Bitcoin Wiki - User contributions [en]

Coinkite

2016-01-03T04:29:49Z

Kieronbm: /* Unique BIP 32 Feature */ grammar

==Coinkite==

Coinkite<ref> (12/11/2013). [http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/11/12/bitcoin_entrepreneurs_want_to_put_virtual_coins_in_your_wallet.html "Bitcoin entrepreneurs want to put virtual coins in your wallet".] ''[[Toronto Star]]''.</ref><ref> (11/11/2013). [http://bitcoinmagazine.com/7449/exploring-the-bitcoin-alliance-of-canada-part-i/ "Bitcoin in Canada, Part I: Introducing the Bitcoin Alliance of Canada".] ''[[Bitcoin Magazine]]''.</ref><ref>nvK (10/11/2013). [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=309431.0 "(ANN) Coinkite.com (Bitcoin Wallet+Debit Card+POS Terminals)accepting invites re".] ''[[bitcointalk.org]]''.</ref><ref>KYT DOTSON (22/10/2013). [http://siliconangle.com/blog/2013/09/25/bitcoin-weekly-2013-september-25-lucky-gambler-makes-11k-btc-coinsetter-to-launch-soon-coinkite-brings-pos-solution/ "Bitcoin Weekly 2013 September 25: Lucky Gambler Makes 11k BTC, Coinsetter to Launch Soon, Coinkite Brings POS Solution".] ''[[Silicon Angle]]''.</ref><ref> (5/11/2013). [https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Coinkite "Coinkite".] ''[[Bitcoin Wiki]]''.</ref><ref> (5/11/2013). [https://www.coinforum.ca/discussion/461/accepting-invite-requests-for-coinkite-com "Accepting invite requests for Coinkite.com".] ''[[coinforum.ca]]''.</ref><ref> (1/11/2013). [http://www.thebitpages.com/merchants/1076 "Coinkite".] ''[[The Bit Pages]]''.</ref><ref> (2013). [http://www.linkedin.com/company/coinkite "Company: Coinkite".] ''[[LinkedIN]]''.</ref> offers a number of useful [[bitcoin]] services, including wallet and a hardware payment network.

==Main features==
* Powerful, easy to use web wallet. Receive and send bitcoin amounts from a web interface. Two factor authentication, memorable image (to resist phishing attempts) and many other security features are in place. Users are free of the burden of securing their own computer.

* [https://coinkite.com/faq/multisig Multi-Signature and shared wallets] with up to M-of-15 and options for any/all keys to be generated offline (Co-Sign Pages and Bitcoin Multisig API)

* Developers Platform, [https://coinkite.com/developers Bitkit Bitcoin API] provides simple and powerful REST integrations for adding bitcoin functions into your business / application.

* Payment Processing, customizable [https://coinkite.com/faq/pay Pay/Buy/Donate buttons] to integrate in your website or shopping cart. Works over Tor.

* Point-of-sale payment terminal. Coinkite sells a hardware device, complete with QR scanner and receipt printer that can be used to perform bitcoin transactions without a computer and in a retail setting.

* "Debit" Card. Coinkite offers all it's members a plastic card which can be used at the payment terminals, but is also useful anywhere as it has a bitcoin address on the back. Bitcoin sent to that address are linked to the user's Coinkite balance.

==Services==

* multiple sub-accounts for grouping funds (ie. "Savings", "Chequing")

* all transactions occur in the public blockchain, and there is no "internal bookkeeping" of funds.

* monthly, yearly and pay as you go membership plans are offered.

* detailed transaction logging, real-time on-screen alerts as funds as received

* multiple [[cryptocurrenies]]: bitcoin, litecoin, testnet coins are offered with equal features

====Services Links====

* [https://coinkite.com/faq/money Online wallets]

* [https://coinkite.com/faq/terminal Merchant Point-of-Sale terminals]

* [https://coinkite.com/faq/terminal Bitcoin debit cards]

==Unique [[BIP]] 32 Feature==

Coinkite is internally based on BIP 32 [[Hierarchical Deterministic]] (HD) wallets. Each new member receives a "welcome email" which contains the "xpubkey" (extended public key) for their deposits, and an *encrypted* copy of the corresponding xprivkey. The xpubkey can be used by the account owner to see all public keys associated with their account (both past and future). Combined with the "audit" feature, the user can fetch a list of all UTXO (unspent transaction outputs) associated with their account and verify the public key's subpath from the given xpubkey. Similarly, they can check the UTXO is correctly stored on the blockchain.

Coinkite has stated that in the event of the closure or other failure of the business, they will publicize the symmetric key protecting the xprivkey values that have been distributed to members. With that key, each user could recover their funds by re-generating the private keys for each UTXO.

The founders of Coinkite understood the inherent risk of trusting a third party with the private keys for your bitcoins, and this application of BIP 32 helps to address these concerns should the business disappear. The company calls this system "full reserve" since the users are in a position to verify that their funds are not being used for any other purpose than safe-keeping while on deposit at Coinkite.

==Debit Card==

For a small fee (and included in some membership plans), Coinkite users may receive a physical card. This eases use of their Coinkite account at the POS terminal and the QR code on the rear is useful for making deposits.

==POS Terminal==

Coinkite sells a hardware device which can perform a number of transactions. It connects via GPRS (cell) or Wifi to Coinkite backend servers which perform the blockchain operations. It does not directly connect to the P2P network.

