Transfer your Bitcoin to a new wallet with a clean seed phrase in 8 minutes
Create an independent wallet, move your funds, and permanently close access to the compromised storage
- 1.Download Sparrow Wallet - a free, open-source Bitcoin wallet. Go to the official website and download the version for your OS. Verify the domain is exactly sparrowwallet.com - fakes and phishing are the top threat right now.
Sparrow runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. If the website is unavailable in your region - use a mirror from the project's official GitHub repository.
Sparrow Wallet ↗ - 2.Launch Sparrow, click File -> New Wallet. Enter a wallet name (e.g., «Cold-2026»). Click Create Wallet.Sparrow Wallet ↗
- 3.In the Keystore section, select New or Imported Software Wallet -> New. Choose 12 words (Seed Words). Click Generate New. Write all 12 words ON PAPER in the exact order. Do NOT photograph, do NOT copy to clipboard, do NOT save to a file, do NOT enter into online services.
Your seed phrase is the only key to your money. Whoever holds the words holds the Bitcoin. Store the paper in a safe or a secure place inaccessible to others.
Sparrow Wallet ↗ - 4.Confirm the seed phrase by entering the words in the same order. Click Create Wallet, then Backup - save the encrypted wallet file to a USB drive.Sparrow Wallet ↗
- 5.Go to the Receive tab. Copy the receiving address (starts with bc1). Open your old wallet and send ALL funds to this address. First send a test transaction with a minimal amount - confirm the funds arrived, then transfer the rest.
If your old wallet has a Sweep Private Key feature - use it; it will automatically transfer the entire balance including «dust».
Sparrow Wallet ↗ - 6.While waiting for confirmation, open ChatGPT and ask the AI to create a personal security checklist. Paste the following prompt, replacing the text in square brackets with your general parameters.
WARNING: do not enter real wallet addresses, exact amounts, or your seed phrase into the AI. Provide only an amount range and general storage conditions.
ChatGPT ↗About this toolPromptYou are a cryptocurrency security expert. A wallet service I used was compromised. I have moved my Bitcoin to a new software wallet with a fresh 12-word seed phrase stored on paper. Create a post-incident security checklist covering: 1) Additional steps to verify the new wallet is fully independent from the compromised service, 2) Best practices for long-term seed phrase storage (I have [a home safe / a safety deposit box / neither]), 3) Whether I should upgrade to a hardware wallet or multisig setup for [my amount is under 0.5 BTC / over 0.5 BTC], 4) How to monitor the old wallet addresses for suspicious activity, 5) Common social engineering attacks to watch for after a breach. Output as a numbered checklist with brief explanations.
What this prompt doesThe prompt asks the AI to create a detailed post-breach security checklist. Replace the text in square brackets: indicate whether you have a safe or a bank deposit box, and an approximate amount range (not the exact amount). The checklist will cover: verifying the new wallet's independence, seed phrase storage rules, hardware wallet and multisig recommendations, monitoring old addresses, and social engineering protection. - 7.After the transaction is confirmed (1 - 3 blocks, ~10 - 30 minutes), delete all files and apps of the compromised wallet. Consider the old seed phrase permanently exposed - never reuse it.
Check the balance in Sparrow Wallet. If the amount matches - the transfer is complete. For amounts over 0.5 BTC, consider purchasing a hardware wallet (Trezor, ColdCard, BitBox02) and transferring funds to it.
Sparrow Wallet ↗
- freeSparrow WalletFully free open-source wallet, no subscriptions, no limits on the number of wallets or transactions.
- freeChatGPT (free tier)The free tier lets you generate checklists and texts; sufficient for this recipe without paying for Plus.
Why today
AI services change fast - interfaces and free limits may differ from what's described.