Looking for that unique gift idea that you just couldn't score at the mall or get delivered by the almighty Amazon? While many people may just go with a gift card or even send cold hard cash as a last minute gift, why not consider giving the gift of Bitcoin this holiday season? Cryptocurrency popularity is on the rise among young adults and teens and can make for a great conversation piece around the holiday dinner table that can even be educational! If you are looking for easy ways to send someone Bitcoin as a holiday gift this Christmas you can't go wrong with my top 5 ways to get the job done right!

Bitcoin Gift Cards

Just like the gift cards you buy in the store, these gift cards come loaded with Bitcoin that you can then lock away for another day or transfer them to an exchange or wallet of your choice for trading. There are not a lot of places out there that offer true Bitcoin gift cards, but the folks over at Bit4Coin offer a great solution that looks straight forward and easy to get a nice looking giftcard already loaded with Bitcoin. While they are a European based company, you can still get your gift card to the US if you rush it! This is the only solution you don't already have to have purchased cryptocurrency ahead of time. 

A Paper Wallet

A paper wallet is exactly what is sounds like. It is just the keys you need to access your Bitcoin printed out on a piece of paper. This is one of the MOST simple ways to give the gift of Bitcoin this season, but it does require you to purchase Bitcoin ahead of time. If you are not familiar at all with purchasing Bitcoin or crypto you still have time before the holidays to open an account and get it done. I did a full step-by-step tutorial on how you can quickly setup a crypto account here. Once you DO have some Bitcoin purchased you can ee my recent article on How To Make A Paper Wallet for details on completing the process.

 

Physical Coins

While cryptocurrencies are an all digital asset there are a few companies that produce physical coins that INCLUDE a small amount of Bitcoin or crypto on them. These are really just fun collector coins, but they make an impressive holiday gift! Denarium is the leader when it comes to physical cryptocurrency coins that include pre-loaded amounts of cryptocurrency. They ship world wide and they also accept paypal! This particular company has a long standing and is the trusted source for these particular gifts. They even have a great section on how to spend your crypto once you receive the coin. 

Be on the lookout for “similar” companies or coins on places like eBay or Amazon that may be trying to scam you as they have already taken the Bitcoins off the coin but don't tell you… 

Pre-loaded Hardware Wallet

One of the most secure ways to hold your Bitcoin (or many other coins) is to load them onto a hardware wallet. A hardware wallet is an actual device (much like a USB key) where you can store your cryptocurrency outside of a computer so it is super safe. Once these are loaded you can put them in a safe place so they can't be compromised or lost. There are 3 major retailers of hardware wallets that I recommend, each have a slightly different set of features. 

 

  • Ledger – One of the most popular and sleek wallets.
  • Trezor – Right up there with Ledger in popularity & my person favorite. Love the Model T touchescreen. 
  • Keepkey – This is a little lessor known brand, but they have a great offering.

You have to first purchase these wallets and then “pre-load” them yourself. One you have the device in your hand it is pretty easy to follow the included instructions to load it with your crypto. Of course you first have to buy Bitcoin or crypto to do this, so follow my instructions here for that if you missed it above. This is a “high end” gift for someone that is probably already into cryptocurrencies or at least has an understanding and desire for trading. 

Bitcoin Gifts Without Actual Bitcoin

Last but not least, we have a much cheaper and easier option of just getting some Bitcoin “themed” gifts instead of actually giving Bitcoin itself. While a really sweet pair of socks might not increase in value over time, they could still be the hit of the holidaze! One of my favorite places to shop for crypto themed items, especially clothing, is Encrypted Apparel. They have a good selection of designs that are not “over the top”. Here I am in one of their t-shirts I really like and the plugged it on their Instagram channel!

Another great idea is to give a book about crypto as a gift. One of my favorite authors and experts in the space is Andreas Antonopoulos. His book Mastering Bitcoin is a great one and you can grab it on Amazon here. 

 

Well I hope my quick top 5 lists on the best ways to give crypto to your friends & family this holiday has been helpful! Leave a comment below if you have any other suggestions or great places you like to find more great gift ideas. Until next time…

‘Stache That Crypto Friends!