Users can log into their Coinkite account at the machine, using either their Coinkite card (and a 4-6 digit PIN, plus optionally a 2FA token) or use a one-time QR code from the Coinkite website. Once connected to their account, they can perform many types of transactions:

* print out their current balances

* scan a QR and pay it using their balance

* withdraw funds to cash (requires the retail to become the counter-party)

* deposit cash (buying coins from the retailer)

* make a printed invoice (ie. a unique bitcoin address for payment of a specific amount)

* verify a payment has been received (by scanning any receipt printed by a Coinkite terminal)

The POS terminal is also useful to enable the bitcoin-based retail business. Cashiers (authorized users) can print a receipt with QR code that maybe presented to customers as a bill in bitcoin to be paid. Once paid, using any bitcoin wallet of choice, the payment can be easily verified at the terminal by scanning it's QR code. The number of confirmations for the incoming funds is displayed and appropriate warnings are shown for zero confirmation transactions. It is up to the retailer to define their policy on number of required confirmations and presumably the size of the transaction will be a deciding factor.

Other "non account holder" transactions that are possible:

* print current exchange rates (Bitcoin vs. fiat) to a receipt

* deposit cash into bitcoin (ie. retailer is selling bitcoins)

* coins are delivered to a URL or private key.

* scan bitcoin QR to pay (retailer is selling bitcoins, paid directly to settle bitcoin debt)

* scan to verify transaction (prints amount received, and confirmation status for Coinkite transactions)

The POS terminal supports Bitcoin for all operations. Coins can be delivered as a paper wallet, directly into a Coinkite account (must be pre-existing) or into web voucher (PIN code and short URL).

==External Links==

* [https://www.coinkite.com Coinkite Home page]

* [https://www.coinkite.com/faq FAQ page]

* [https://coinkite.com/promo/wiki Sign-up]

* [http://expresscoin.com/wallets/bitcoin/coinkite How to Setup a Coinkite Bitcoin Wallet]

==References==
<references />

==Images==
[[File:Coinkite_interfaces.png|300 px|alt=Coinkite interfaces|Coinkite interfaces]]
[[File:Bitcoin-pos-terminal.png|300 px|alt=Bitcoin POs Terminal|Coinkite terminal]]
[[File:Coinkite_logo.png|300 px|alt=Coinkite logo|Coinkite logo]]
[[File:Http://i.imgur.com/AnrNck0.png|300 px|Coinkite's Bitcoin Payment Button]]

[[Category:Debit Cards]]
[[Category:Wallets]]
[[Category:EWallets]]
[[Category:HybridEWallets]]
[[Category:Mixing_Services]]
[[Category:Exchanges]]
[[Category:Shopping Cart Interfaces]]
[[Category:Services]]
[[Category:Frontends]]
[[Category:Clients]]
[[Category:Mobile]]
[[Category:Hardware Terminals]]
[[Category:Cryptobanks]]
[[Category:POS]]
[[Category:Bitcoin payment systems]]

Coinkite

2016-01-03T04:27:03Z

Kieronbm: /* Main features */ grammar

==Coinkite==

Coinkite<ref> (12/11/2013). [http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/11/12/bitcoin_entrepreneurs_want_to_put_virtual_coins_in_your_wallet.html "Bitcoin entrepreneurs want to put virtual coins in your wallet".] ''[[Toronto Star]]''.</ref><ref> (11/11/2013). [http://bitcoinmagazine.com/7449/exploring-the-bitcoin-alliance-of-canada-part-i/ "Bitcoin in Canada, Part I: Introducing the Bitcoin Alliance of Canada".] ''[[Bitcoin Magazine]]''.</ref><ref>nvK (10/11/2013). [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=309431.0 "(ANN) Coinkite.com (Bitcoin Wallet+Debit Card+POS Terminals)accepting invites re".] ''[[bitcointalk.org]]''.</ref><ref>KYT DOTSON (22/10/2013). [http://siliconangle.com/blog/2013/09/25/bitcoin-weekly-2013-september-25-lucky-gambler-makes-11k-btc-coinsetter-to-launch-soon-coinkite-brings-pos-solution/ "Bitcoin Weekly 2013 September 25: Lucky Gambler Makes 11k BTC, Coinsetter to Launch Soon, Coinkite Brings POS Solution".] ''[[Silicon Angle]]''.</ref><ref> (5/11/2013). [https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Coinkite "Coinkite".] ''[[Bitcoin Wiki]]''.</ref><ref> (5/11/2013). [https://www.coinforum.ca/discussion/461/accepting-invite-requests-for-coinkite-com "Accepting invite requests for Coinkite.com".] ''[[coinforum.ca]]''.</ref><ref> (1/11/2013). [http://www.thebitpages.com/merchants/1076 "Coinkite".] ''[[The Bit Pages]]''.</ref><ref> (2013). [http://www.linkedin.com/company/coinkite "Company: Coinkite".] ''[[LinkedIN]]''.</ref> offers a number of useful [[bitcoin]] services, including wallet and a hardware payment network.

==Main features==
* Powerful, easy to use web wallet. Receive and send bitcoin amounts from a web interface. Two factor authentication, memorable image (to resist phishing attempts) and many other security features are in place. Users are free of the burden of securing their own computer.

* [https://coinkite.com/faq/multisig Multi-Signature and shared wallets] with up to M-of-15 and options for any/all keys to be generated offline (Co-Sign Pages and Bitcoin Multisig API)

* Developers Platform, [https://coinkite.com/developers Bitkit Bitcoin API] provides simple and powerful REST integrations for adding bitcoin functions into your business / application.

* Payment Processing, customizable [https://coinkite.com/faq/pay Pay/Buy/Donate buttons] to integrate in your website or shopping cart. Works over Tor.

* Point-of-sale payment terminal. Coinkite sells a hardware device, complete with QR scanner and receipt printer that can be used to perform bitcoin transactions without a computer and in a retail setting.

