From pen & paper to bitpen & metal: The path to secure Bitcoin backup

Bitcoin is like an open book: anyone can view its pages and use it. 21 million Bitcoins, no more and no less – limited, decentralized, independent. It makes it possible to move money from person to person without banks, as long as one doesn't become dependent on them again.

My name is Moritz, I'm a Bitcoiner, and like many others, I eventually asked myself how best to protect my Bitcoin. Two years ago, I was at that exact point. I wanted a solution that truly made sense, that respected my time, and that wouldn't fail because I might lose a piece of paper or, in the worst-case scenario, burn it. Because that's what most people actually do: they simply write their seed phrase on a piece of paper. Quick, yes, but anything but permanent. Paper disintegrates, it's not waterproof, and certainly not fireproof – so you're entrusting your existence to a medium that's at risk from the first spilled coffee.

The next best option, which many people use, is metal stamps. Hammer, letter punches, and then stamping each letter into a plate. It's certainly more robust than paper, no question. But anyone who's ever tried it knows it takes forever and is exhausting. And above all: it's a waste of time.

Back then, I started testing different methods. Ceramic initially seemed like a good option: inexpensive, fireproof, and readily available. But in practice, the material was brittle, the colors leached out with water, and ultimately, it was unreliable. I also tried fireproof concrete, which can withstand extreme temperatures, but the surface eventually crumbles. Glass etching and rotary engraving tools sounded like an elegant solution, almost like writing with a pen. But the engravings were either too superficial or the tools were too unwieldy and wore out quickly. There was always something that wasn't quite right.

Eventually, I came across devices that worked on the hammer-engraving principle: a small, hard tip strikes the metal at a rapid frequency, leaving a permanent engraving. Technically, this worked, but the devices themselves were bulky, loud, cheaply made, and practically unusable without spare parts. I knew: the basic idea was sound – it just needed to be rethought.

That's how the Bitpen mini came about. It's not a backup itself, but the tool you use to create your backup. And to do so as simply as possible. With the Bitpen mini, you engrave your seed directly into stainless steel or titanium. And that's exactly where it belongs, because it's the metal itself that makes your backup fireproof, tamper-proof, and permanent. The Bitpen mini simply ensures that this step is as straightforward as writing with a ballpoint pen. No hammering, no bulky device, no endless fiddling.

After two years of development and countless trials, the Bitpen mini is finally here. It's compact, intuitive, and designed so that absolutely anyone can use it – whether at home or on the go. The idea was always to create a tool that doesn't waste your time while still providing maximum security for your backup. Because paper deteriorates, metal lasts. And with the Bitpen, you're putting your seed phrase somewhere it will remain safe for decades to come.