<p>There is no reason to use multiple cold storage wallets, but either way, offline-generated keys and a full sweep upon spending is enough to keep your funds completely safe. When the time comes, don't try to "test" moving funds <strong>out</strong> of cold storage. Do the full sweep.
Also see this
<a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/13843/if-my-wallet-is-sufficiently-secure-can-i-ever-lose-my-coins">if my wallet is sufficiently secure, can I ever lose my coins?</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-24T03:01:55.877Z
Can you please explain what is meant by "full sweep"?
Scott
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-24T18:41:02.360Z
move the entire balance into another address, then never use the first address again.
hedgedandlevered
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-24T23:34:09.863Z
Thanks for the reply, I feel better.  If I were to generate ONE address offline and use that for cold storage, can I use it to continually make deposits into it?  Without running a risk of a change address, etc?
user15400
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-23T23:12:05.773Z
2014-04-23T23:12:05.773Z
2017-04-13T12:47:33.660Z
hedgedandlevered
<p>I am ready to put some of my BTC holdings into a couple different cold storage wallets.  I went through the process already moving around a few mBits as tests, created the keys on an offline PC, sent real funds, then ran an import in bitcoin-qt, all good there!</p>

<p>My concern is this, If I move a few BTC into individual 1BTC wallets, do I have to worry about any Change Address issues if I simply ignore them completely for a long time?  Assuming my private keys are kept safe over time, is there any way I can lose funds this way?  I do not plan on making further deposits into any of these wallets, if my funds grow I will keep another hot wallet or setup more cold storage.  I also do not plan on withdrawing funds at any time, when I do it will be a full sweep per wallet.</p>

<p>Before I proceed with sending my hard earned mining BTC to each address, I want to make sure I take all the proper precautions, any help from you BTC pros is greatly appreciated.</p>

<bitcoin-core><coldstorage>
Bitcoin Cold Storage Question
user15400
# Bitcoin Cold Storage Question

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-04-22)

I am ready to put some of my BTC holdings into a couple different cold storage wallets. I went through the process already moving around a few mBits as tests, created the keys on an offline PC, sent real funds, then ran an import in bitcoin-qt, all good there!

My concern is this, If I move a few BTC into individual 1BTC wallets, do I have to worry about any Change Address issues if I simply ignore them completely for a long time? Assuming my private keys are kept safe over time, is there any way I can lose funds this way? I do not plan on making further deposits into any of these wallets, if my funds grow I will keep another hot wallet or setup more cold storage. I also do not plan on withdrawing funds at any time, when I do it will be a full sweep per wallet.

Before I proceed with sending my hard earned mining BTC to each address, I want to make sure I take all the proper precautions, any help from you BTC pros is greatly appreciated.

**Tags:** bitcoin-core, coldstorage


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-04-23. Score: 1

There is no reason to use multiple cold storage wallets, but either way, offline-generated keys and a full sweep upon spending is enough to keep your funds completely safe. When the time comes, don't try to "test" moving funds **out** of cold storage. Do the full sweep.
Also see this
[if my wallet is sufficiently secure, can I ever lose my coins?](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/13843/if-my-wallet-is-sufficiently-secure-can-i-ever-lose-my-coins)

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Can you please explain what is meant by "full sweep"?  
> **username_1**: move the entire balance into another address, then never use the first address again.  
> **username_0**: Thanks for the reply, I feel better.  If I were to generate ONE address offline and use that for cold storage, can I use it to continually make deposits into it?  Without running a risk of a change address, etc?  

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