* "Debit" Card. Coinkite offers all it's members a plastic card which can be used at the payment terminals, but is also useful anywhere as it has a bitcoin address on the back. Bitcoin sent to that address are linked to the user's Coinkite balance.

==Services==

* multiple sub-accounts for grouping funds (ie. "Savings", "Chequing")

* all transactions occur in the public blockchain, and there is no "internal bookkeeping" of funds.

* monthly, yearly and pay as you go membership plans are offered.

* detailed transaction logging, real-time on-screen alerts as funds as received

* multiple [[cryptocurrenies]]: bitcoin, litecoin, testnet coins are offered with equal features

====Services Links====

* [https://coinkite.com/faq/money Online wallets]

* [https://coinkite.com/faq/terminal Merchant Point-of-Sale terminals]

* [https://coinkite.com/faq/terminal Bitcoin debit cards]

==Unique [[BIP]] 32 Feature==

Coinkite is internally based on BIP 32 [[Hierarchical Deterministic]] (HD) wallets. Each new member receives a "welcome email" which contains the "xpubkey" (extended public key) for their deposits, and an *encrypted* copy of the corresponding xprivkey. The xpubkey can be used by the account owner to see all public keys associated with their account (both past and future). Combined with the "audit" feature, the user can fetch a list of all UTXO (unspent transaction outputs) associated with their account and verify the public key's subpath from the given xpubkey. Similarly, they can check the UTXO is correctly stored on the blockchain.

Coinkite has stated that in the event of the closure or other failure of the business, they will publicize the symmetric key protecting the xprivkey values that have been distributed to members. With that key, each user could recover their funds by re-generating the private keys for each UTXO.

The founders of Coinkite understood the inherent risk of trusting a third party with the private keys for your bitcoins, and this application of BIP 32 helps to address these concerns should the business disappear. The company calls this system "full reserve" since the users are in a position to verify that their funds are not being used for any other purpose than safe-keeping, while on deposit at Coinkite.

==Debit Card==

For a small fee (and included in some membership plans), Coinkite users may receive a physical card. This eases use of their Coinkite account at the POS terminal and the QR code on the rear is useful for making deposits.

==POS Terminal==

Coinkite sells a hardware device which can perform a number of transactions. It connects via GPRS (cell) or Wifi to Coinkite backend servers which perform the blockchain operations. It does not directly connect to the P2P network.

Users can log into their Coinkite account at the machine, using either their Coinkite card (and a 4-6 digit PIN, plus optionally a 2FA token) or use a one-time QR code from the Coinkite website. Once connected to their account, they can perform many types of transactions:

* print out their current balances

* scan a QR and pay it using their balance

* withdraw funds to cash (requires the retail to become the counter-party)

* deposit cash (buying coins from the retailer)

* make a printed invoice (ie. a unique bitcoin address for payment of a specific amount)

* verify a payment has been received (by scanning any receipt printed by a Coinkite terminal)

The POS terminal is also useful to enable the bitcoin-based retail business. Cashiers (authorized users) can print a receipt with QR code that maybe presented to customers as a bill in bitcoin to be paid. Once paid, using any bitcoin wallet of choice, the payment can be easily verified at the terminal by scanning it's QR code. The number of confirmations for the incoming funds is displayed and appropriate warnings are shown for zero confirmation transactions. It is up to the retailer to define their policy on number of required confirmations and presumably the size of the transaction will be a deciding factor.

Other "non account holder" transactions that are possible:

* print current exchange rates (Bitcoin vs. fiat) to a receipt

* deposit cash into bitcoin (ie. retailer is selling bitcoins)

* coins are delivered to a URL or private key.

* scan bitcoin QR to pay (retailer is selling bitcoins, paid directly to settle bitcoin debt)

* scan to verify transaction (prints amount received, and confirmation status for Coinkite transactions)

The POS terminal supports Bitcoin for all operations. Coins can be delivered as a paper wallet, directly into a Coinkite account (must be pre-existing) or into web voucher (PIN code and short URL).

==External Links==

* [https://www.coinkite.com Coinkite Home page]

* [https://www.coinkite.com/faq FAQ page]

* [https://coinkite.com/promo/wiki Sign-up]

* [http://expresscoin.com/wallets/bitcoin/coinkite How to Setup a Coinkite Bitcoin Wallet]

==References==
<references />

==Images==
[[File:Coinkite_interfaces.png|300 px|alt=Coinkite interfaces|Coinkite interfaces]]
[[File:Bitcoin-pos-terminal.png|300 px|alt=Bitcoin POs Terminal|Coinkite terminal]]
[[File:Coinkite_logo.png|300 px|alt=Coinkite logo|Coinkite logo]]
[[File:Http://i.imgur.com/AnrNck0.png|300 px|Coinkite's Bitcoin Payment Button]]

[[Category:Debit Cards]]
[[Category:Wallets]]
[[Category:EWallets]]
[[Category:HybridEWallets]]
[[Category:Mixing_Services]]
[[Category:Exchanges]]
[[Category:Shopping Cart Interfaces]]
[[Category:Services]]
[[Category:Frontends]]
[[Category:Clients]]
[[Category:Mobile]]
[[Category:Hardware Terminals]]
[[Category:Cryptobanks]]
[[Category:POS]]
[[Category:Bitcoin payment systems]]

Bitcoin symbol

2015-01-04T14:23:12Z

Kieronbm: Improved flow, minor grammar fix

== Currency code ==
The [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/ISO_4217 currency code] for Bitcoin is '''BTC'''. However, at the moment it is an [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/ISO_4217#Without_currency_code unofficial code] according to the ISO 4217 standard but the official code according to the Bitcoin community.

