<p>I have an old <code>wallet.dat</code> file with a few Bitcoins. It is stored in an isolated computer that is not connected to the internet.</p>

<p>I would like to get rid of the <code>wallet.dat</code> file, and move all the Bitcoins in it to a few separate paper wallets (created using <a href="https://www.bitaddress.org/bitaddress.org-v2.9.3-SHA1-7d47ab312789b7b3c1792e4abdb8f2d95b726d64.html" rel="nofollow">bitaddress.org</a>).</p>

<p>The naive approach would be installing Bitcoin-QT, and make the transaction. Unfortunately, this is insecure - hackers could potentially steal my Bitcoins while I am online.</p>

<p>The secure way should probably be something like:</p>

<ol>
<li>Import the private key from <code>wallet.dat</code> using some command-line tool, on the offline computer.</li>
<li>Sign a transaction on the offline computer.</li>
<li>Copy the signed transaction (sans any private key!) to an online computer using a flash drive.</li>
<li>Publish the transaction from the online computer.</li>
</ol>

<p>I've inspected a few tools, including <a href="https://electrum.org/" rel="nofollow">Electrum</a> and <a href="https://bitcoinarmory.com/" rel="nofollow">Armory</a>, but I seek for your advice regarding the simplicity and safety of these tools.</p>

<p><strong>Any advice how to sign a transaction offline and publish it offline, to salvage the bitcoins from my <code>wallet.dat</code> file?</strong></p>

<security><ubuntu><coldstorage><paper-wallet><offline>
How to securly move bitcoins from a wallet.dat file to a paper wallet?
Adam Matan
# How to securly move bitcoins from a wallet.dat file to a paper wallet?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-08-16)

I have an old `wallet.dat` file with a few Bitcoins. It is stored in an isolated computer that is not connected to the internet.

I would like to get rid of the `wallet.dat` file, and move all the Bitcoins in it to a few separate paper wallets (created using [bitaddress.org](https://www.bitaddress.org/bitaddress.org-v2.9.3-SHA1-7d47ab312789b7b3c1792e4abdb8f2d95b726d64.html)).

The naive approach would be installing Bitcoin-QT, and make the transaction. Unfortunately, this is insecure - hackers could potentially steal my Bitcoins while I am online.

The secure way should probably be something like:

1. Import the private key from `wallet.dat` using some command-line tool, on the offline computer.
2. Sign a transaction on the offline computer.
3. Copy the signed transaction (sans any private key!) to an online computer using a flash drive.
4. Publish the transaction from the online computer.

I've inspected a few tools, including [Electrum](https://electrum.org/) and [Armory](https://bitcoinarmory.com/), but I seek for your advice regarding the simplicity and safety of these tools.

**Any advice how to sign a transaction offline and publish it offline, to salvage the bitcoins from my `wallet.dat` file?**

**Tags:** security, ubuntu, coldstorage, paper-wallet, offline


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## 0 answers

