A beginner’s guide to self-custodying your Bitcoin by using a TAPSIGNER

• **Glossary **
• **Tapsigner **
• What you need
• Setting up the TAPSIGNER on your phone

Taking custody of your Bitcoin is one of the most empowering things you can do - for yourself, for your loved ones and for humanity.

However, it can feel daunting, as it requires taking full responsibility for your money outside of banks, while navigating concepts and technology that may seem technical and unfamiliar.

TAPSIGNERS bridge this gap by making self-custody simple, intuitive and affordable. So even those with minimal technical knowledge can securely control their Bitcoin.

As this guide is aimed at those beginning their Bitcoin journey, it assumes you own around $100 to $1000 worth of BTC. 

Beyond this level, it may be worth considering more advanced security protocols, like higher-grade hardware wallets.   

§**Glossary **

**Bitcoin (BTC): **A decentralized digital currency that allows you to store, send and receive money without relying on banks or intermediaries

Private Key: A secret code that gives you full control over your Bitcoin. Anyone with this key can spend your funds

**Public Address: **A string of letters and numbers (“bc1…”) that you can safely share to receive Bitcoin

Hardware Wallet: A physical device that securely stores your private keys offline, keeping your Bitcoin safe from hackers

**NFC (Near Field Communication): **A technology that lets your phone communicate wirelessly with your TAPSIGNER card when tapped

Watch-Only Wallet: A digital wallet that lets you see your Bitcoin balance and receive addresses, but cannot spend the Bitcoin

xpub (Extended Public Key): A master public key that can generate all your wallet’s addresses. Used for watch-only wallets

Self-Custody: Holding your own private keys and controlling your Bitcoin directly, without relying on exchanges or banks

§**Tapsigner **

The TAPSIGNER is a compact, credit-card–sized hardware wallet developed by Coinkite.

It securely stores your Bitcoin private key within an NFC smart card, offering a blend of security, convenience and affordability.

• Easy to Use: Simply tap the card against your NFC-enabled phone to sign transactions- no cables or complex setups required

• Highly Secure: Your private key remains safely on the card and is never exposed to the internet, protecting your Bitcoin from online threats

• Portable: Its slim, credit-card size makes it easy to carry or store securely

• Compatible: Works seamlessly with wallet apps like Nunchuk for managing your Bitcoin and BlueWallet for watch-only access

• Affordable: Priced at $19.99, the TAPSIGNER offers a cost-effective solution for self-custodying Bitcoin, especially when compared to more advanced hardware wallets like the Coldcard Mk4, which is priced at $177.94

• Custom & Artistic Designs: TAPSIGNER cards come in a variety of artistic and creative designs, making them visually appealing and even collectible

• Discreet & Camouflaged: Some designs allow the card to blend in with everyday objects, adding an extra layer of physical privacy and discretion

• Multi-Signature Support: TAPSIGNER can be used in multi-sig setups, allowing you to require multiple signatures to spend Bitcoin, which increases security for larger holdings

§What you need

• A TAPSIGNER

• A NFC-capable phone 

• Download Nunchuk and Blue Wallet apps onto phone

§Setting up the TAPSIGNER on your phone

• Once inside the Nunchuk app, tap ‘add wallet’ or ‘add key/device’

• Then choose ‘add TAPSIGNER’

• The app will then guide you through ‘initialising’ your TAPSIGNER. During this process, it will create the private key which holds your Bitcoin

• You will then be asked to set up a backup and passphrase (PIN) - follow these steps carefully 

• Tap the card again to verify that the process worked correctly

• Once done, Nunchuk will display your Bitcoin receiving address (xpub) (a long string starting with “bc1…”) 

• You now have a hardware wallet ready to safely store your Bitcoin

• Next, you can set up a view-only wallet. This will allow you to send Bitcoin to your Tapsigner wallet and to view the balance of the wallet

• You will need to copy and save the Bitcoin receiving address (xpub) mentioned above

• Save the xpub number (“bc1…) then open the Blue Wallet app

• In Blue Wallet, tap the + and select import new wallet

• You can then paste in the xpub that you got from Nunchuk

• Blue Wallet will recognise that it is a watch-only wallet

• Give the wallet a name and then select ‘import’

• Then, you can send money from a crypto exchange to the view-only wallet. Remember, you will only be able to spend the Bitcoin by using the TAPSIGNER

• Login to your exchange

• Go to the withdraw/send Bitcoin section

• Paste the Blue Wallet receiving address into the ‘recipient’ field

• Send a small test transaction e.g. $5

• Wait for confirmation (could take 10 minutes or more) 

• Finally, the Bitcoin will appear in the wallet, and the process of self custodying your Bitcoin is complete!