A [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=7205.msg112577 request] has been made at the [http://www.six-group.com/ organization] maintaining the currency codes in the ISO 4217 standard to support BTC. This has been declined mainly on the basis that organizations such as [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Reuters Reuters] and [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Bloomberg Bloomberg] are not reporting on the Bitcoin currency. When this changes, a request can be resubmitted.

== Currency sign ==

B⃦ has been the standard currency sign for BTC for a long time. Some existing Unicode symbols have been proposed but also serious work is being done on creating a custom Bitcoin sign with its own official [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Unicode Unicode] that is recognized by the [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Unicode_Consortium Unicode Consortium]. Note that creating an official currency sign is more complex than creating a logo as will be explained below.

[[File:Example-unicode-reference-currency-signs.png|256px|thumb|right|Examples of Unicode currency sign reference glyphs]]

=== New Unicode symbol ===

In some discussions [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=41.0 41], [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=369.0 369] and [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=7215.0 7215] on the Bitcoin forum several designs of an official Bitcoin sign have been proposed. This section on the Wiki is intended to streamline the process of arriving at an official Bitcoin currency sign with its own Unicode character code.

==== Goal ====
Having a unique Bitcoin currency sign will allow typographers to add their currency sign design in their fonts. This is similar as implementing support for the euro sign. Each font has its own version of the euro sign that fits with the style observed in the characters in the rest of the fonts of their typefaces. Note that the Unicode Consortium does not endorse Bitcoin in any way by assigning a Unicode character code, however, by having an official Unicode Bitcoin's perception of legitimacy will increase.

==== Requirements and criteria ====

A reference Bitcoin sign could/should/must be:
* recognizable as a [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Currency_sign currency sign] such as $ € ¥ £ ¢ (e.g. with one or two vertical or horizontal bars)
* distinct from existing currency signs such as the Thai Baht, ฿
* built from recognizable existing characters found on most [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Keyboard_layout#United_States QWERTY keyboards] such as bar |, minus -, hash # and/or capital B referring to currencies and '''B'''itcoin
* easy to use in handwriting
* easy to compose with one or more [https://help.ubuntu.com/community/GtkComposeTable#The%20Gtk%20Compose%20Table compose sequences] that are still free and refer to the elements recognizable in the sign (for example the euro sign can be composed from = and C even though the = and C are not part of how it is pronounced)
* ''possible'' to implement in [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Serif serif and sans-serif] (Most of the [http://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/U20A0.pdf Unicode reference implementations] are made with serifs but sans-serif also exist in sans-serif fonts. So a reference implementation in serif to what is found in the PDF is preferred.)
* ''possible'' to implement in regular, italic, bold and bold italic (for sans-serif the italic will simply be a slanted version)
* in [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/SVG SVG] and use this [http://pastebin.com/raw.php?i=FVY8W1W3 template] (save as <tt>bitcoin-sign-20110719-template.svg</tt>) with updated metadata and public domain or similar free/open/libre license

Note that a reference Bitcoin sign will only be used as a reference by the Unicode Consortium and it is up to typographers to implement their version matching the style of their typefaces and fonts.

==== Submissions====

It is possible to submit proposals for a '''reference implementation''' below until (community must determine date). They will be judged by (community must form committee for this). If you have problems submitting your design, ask someone with knowledge on editing Wikipedia for help.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Preview !! Handwritten !! Associations !! Compose sequence(s) !! Designer !! Link to SVG file !! Notes
|-
| [[File:Bitcoin-sign-20110719.png|128px]]
|| [[file:Img075.jpg|128px]]
|| double barred dollar sign ($), capital b (B)
|| B|, |B, B=, =B
|| Pander
|| [http://pastebin.com/raw.php?i=XYsc9DeS bitcoin-sign-20110719.svg]
|| example submission based on [[File:F33980a445.png]]
|-
| [[File:Bitcoin-proposal-1.png|128px]]
|| [[File:Hashbtc.jpg|128px]]
|| hash (#), numeral three (3)
|| B#, #B, 3#, #3
|| Wareen
|| [http://pastebin.com/raw.php?i=MRfcm0Cn Bitcoin-proposal-1.svg]
|| proposal based on original design idea from [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=41.msg348274#msg348274 RylandAlmanza] and [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=25102.msg325489#msg325489 netrin]
|}

=== Existing Unicode symbol ===

There is a discussion over [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=369.0 which Unicode symbol might be the best suited] for Bitcoin.

To type Unicode characters, refer to:

* [[Microsoft Windows Unicode Input]]
* [[How to easily type the circled B symbol on a Mac]]

