrase.
If you wish to use a passphrase and are taking words from the BIP39 wordlist, we recommend using at least 6 words. Because Hidden Phrase plates are affordable, you could have one plate with your 12-24 word seed phrase, and a second plate with your 6 word passphrase. You may consider storing these plates in seperate locations for additional security.
Add a Secret Code to Your Hidden Phrase Plate
With Hidden Phrase plates you are not storing your seed phrase in plain text (words), but instead as a list of numbers recording the position of each word on the BIP39 wordlist. Because it is a list of numbers you can easily add a secret code to manipulate this list.
For example, lets say "8" is my favorite number. When looking up each of my seed words I could subtract 8. So if my first word was "gasp" #770, I would instead record #762 on my Hidden Phrase plate. Repeat with each seed word.
To recover the seed phrase you would simply add that same number to each word placement. Even if someone found your Hidden Phrase plate and knew how to use/read the plate, they still wouldn't be able to find your seed phrase without knowing your secret code (In this example, adding 8 to each word placement).
Step-by-Step Instructions for Applying an Example Secret Code
The above was just a very simplified example. You can get creative with this, such as:
- Applying the code to every other word, every fifth word, etc.
- Adding the secret code instead of subtracting.
- Using a multi-digit code. For example: Subtract 4 from the first word, 20 from the second word, 69 from the third word, and repeat.
Just be sure to remember your secret code and how it was applied!!!
"Where should I hide/store my Hidden Phrase plates?"
Good question, but the answer really depends on you and your situation. For most people a home safe or bank safe depost box might be your first choice. You may also choose to keep a copy stored at another location, such as the home of a trusted family member.
Hidden Phrase plates are purposefully unbranded, so most people would not recognize them as seed phrase storage. Additionally, they have screw holes at each corner to secure the plates to wood in a secure hiding spot.
It should go without saying, but DON'T FORGET WHERE YOU HID THEM!
My bike is made out of titanium. Titanium is awesome. Unlike me, titanium is light, strong, and looks fantastic! But.....it's also quite pricey. The same goes for the rising materials cost of using lower gauge (thicker) stainless steel.
At just under 1mm our plates are half the thickness of most other seed phrase plates. But lets be honest, your goal shouldn't be trying to make bulletproof vests or parts for the space shuttle out of these things. The idea is to have something far more durable to water, fire, and time damage as compared to simply uisng paper backups. And 304 stainless steel, even at our thickness, will do just that.
The Lightning Network allows users to send payments with very low fees and without having to trust any third-party intermediaries. Unlike credit cards that charge between 2.5 to 4% fees, Lightning fees are a fraction of a %, often so low they aren't apparent in the transaction cost. This is one of the reasons we can provide Hidden Phrase seed plates at such a low price and why Lightning payments are becoming more popular around the world. In fact, the country of El Salvador made Bitcoin legal tender in 2021 and Lightning transactions are used throughout the country, even by streetvendors.
The Bitcoin Lightning Network is a layer 2 scaling solution for the Bitcoin network that enables faster and cheaper transactions with a higher level of scalability. Some benefits of using the Lightning Network include:
Faster transactions: The Lightning Network allows users to make transactions instantly, without waiting for confirmations on the Bitcoin blockchain. This means that users can send and receive payments almost instantly, making it more efficient for microtransactions and day-to-day purchases.
Lower fees: Since transactions on the Lightning Network are off-chain, they are not subject to the same transaction fees as on-chain Bitcoin transactions. This makes it much cheaper to send small amounts of Bitcoin, and reduces the overall transaction fees for users.
Increased scalability: The Lightning Network increases the number of transactions that can be processed on the Bitcoin network, allowing it to scale to handle a much higher volume of transactions. This is crucial for the long-term viability of Bitcoin as a global payment system.
Privacy and security: The Lightning Network uses advanced cryptography and smart contract technology to ensure that transactions are secure and private. This provides an additional layer of security for users who want to keep their financial information private.
Improved user experience: The Lightning Network makes it easier for users to send and receive Bitcoin, without having to worry about the technical details of the blockchain. This improves the overall user experience and makes Bitcoin more accessible to a wider range of users.
If you want to go really deep to learn more about the Lightning network, check out this article by Lyn Alden: A Look At the Lightning Network