<p>You should create multisig transactions.
Multisignature (multisig) refers to requiring more than one key to authorize a Bitcoin transaction. It is generally used to divide up responsibility for possession of bitcoins.</p>

<p>Standard transactions on the Bitcoin network could be called “single-signature transactions,” because transfers require only one signature — from the owner of the private key associated with the Bitcoin address. However, the Bitcoin network supports much more complicated transactions that require the signatures of multiple people before the funds can be transferred. These are often referred to as M-of-N transactions. The idea is that Bitcoins become “encumbered” by providing addresses of multiple parties, thus requiring cooperation of those parties in order to do anything with them. These parties can be people, institutions or programmed scripts.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-19T21:22:02.503Z
2018-02-19T21:22:02.503Z
Tailer
<p>That's not possible. If your friend has the private key, he has everything he needs to spend all the bitcoins of that address.</p>

<p>What you could do: Use the private key (before he uses it) and send the coins to a new wallet and don't give him the new private key, seed...</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-19T20:57:37.697Z
2018-02-19T20:57:37.697Z
hardfork
<blockquote>
  <p>A pubkey script that provides n number of pubkeys and requires the
  corresponding signature script provide m minimum number signatures
  corresponding to the provided pubkeys.</p>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="https://bitcoin.org/en/glossary/multisig" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://bitcoin.org/en/glossary/multisig</a></p>

<p>Also it has been answered here: </p>

<p><a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/3718/what-are-multi-signature-transactions">What are multi-signature transactions?</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-19T21:56:20.107Z
2018-02-20T12:38:08.640Z
2018-02-20T12:38:08.640Z
Esqarrouth
<p>How can you share a plaintext bitcoin address private key with a friend and ensure they won’t spend your bitcoin?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-19T23:05:01.717Z
This sounds like an XY problem.  The sole purpose of a private key is to enable someone to spend the corresponding coins.  If you don't want them to spend the coins, what is it that you hope to accomplish by sharing the key?
Nate Eldredge
<private-key><spending>
How can you share a plaintext bitcoin address private key with a friend and ensure they won’t spend your bitcoin?
demiculus
# How can you share a plaintext bitcoin address private key with a friend and ensure they won’t spend your bitcoin?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-02-19)

How can you share a plaintext bitcoin address private key with a friend and ensure they won’t spend your bitcoin?

**Tags:** private-key, spending

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This sounds like an XY problem.  The sole purpose of a private key is to enable someone to spend the corresponding coins.  If you don't want them to spend the coins, what is it that you hope to accomplish by sharing the key?  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-02-19. Score: 1

You should create multisig transactions.
Multisignature (multisig) refers to requiring more than one key to authorize a Bitcoin transaction. It is generally used to divide up responsibility for possession of bitcoins.

Standard transactions on the Bitcoin network could be called “single-signature transactions,” because transfers require only one signature — from the owner of the private key associated with the Bitcoin address. However, the Bitcoin network supports much more complicated transactions that require the signatures of multiple people before the funds can be transferred. These are often referred to as M-of-N transactions. The idea is that Bitcoins become “encumbered” by providing addresses of multiple parties, thus requiring cooperation of those parties in order to do anything with them. These parties can be people, institutions or programmed scripts.


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-02-19. Score: 1

That's not possible. If your friend has the private key, he has everything he needs to spend all the bitcoins of that address.

What you could do: Use the private key (before he uses it) and send the coins to a new wallet and don't give him the new private key, seed...


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2018-02-19. Score: 0

> A pubkey script that provides n number of pubkeys and requires the
> corresponding signature script provide m minimum number signatures
> corresponding to the provided pubkeys.

<https://bitcoin.org/en/glossary/multisig>

Also it has been answered here:

[What are multi-signature transactions?](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/3718/what-are-multi-signature-transactions)


---