It has led to the following options:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Proposed character !! Description & Pros & Cons !! Unicode name !! Unicode decimal input !! Unicode hex input
|-
|<center><big>B⃦</big></center>||
*Pros: Similar to current bitcoin.org logo
* Cons: Displays poorly on some systems
|| LATIN CAPITAL LETTER B + COMBINING DOUBLE VERTICAL STROKE OVERLAY || || U+0042 U+20E6
|-
|<center><big>฿</big></center> ||
* Pros: Displayed correctly on all known OSes
* Cons: It is already used as the Thai Baht (THB) symbol but the $ is also shared by many currencies
|| THAI CURRENCY SYMBOL BAHT || || Alt +0E3F
|-
|<center><big>Ƀ</big></center>||
*Pros: Standard Latin Extended-B character; [http://www.ecogex.com/bitcoin/ See the project Ƀ Another Bitcoin identity]
*Cons: Does not display on modern Android devices
|| LATIN CAPITAL LETTER B WITH STROKE || ||Alt +0243
|-
|<center><big>ᗸ</big></center>|| Resembles the struck B while being different from Baht symbol ||CANADIAN SYLLABICS CARRIER KHEE || || Alt +15F8
|-
|<center><big>B⃫</big></center>||
|| LATIN CAPITAL LETTER B + COMBINING LONG DOUBLE SOLIDUS OVERLAY || || U+0042 U+20EB
|-
|<center><big>Ⓑ</big></center>||
*Pros: Similar to current bitcoin.org logo
|| CIRCLED LATIN CAPITAL LETTER B || || Alt +24B7
|-
|<center><big>ⓑ</big></center>||
*Pros: Small b represent the unit bit in computer where capital B is Byte
* Cons: Small fonts are harder to read
|| CIRCLED LATIN SMALL LETTER B || ||Alt +24D1
|-
|<center><big>ᴃ</big></center>|| || LATIN LETTER SMALL CAPITAL BARRED B || ||Alt +1D03
|-
|<center><big>␢</big></center>|| || (Unicode Block: Control Pictures) BLANK SYMBOL (graphic for space) || || Alt +2422
|-
|<center><big>β</big></center>||
*Pros: Fluid look and easy to write; Lowercase 
*Cons: Languages that use this character don't consider it a B. in Greek it's a V, and the German character it resembles is a hard S.
|| GREEK SMALL LETTER BETA || ||Alt +03B2
|-
|<center><big>∆</big></center>|| delta for "digital" || Greek capital Delta. (In Greek it's pronounced as the "th" in "then" and not like "d" in "digital". || || U+0394
|-
|<center><big>ɸ</big></center>|| contains 0 and I || Greek small Phi || || U+0278
|-
|<center><big>币</big></center>|| pronounced "bi", combines "b", turned "c" and "T", many Chinese users, also 网民币 - Wangminbi, "The Netizen's Currency" (pun on Renminbi) || Chinese for "Currency" || || U+5E01
|-
|<center><big>¤</big></center>|| || CURRENCY SIGN ||Alt 0164 ||Alt +00A4
|-
|<center><big>Ƅ</big></center>|| || LATIN CAPITAL LETTER TONE SIX || ||Alt +0184
|-
|<center><big>∄</big></center>|| || (Unicode Block: Mathematical Operators) THERE DOES NOT EXIST || ||Alt +2204
|-
|<center><big>≡</big></center>|| three bars like three bits
* Cons: this resembles the letter ksi (Ξ) in Greek and it sounds like "x" in "axiom".
|| (Unicode Block: Mathematical Operators) IDENTICAL TO || || U+2261
|-
|<center><big>ઘ</big></center>|| || GUJARATI LETTER GHA (Indo-Aryan language) || ||Alt +0A98
|-
|<center><big>ϭ</big></center>|| || (Unicode Block: Greek and Coptic) COPTIC SMALL LETTER SHIMA || ||Alt +03ED
|-
|<center><big>ⓢ</big></center>|| Purposed as a smaller unit of bitcoin. E.g. A hundredth of a bitcoin || CIRCLED LATIN SMALL LETTER S || || Alt +24E2
|-
|<center><big>◪</big></center>|| || (Unicode Block: Geometric Shapes) SQUARE WITH LOWER RIGHT DIAGONAL HALF BLACK || || Alt +25EA
|-
|<center><big>㋡</big></center>|| ||CIRCLED KATAKANA TU' (Japanese)|| || Alt +32E1
|-
|<center>[[Image:Bat.png|24px|alt=The b'at]] 
the b'at</center>
||
* Pros: Is round like a coin. Contains the B for Bitcoin. Borrows a style widely associated with the Internet. Not used for other meanings.
* Cons: Does not exist in the Unicode standard
* Cons: Very similar to the existing trademarked logo of [http://www.broad.com Broad]
|| n/a || ||
|-
|<center>[[Image:Bitcoin Symbol Suggestion circled struck-through B.png|24px]]</center>||
* Cons: Does not exist in the Unicode standard
|| n/a || ||
|-
|<center>[[Image:Bitcoin Symbol Suggestion rotated power.png|24px]]</center>||
* Cons: Does not exist in the Unicode standard
|| n/a || ||
|-
|<center>A 'C' with '1' and '0' inside [[http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/8840/bitcoinlogodraft.png]]</center>||
* Cons: Does not exist in the Unicode standard
|| n/a || ||
|-
|<center>A 'C' with a 'circle' and 'dot' inside [[http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/6006/bitcoinlogodraftii.png]]</center>||
* Cons: Does not exist in the Unicode standard
|| n/a || ||
|-
|<center>B-T-C monogram [[http://hosting11.imagecross.com/image-hosting-61/2381unicode1s.png]][[http://hosting11.imagecross.com/image-hosting-61/162bitcoin_uni_s.png]]</center>||
* Cons: Does not exist in the Unicode standard
|| n/a || ||
|}

==See Also==

* [[Promotional graphics]]

[[Category:Introduction]]

Bitcoin symbol

2015-01-04T14:19:13Z

Kieronbm: Clarity

== Currency code ==
The [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/ISO_4217 currency code] for Bitcoin is '''BTC'''. However, at the moment it is an [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/ISO_4217#Without_currency_code unofficial code] according to the ISO 4217 standard but the official code according to the Bitcoin community.

A [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=7205.msg112577 request] has been made at the [http://www.six-group.com/ organization] maintaining the currency codes in the ISO 4217 standard to support BTC. This has been declined mainly on the basis that organizations such as [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Reuters Reuters] and [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Bloomberg Bloomberg] are not reporting on the Bitcoin currency. When this changes, a request can be resubmitted.

== Currency sign ==

B⃦ has been the standard currency sign for BTC for a long time. Some existing Unicode symbols have been proposed but also serious work is being done on creating a custom Bitcoin sign with its own official [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Unicode Unicode] that is recognized by the [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Unicode_Consortium Unicode Consortium]. Note that creating an official currency sign is more complex than creating a logo as will be explained below.

