Bitcoin Bench

From a bench at a Bitcoin meetup, to your screen.

Sharing simple tips on #Bitcoin self-custody, inheritance and more.

Building ₿itcoin Bench 👇

[Bitcoin Bench @BitcoinBench]

Never. Ever. EVER.

• Take a photo of your seed phrase.
• Screenshot your seed phrase.
• Save it in a text file.
• Put it in a password manager.
• Email it to yourself.

Your photo library syncs to the cloud and hackers are constantly scanning for them. Metal and paper only.

[Bitcoin Bench @BitcoinBench]

What is an "air-gapped" wallet?

It’s a wallet that never touches the internet. It signs transactions using a microSD card (PSBT) or a camera (QR code).

It’s the gold standard for keeping your keys safe from online hackers.

[Bitcoin Bench @BitcoinBench]

You don't have a backup until you've tested it.
Your plan must include a "dry run." Recover your wallet from your seed phrase on a new device.
If you can't do it in a calm, controlled setting, your family can't do it under stress.
A plan you haven't tested is just a prayer.

[Bitcoin Bench @BitcoinBench]

I will never DM you first. No support team will ever DM you first. No one will ever ask you to "validate your wallet" or "sync your node" by entering your seed phrase.

Every single DM you get like this is a scam.

Every. Single. One.

[Bitcoin Bench @BitcoinBench]

Hot Wallet: Connected to the internet (e.g., a phone app).
Cold Wallet: Completely offline (e.g., a hardware wallet).

Treat them like your real-world wallets. A hot wallet is for "pocket money." Your cold wallet is your vault. Never keep your life savings in a hot wallet.

[Bitcoin Bench @BitcoinBench]

"Not Your Keys, Not Your Coins."

This isn't just a slogan; it's the 1st commandment of Bitcoin. If your coins are on an exchange, you have an IOU from a company that can (and does) go bankrupt, get hacked, or freeze your account.

Self-custody is the only way.

[Bitcoin Bench @BitcoinBench]

For Bitcoin-only Invoicing, Zaprite does not require KYC. You can sign up with only an email and link your own self-custody wallet (Coldcard, Sparrow, or Wasabi) to receive Bitcoin payments. In this setup, Zaprite is just a non-custodial invoice-generation tool.

[Bitcoin Bench @BitcoinBench]

The ultimate No-KYC method? Earn it. When you're paid in Bitcoin, it's a direct, peer-to-peer transaction. Tools like @BtcpayServer (self-hosted) or @Zaprite (simple) let you invoice and receive sats directly to your own wallet. You're not 'buying,' you're earning.

[Bitcoin Bench @BitcoinBench]

How to buy No-KYC Bitcoin:
1. P2P: Use a peer-to-peer platform like Hodl Hodl.
2. Cash: Use a cash voucher system at a Bitcoin ATM.
3. Earn it: The best way. Invoice for your work and get paid in sats. Start your stack right.

[Bitcoin Bench @BitcoinBench]

Definition: KYC = 'Know Your Customer.' It's the ID verification (driver's license, passport) exchanges require. When you buy KYC Bitcoin, your identity is forever linked to those coins on the public blockchain. This creates a permanent privacy and security risk.

[Bitcoin Bench @BitcoinBench]

Buying KYC #Bitcoin is like buying a house and leaving your name and a key under the front mat. True self-sovereignty starts before the coins even hit your wallet. It starts with private, No-KYC acquisition.

[Bitcoin Bench @BitcoinBench]

Your Bitcoin's 'history' is public. If you buy (KYC) & send to your wallet, an inevitable data leak can show that you bought, when, & how much you have.

This is self-custody, but it's self-custody with your name & address taped to the vault door.

[Bitcoin Bench @BitcoinBench]

Ethos: KYC (giving your ID) isn't just a one-time hassle. It's a permanent privacy vulnerability. The exchange that holds your ID and transaction history will get hacked, leaked, or subpoenaed. Your 'safe' stack is now a target. This is why No-KYC matters.

[Bitcoin Bench @BitcoinBench]

Privacy is not about hiding crime. It's about protecting your right to a private life. You use curtains on your windows. You use an envelope for your mail. Think of CoinJoin and No-KYC as digital curtains for your finances. It's just good sense.

[Bitcoin Bench @BitcoinBench]

Your inheritance plan needs people, not just tech. Define these roles:
The Executor: The non-technical "project manager" who holds the map.
The Technical Guide: The #Bitcoin expert who helps the Executor.
The Heir: The beneficiary.
Write it down. Your family needs a process.

[Solo Satoshi 🇺🇲 @SoloSatoshi]

🚨SOLO BLOCK FOUND

A home miner with only ~6.73TH/s of total hashrate just mined a block for 3.146 BTC totaling $264,558.

[Bitcoin Bench @BitcoinBench]

SIM Swaps are real. A scammer tricks your carrier, ports your number to their SIM, and gets all your "Forgot Password" texts & 2FA codes. They can drain your exchange accounts.
Solution: Move all 2FA off of SMS. Use an Authenticator App or, even better, a YubiKey.

[Bitcoin Bench @BitcoinBench]

Your inheritance plan needs a central "map"—a non-technical "Bridge Document" for your family.
It tells them who to call (lawyer, tech guide) and what to look for (a hardware wallet in a safe, a metal plate).
Crucially, the keys/seeds are NOT in the map.

[Satoshigallery @satoshigallery]

Very mini mini Satoshi Nakamoto 14k golden edition, some behind the scenes…
Not there yet, need to improve and test the 18k too….

[Bitcoin Bench @BitcoinBench]

@BitcoinMerchCom GOLDEN