Bitcoin Not Crypto How to move Bitcoin from a seed phrase only wallet to a passphrase wallet using one hardware wallet.
Dec 24, 2025
Discover the benefits of upgrading from a seed-phrase-only wallet to a passphrase-protected one for enhanced security. Learn how passphrases create hidden wallets, safeguarding your Bitcoin. Explore step-by-step methods to enable passphrases on popular hardware wallets like Coldcard. Follow a detailed guide on transferring funds, verifying ownership, and testing your new wallet setup. The importance of signing transactions for security is underscored, ensuring your keys are truly under your control.
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Passphrase Creates A Hidden Wallet
- A passphrase creates an entirely new hidden wallet layered on top of your seed phrase wallet.
- If an attacker obtains only your seed words they may find an empty or decoy wallet while your real funds remain hidden behind the passphrase.
Enable And Back Up Your Passphrase Separately
- Enable and use a passphrase on your hardware wallet to separate backups from actual ownership.
- Back up the passphrase separately from your seed phrase and memorize exact characters (caps, spaces, symbols) to avoid creating different wallets.
Record The Master Fingerprint For Verification
- Create the passphrase wallet on your hardware device and record its master fingerprint for later verification.
- Use the fingerprint to confirm you're in the correct passphrase wallet before sending funds.