[[File:Example-unicode-reference-currency-signs.png|256px|thumb|right|Examples of Unicode currency sign reference glyphs]]

=== New Unicode symbol ===

In some discussions [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=41.0 41], [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=369.0 369] and [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=7215.0 7215] on the Bitcoin forum several designs of an official Bitcoin sign have been proposed. This section on the Wiki is intended to streamline the process of arriving at an official Bitcoin currency sign with its own Unicode character code.

==== Goal ====
Having a unique Bitcoin currency sign will allow typographers to add their currency sign design in their fonts. This is similar as implementing support for the euro sign. Each font has its own version of the euro sign that fits with the style observed in the characters in the rest of the fonts of their typefaces. Note that the Unicode Consortium does not endorse Bitcoin in any way by assigning a Unicode character code, however, having a Unicode for the Bitcoin sign will also be good for PR and help having Bitcoin be taken more seriously.

==== Requirements and criteria ====

A reference Bitcoin sign could/should/must be:
* recognizable as a [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Currency_sign currency sign] such as $ € ¥ £ ¢ (e.g. with one or two vertical or horizontal bars)
* distinct from existing currency signs such as the Thai Baht, ฿
* built from recognizable existing characters found on most [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Keyboard_layout#United_States QWERTY keyboards] such as bar |, minus -, hash # and/or capital B referring to currencies and '''B'''itcoin
* easy to use in handwriting
* easy to compose with one or more [https://help.ubuntu.com/community/GtkComposeTable#The%20Gtk%20Compose%20Table compose sequences] that are still free and refer to the elements recognizable in the sign (for example the euro sign can be composed from = and C even though the = and C are not part of how it is pronounced)
* ''possible'' to implement in [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Serif serif and sans-serif] (Most of the [http://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/U20A0.pdf Unicode reference implementations] are made with serifs but sans-serif also exist in sans-serif fonts. So a reference implementation in serif to what is found in the PDF is preferred.)
* ''possible'' to implement in regular, italic, bold and bold italic (for sans-serif the italic will simply be a slanted version)
* in [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/SVG SVG] and use this [http://pastebin.com/raw.php?i=FVY8W1W3 template] (save as <tt>bitcoin-sign-20110719-template.svg</tt>) with updated metadata and public domain or similar free/open/libre license

Note that a reference Bitcoin sign will only be used as a reference by the Unicode Consortium and it is up to typographers to implement their version matching the style of their typefaces and fonts.

==== Submissions====

It is possible to submit proposals for a '''reference implementation''' below until (community must determine date). They will be judged by (community must form committee for this). If you have problems submitting your design, ask someone with knowledge on editing Wikipedia for help.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Preview !! Handwritten !! Associations !! Compose sequence(s) !! Designer !! Link to SVG file !! Notes
|-
| [[File:Bitcoin-sign-20110719.png|128px]]
|| [[file:Img075.jpg|128px]]
|| double barred dollar sign ($), capital b (B)
|| B|, |B, B=, =B
|| Pander
|| [http://pastebin.com/raw.php?i=XYsc9DeS bitcoin-sign-20110719.svg]
|| example submission based on [[File:F33980a445.png]]
|-
| [[File:Bitcoin-proposal-1.png|128px]]
|| [[File:Hashbtc.jpg|128px]]
|| hash (#), numeral three (3)
|| B#, #B, 3#, #3
|| Wareen
|| [http://pastebin.com/raw.php?i=MRfcm0Cn Bitcoin-proposal-1.svg]
|| proposal based on original design idea from [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=41.msg348274#msg348274 RylandAlmanza] and [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=25102.msg325489#msg325489 netrin]
|}

=== Existing Unicode symbol ===

There is a discussion over [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=369.0 which Unicode symbol might be the best suited] for Bitcoin.

To type Unicode characters, refer to:

* [[Microsoft Windows Unicode Input]]
* [[How to easily type the circled B symbol on a Mac]]

