<p><strong>Paper wallet:</strong></p>

<p><em>pros:</em></p>

<ul>
<li>easy to store</li>
<li>easy to create</li>
<li>provide the same amount of security as the fiat money does</li>
<li>you don't need to worry about viruses</li>
<li>valid for a long time</li>
</ul>

<p><em>cons:</em></p>

<ul>
<li>easy to be misplaced</li>
<li>if you cannot provide phisical security, it is more likely useless</li>
</ul>

<p><strong>wallet.dat on pendrive</strong></p>

<p><em>pros:</em></p>

<ul>
<li>none, in my opinion</li>
</ul>

<p><em>cons:</em></p>

<ul>
<li>easy to be misplaced</li>
<li>pendrive can become corrupted in the next few years, due to hardware deterioration</li>
<li>it can easly be stolen or copied</li>
<li>again, you need to provide phisical security</li>
<li>wallet.dat format can change over time, thus making your data hard to recover (depends on the future decision of devs)</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-28T22:40:02.603Z
Actually... no. What is more convinient for you? Scanning a QR code / typing private key into Btc client, or merge 2 wallet.dat (it is non-trivial using standard BitcoinQT client)?
Maciej Mączko
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-28T19:23:48.547Z
2013-11-28T19:23:48.547Z
Maciej Mączko
<p>What does everyone think? Also what are the advantages and disadvantages of each one?</p>

<wallet><offline>
Paper wallet vs wallet.dat on memory stick for long term storage?
user9560
# Paper wallet vs wallet.dat on memory stick for long term storage?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-11-28)

What does everyone think? Also what are the advantages and disadvantages of each one?

**Tags:** wallet, offline


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-11-28. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

**Paper wallet:**

*pros:*

* easy to store
* easy to create
* provide the same amount of security as the fiat money does
* you don't need to worry about viruses
* valid for a long time

*cons:*

* easy to be misplaced
* if you cannot provide phisical security, it is more likely useless

**wallet.dat on pendrive**

*pros:*

* none, in my opinion

*cons:*

* easy to be misplaced
* pendrive can become corrupted in the next few years, due to hardware deterioration
* it can easly be stolen or copied
* again, you need to provide phisical security
* wallet.dat format can change over time, thus making your data hard to recover (depends on the future decision of devs)

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Actually... no. What is more convinient for you? Scanning a QR code / typing private key into Btc client, or merge 2 wallet.dat (it is non-trivial using standard BitcoinQT client)?  

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