How to Send Bitcoin as a Birthday or Christmas Gift
· 3 min read
Short answer: Ask the recipient for their Bitcoin deposit address (for example from their KWIQ app), send a small amount on the regular Bitcoin network, and tell them what you've sent and how to check it. Explain that the value moves with Bitcoin's price, and that they can hold it or sell it for naira at any time. If they'd rather have a steady dollar value, send USDT instead. Avoid paper wallets and 'crypto gift card' sites you don't know.
Tired of giving the same envelope of cash, or a gift card that sits unused? A little Bitcoin makes a memorable birthday, graduation or Christmas present, especially for someone who's been curious about crypto.
It's easy to do well. Here's how.
Step 1: Get their address, not their password
The recipient needs a Bitcoin deposit address. If they don't have a wallet yet, help them set one up: in the KWIQ app, they open the Bitcoin (BTC) wallet, tap deposit, and copy the address.
Ask them to send it to you by message. Never ask for, or accept, someone's password, PIN or seed phrase "to set it up for them". An address is all you need.
Bitcoin addresses usually start with 1, 3 or bc1. If you want to double-check one, paste it into our crypto address checker.
Step 2: Decide the amount
You don't have to give a whole Bitcoin. It's divisible into 100 million satoshis ("sats"), so you can gift any amount. Use the satoshi converter to see what a naira amount is worth in Bitcoin and sats today.
Bear in mind the network fee: it's paid by you as the sender and doesn't change much with the amount. For very small gifts, it can be a noticeable share, as we explain in fees versus amount for small Bitcoin transfers.
Step 3: Send it
From the app or exchange where you hold Bitcoin:
- Choose to send or withdraw Bitcoin to an external address.
- Choose the regular Bitcoin network.
- Paste the recipient's address and check the first and last few characters.
- Confirm.
Step 4: Explain the gift
This is the part that makes it a good gift rather than a confusing one. Send a short note:
Happy birthday! I've sent you 0.0005 BTC (Bitcoin) to your KWIQ wallet. It should show up within the hour. Its value goes up and down with the Bitcoin price. You can keep it, or sell it for naira in the app any time. Enjoy!
If they're new to crypto, our post on explaining crypto to your parents has simple ways to put it, and how to own a small amount of Bitcoin is a good next read for them.
Bitcoin or USDT?
| Bitcoin | USDT | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Moves with the market | Tracks the US dollar |
| Feels like | A small investment | Digital dollars |
| Best for | Someone curious about Bitcoin | Someone who'll spend it soon |
If your sister will use the gift for school fees next month, USDT is kinder. If your nephew has been asking about Bitcoin for a year, Bitcoin is the fun choice.
What to avoid
- Paper wallets (a printed key): easy to lose, easy to copy, and hard for beginners to use safely.
- Unknown "crypto gift card" websites. Stick to sending directly to an address.
- Sending to the wrong network. Bitcoin goes to a Bitcoin address, on the Bitcoin network.
Turning the gift into naira
Whenever the recipient wants to spend it, they open the KWIQ app, choose how much to sell, see the rate and the naira amount, and confirm. Swapping to naira is free, and naira hits their bank account in just 4 seconds.
Download the KWIQ app to send or receive Bitcoin gifts, or sign up on the web.
Frequently asked questions
How much Bitcoin should I give?
Any amount you're comfortable with. You don't have to give a whole Bitcoin: it's divisible into tiny units called satoshis, so a gift worth ₦10,000 or ₦50,000 works fine.
What if the recipient doesn't have a crypto wallet?
Help them set one up first, for example by downloading the KWIQ app, so they have a Bitcoin deposit address. Then send the gift to that address.
Can I give Bitcoin to a child?
Crypto apps usually require users to be adults. You could hold it in your own wallet for them and pass it on later, or give it to a parent to hold.
Will the gift lose value?
It might, or it might gain. Bitcoin's price moves. If the recipient wants a fixed amount, USDT is a better gift because it tracks the dollar.
Written by
Ikechukwu Menik
Technical Writer at KWIQ
Writes KWIQ’s guides on crypto, payments and keeping your money safe online.