It has led to the following options:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Proposed character !! Description & Pros & Cons !! Unicode name !! Unicode decimal input !! Unicode hex input
|-
|<center><big>B⃦</big></center>||
*Pros: Similar to current bitcoin.org logo
* Cons: Displays poorly on some systems
|| LATIN CAPITAL LETTER B + COMBINING DOUBLE VERTICAL STROKE OVERLAY || || U+0042 U+20E6
|-
|<center><big>฿</big></center> ||
* Pros: Displayed correctly on all known OSes
* Cons: It is already used as the Thai Baht (THB) symbol but the $ is also shared by many currencies
|| THAI CURRENCY SYMBOL BAHT || || Alt +0E3F
|-
|<center><big>Ƀ</big></center>||
*Pros: Standard Latin Extended-B character; [http://www.ecogex.com/bitcoin/ See the project Ƀ Another Bitcoin identity]
*Cons: Does not display on modern Android devices
|| LATIN CAPITAL LETTER B WITH STROKE || ||Alt +0243
|-
|<center><big>ᗸ</big></center>|| Resembles the struck B while being different from Baht symbol ||CANADIAN SYLLABICS CARRIER KHEE || || Alt +15F8
|-
|<center><big>B⃫</big></center>||
|| LATIN CAPITAL LETTER B + COMBINING LONG DOUBLE SOLIDUS OVERLAY || || U+0042 U+20EB
|-
|<center><big>Ⓑ</big></center>||
*Pros: Similar to current bitcoin.org logo
|| CIRCLED LATIN CAPITAL LETTER B || || Alt +24B7
|-
|<center><big>ⓑ</big></center>||
*Pros: Small b represent the unit bit in computer where capital B is Byte
* Cons: Small fonts are harder to read
|| CIRCLED LATIN SMALL LETTER B || ||Alt +24D1
|-
|<center><big>ᴃ</big></center>|| || LATIN LETTER SMALL CAPITAL BARRED B || ||Alt +1D03
|-
|<center><big>␢</big></center>|| || (Unicode Block: Control Pictures) BLANK SYMBOL (graphic for space) || || Alt +2422
|-
|<center><big>β</big></center>||
*Pros: Fluid look and easy to write; Lowercase 
*Cons: Languages that use this character don't consider it a B. in Greek it's a V, and the German character it resembles is a hard S.
|| GREEK SMALL LETTER BETA || ||Alt +03B2
|-
|<center><big>∆</big></center>|| delta for "digital" || Greek capital Delta. (In Greek it's pronounced as the "th" in "then" and not like "d" in "digital". || || U+0394
|-
|<center><big>ɸ</big></center>|| contains 0 and I || Greek small Phi || || U+0278
|-
|<center><big>币</big></center>|| pronounced "bi", combines "b", turned "c" and "T", many Chinese users, also 网民币 - Wangminbi, "The Netizen's Currency" (pun on Renminbi) || Chinese for "Currency" || || U+5E01
|-
|<center><big>¤</big></center>|| || CURRENCY SIGN ||Alt 0164 ||Alt +00A4
|-
|<center><big>Ƅ</big></center>|| || LATIN CAPITAL LETTER TONE SIX || ||Alt +0184
|-
|<center><big>∄</big></center>|| || (Unicode Block: Mathematical Operators) THERE DOES NOT EXIST || ||Alt +2204
|-
|<center><big>≡</big></center>|| three bars like three bits
* Cons: this resembles the letter ksi (Ξ) in Greek and it sounds like "x" in "axiom".
|| (Unicode Block: Mathematical Operators) IDENTICAL TO || || U+2261
|-
|<center><big>ઘ</big></center>|| || GUJARATI LETTER GHA (Indo-Aryan language) || ||Alt +0A98
|-
|<center><big>ϭ</big></center>|| || (Unicode Block: Greek and Coptic) COPTIC SMALL LETTER SHIMA || ||Alt +03ED
|-
|<center><big>ⓢ</big></center>|| Purposed as a smaller unit of bitcoin. E.g. A hundredth of a bitcoin || CIRCLED LATIN SMALL LETTER S || || Alt +24E2
|-
|<center><big>◪</big></center>|| || (Unicode Block: Geometric Shapes) SQUARE WITH LOWER RIGHT DIAGONAL HALF BLACK || || Alt +25EA
|-
|<center><big>㋡</big></center>|| ||CIRCLED KATAKANA TU' (Japanese)|| || Alt +32E1
|-
|<center>[[Image:Bat.png|24px|alt=The b'at]] 
the b'at</center>
||
* Pros: Is round like a coin. Contains the B for Bitcoin. Borrows a style widely associated with the Internet. Not used for other meanings.
* Cons: Does not exist in the Unicode standard
* Cons: Very similar to the existing trademarked logo of [http://www.broad.com Broad]
|| n/a || ||
|-
|<center>[[Image:Bitcoin Symbol Suggestion circled struck-through B.png|24px]]</center>||
* Cons: Does not exist in the Unicode standard
|| n/a || ||
|-
|<center>[[Image:Bitcoin Symbol Suggestion rotated power.png|24px]]</center>||
* Cons: Does not exist in the Unicode standard
|| n/a || ||
|-
|<center>A 'C' with '1' and '0' inside [[http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/8840/bitcoinlogodraft.png]]</center>||
* Cons: Does not exist in the Unicode standard
|| n/a || ||
|-
|<center>A 'C' with a 'circle' and 'dot' inside [[http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/6006/bitcoinlogodraftii.png]]</center>||
* Cons: Does not exist in the Unicode standard
|| n/a || ||
|-
|<center>B-T-C monogram [[http://hosting11.imagecross.com/image-hosting-61/2381unicode1s.png]][[http://hosting11.imagecross.com/image-hosting-61/162bitcoin_uni_s.png]]</center>||
* Cons: Does not exist in the Unicode standard
|| n/a || ||
|}

==See Also==

* [[Promotional graphics]]

[[Category:Introduction]]

Bitcoin symbol

2015-01-04T14:16:25Z

Kieronbm: Typo

== Currency code ==
The [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/ISO_4217 currency code] for Bitcoin is '''BTC'''. However, at the moment it is an [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/ISO_4217#Without_currency_code unofficial code] according to the ISO 4217 standard but the official code according to the Bitcoin community.

A [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=7205.msg112577 request] has been made at the [http://www.six-group.com/ organization] maintaining the currency codes in the ISO 4217 standard to support BTC. This has been declined mainly on the basis that organizations such as [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Reuters Reuters] and [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Bloomberg Bloomberg] are not reporting on the Bitcoin currency. When this changes, a request can be resubmitted.

== Currency sign ==

B⃦ has been the standard currency sign for BTC for a long time. Some existing Unicode symbols have been proposed but also serious work is being done on creating a custom Bitcoin sign with its own official [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Unicode Unicode] that is recognized by the [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Unicode_Consortium Unicode Consortium]. Note that a currency sign is more complex than creating a logo as will be explained below.

[[File:Example-unicode-reference-currency-signs.png|256px|thumb|right|Examples of Unicode currency sign reference glyphs]]

=== New Unicode symbol ===

In some discussions [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=41.0 41], [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=369.0 369] and [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=7215.0 7215] on the Bitcoin forum several designs of an official Bitcoin sign have been proposed. This section on the Wiki is intended to streamline the process of arriving at an official Bitcoin currency sign with its own Unicode character code.

