If you have a spare laptop, generate a wallet with Core or Electrum offline, and simply withdraw to it. You can export the xpub, and witness the transaction confirm from a watch-only wallet based on that xpub.
Discussion
Ooh. Interesting. I do have a spare laptop. If I download electrum and then disconnect from internet, it will still produce addressesβ¦ and remain offlineβ¦. I like that idea
It is a poor-man's hardware wallet. If you have your choice of wallet software, I recommend Sparrow or Nunchuck. You can generate a bip39 compliant seed phrase and later restore the wallet on dedicated hardware, like a ColdCard, BitBox or Jade. Once ypuve confirmed the wallet has been properly restored to the hardware wallet, you can then just wipe the laptop
Or just slam the seed phrase into steel, test the restore from the steel seed phrase, wipe the hardware, and keep it super super cold with no hardware wallet.
Ypu can make a cheap steel seed phrase storage option with steel washers, a letter stamp kit, and a hammer. All these things can be acquired at a hardware store like Do It Best or Harbor Freight
Get a bolt ans a wingnut to keep the washers together.
Recommend
Use a HW wallet
It all depends on budget, time, technical aptitude and appetite for risk
You donβt have a choice. You internet connected laptop is just another hot wallet. Infected with Any 0 day malware and all your funds is gone. Be careful
Low likelihood but always possible
Probably lower risk of this than of Coinbase imploding though
That is why you keep it offline before you generate the wallet and while it is holding keys. Rip out the network module, if you must.
Ultimately yes 100%
But Iβm looking for a near-immediate solution that doesnβt require ordering something online or having a more experienced user help walk through it (as we wonβt be able to connect in person for a couple of weeks)
Send it to someone he can trust that has a cold wallet is the next safest bet. It is terrifying for Someone who doesnβt have any experience with self custody to handle a big stack of sats.
Iβve thought about offering him an address on my hww until he gets his own set up
Thatβs the easiest way. Send him your fiat equivalent to hold just in case you rugged him. π