Marscoin Paper Wallet
Generate and print a Marscoin paper wallet for offline cold storage. The most secure way to store MARS long-term — no software, no hardware, no network connection required.
Overview
A paper wallet is the simplest form of cold storage: a Marscoin private key and its corresponding public address, printed on a piece of paper. There is no software to run, no hardware device to maintain, and no network connection involved. Your MARS exist on the blockchain, and the paper holds the only key that can move them.
Paper wallets are ideal for long-term storage of MARS that you do not plan to spend frequently. They are immune to malware, software vulnerabilities, and remote attacks — because there is no software to attack.
How It Works
A Marscoin address is derived from a private key through elliptic curve cryptography. The private key is a large random number; the public address is a mathematical derivation of that key. Anyone can send MARS to the public address, but only the holder of the private key can spend them.
A paper wallet is simply these two values — the private key and the public address — rendered in a format you can print and store physically.
Generating a Paper Wallet
You can generate a Marscoin paper wallet at marsaddress.org. For maximum security, follow the offline generation procedure below.
The Critical Rule: Generate Offline
The entire point of a paper wallet is that the private key never touches a networked device. If you generate your key on a computer connected to the internet, malware could intercept it. To maintain the security guarantee:
- Download the paper wallet generator from marsaddress.org or the Marscoin GitHub repository while online
- Disconnect from the internet — physically unplug the Ethernet cable, disable Wi-Fi
- Open the generator in your browser (it runs entirely client-side, no server needed)
- Generate your key pair — move your mouse or type random characters to seed the random number generator
- Print the wallet — use a printer connected directly to your computer (not a network printer)
- Clear your browser data and restart your computer before reconnecting to the internet
What to Print
Your paper wallet should include:
- Public address — the address where you will send MARS for storage (safe to share)
- Private key — the key that controls the funds (keep absolutely secret)
- QR codes for both — allows scanning for easy use without manual transcription
Many paper wallet generators produce a formatted printout with both values and their QR codes, designed to be folded and sealed.
Storing Your Paper Wallet
The security of a paper wallet is only as good as its physical storage:
- Make multiple copies. A single copy can be destroyed by fire, flood, or simple misplacement. Store copies in different physical locations.
- Use waterproof, fireproof storage. A fireproof safe or safety deposit box provides protection against environmental damage.
- Seal it. Fold the wallet so the private key is not visible, and seal it in a tamper-evident envelope. If someone sees your private key, they can take your MARS.
- Do not photograph it. A photo on your phone is a networked copy of your private key — the opposite of cold storage.
- Label it clearly so you (or your heirs) can identify what it is without opening the seal.
Spending from a Paper Wallet
When you want to spend MARS from a paper wallet, you must import (sweep) the private key into a software wallet:
- Open your preferred Marscoin wallet (Electrum, Marscoin Core, or the web wallet)
- Use the “Import” or “Sweep” function
- Scan the private key QR code or enter the key manually
- The wallet will transfer all MARS from the paper wallet address to your software wallet
Important: Once you sweep a paper wallet, consider it compromised. The private key has now been on a networked device. Do not reuse the paper wallet for new deposits — generate a fresh one if you want to move funds back to cold storage.
When to Use a Paper Wallet
Good for:
- Long-term storage of MARS you will not access frequently
- Savings that you want to protect from all digital threats
- Gift wallets — load a paper wallet with MARS and give it to someone
- Backup storage alongside a primary software wallet
Not ideal for:
- Frequent transactions (sweeping is inconvenient for daily use)
- Users who might lose physical items (if you lose all copies, the MARS are gone forever)
- Situations where you need quick access to funds
Security Summary
| Threat | Paper Wallet Protection |
|---|---|
| Malware | Immune (no software to infect) |
| Remote hacking | Immune (no network connection) |
| Exchange bankruptcy | Immune (self-custody) |
| Physical theft | Vulnerable (store securely, use tamper-evident seals) |
| Physical destruction | Vulnerable (make multiple copies in different locations) |
| User error | Vulnerable (follow generation and storage procedures carefully) |
A paper wallet trades digital convenience for physical security. For most people, it is the right choice for the portion of their MARS holdings that they want to keep safe for the long term, while using a software wallet for everyday activity.