==== Goal ====
Having a unique Bitcoin currency sign will allow typographers to add their currency sign design in their fonts. This is similar as implementing support for the euro sign. Each font has its own version of the euro sign that fits with the style observed in the characters in the rest of the fonts of their typefaces. Note that the Unicode Consortium does not endorse Bitcoin in any way by assigning a Unicode character code, however, having a Unicode for the Bitcoin sign will also be good for PR and help having Bitcoin be taken more seriously.

==== Requirements and criteria ====

A reference Bitcoin sign could/should/must be:
* recognizable as a [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Currency_sign currency sign] such as $ € ¥ £ ¢ (e.g. with one or two vertical or horizontal bars)
* distinct from existing currency signs such as the Thai Baht, ฿
* built from recognizable existing characters found on most [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Keyboard_layout#United_States QWERTY keyboards] such as bar |, minus -, hash # and/or capital B referring to currencies and '''B'''itcoin
* easy to use in handwriting
* easy to compose with one or more [https://help.ubuntu.com/community/GtkComposeTable#The%20Gtk%20Compose%20Table compose sequences] that are still free and refer to the elements recognizable in the sign (for example the euro sign can be composed from = and C even though the = and C are not part of how it is pronounced)
* ''possible'' to implement in [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Serif serif and sans-serif] (Most of the [http://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/U20A0.pdf Unicode reference implementations] are made with serifs but sans-serif also exist in sans-serif fonts. So a reference implementation in serif to what is found in the PDF is preferred.)
* ''possible'' to implement in regular, italic, bold and bold italic (for sans-serif the italic will simply be a slanted version)
* in [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/SVG SVG] and use this [http://pastebin.com/raw.php?i=FVY8W1W3 template] (save as <tt>bitcoin-sign-20110719-template.svg</tt>) with updated metadata and public domain or similar free/open/libre license

Note that a reference Bitcoin sign will only be used as a reference by the Unicode Consortium and it is up to typographers to implement their version matching the style of their typefaces and fonts.

==== Submissions====

It is possible to submit proposals for a '''reference implementation''' below until (community must determine date). They will be judged by (community must form committee for this). If you have problems submitting your design, ask someone with knowledge on editing Wikipedia for help.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Preview !! Handwritten !! Associations !! Compose sequence(s) !! Designer !! Link to SVG file !! Notes
|-
| [[File:Bitcoin-sign-20110719.png|128px]]
|| [[file:Img075.jpg|128px]]
|| double barred dollar sign ($), capital b (B)
|| B|, |B, B=, =B
|| Pander
|| [http://pastebin.com/raw.php?i=XYsc9DeS bitcoin-sign-20110719.svg]
|| example submission based on [[File:F33980a445.png]]
|-
| [[File:Bitcoin-proposal-1.png|128px]]
|| [[File:Hashbtc.jpg|128px]]
|| hash (#), numeral three (3)
|| B#, #B, 3#, #3
|| Wareen
|| [http://pastebin.com/raw.php?i=MRfcm0Cn Bitcoin-proposal-1.svg]
|| proposal based on original design idea from [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=41.msg348274#msg348274 RylandAlmanza] and [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=25102.msg325489#msg325489 netrin]
|}

=== Existing Unicode symbol ===

There is a discussion over [https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=369.0 which Unicode symbol might be the best suited] for Bitcoin.

To type Unicode characters, refer to:

* [[Microsoft Windows Unicode Input]]
* [[How to easily type the circled B symbol on a Mac]]

It has led to the following options:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Proposed character !! Description & Pros & Cons !! Unicode name !! Unicode decimal input !! Unicode hex input
|-
|<center><big>B⃦</big></center>||
*Pros: Similar to current bitcoin.org logo
* Cons: Displays poorly on some systems
|| LATIN CAPITAL LETTER B + COMBINING DOUBLE VERTICAL STROKE OVERLAY || || U+0042 U+20E6
|-
|<center><big>฿</big></center> ||
* Pros: Displayed correctly on all known OSes
* Cons: It is already used as the Thai Baht (THB) symbol but the $ is also shared by many currencies
|| THAI CURRENCY SYMBOL BAHT || || Alt +0E3F
|-
|<center><big>Ƀ</big></center>||
*Pros: Standard Latin Extended-B character; [http://www.ecogex.com/bitcoin/ See the project Ƀ Another Bitcoin identity]
*Cons: Does not display on modern Android devices
|| LATIN CAPITAL LETTER B WITH STROKE || ||Alt +0243
|-
|<center><big>ᗸ</big></center>|| Resembles the struck B while being different from Baht symbol ||CANADIAN SYLLABICS CARRIER KHEE || || Alt +15F8
|-
|<center><big>B⃫</big></center>||
|| LATIN CAPITAL LETTER B + COMBINING LONG DOUBLE SOLIDUS OVERLAY || || U+0042 U+20EB
|-
|<center><big>Ⓑ</big></center>||
*Pros: Similar to current bitcoin.org logo
|| CIRCLED LATIN CAPITAL LETTER B || || Alt +24B7
|-
|<center><big>ⓑ</big></center>||
*Pros: Small b represent the unit bit in computer where capital B is Byte
* Cons: Small fonts are harder to read
|| CIRCLED LATIN SMALL LETTER B || ||Alt +24D1
|-
|<center><big>ᴃ</big></center>|| || LATIN LETTER SMALL CAPITAL BARRED B || ||Alt +1D03
|-
|<center><big>␢</big></center>|| || (Unicode Block: Control Pictures) BLANK SYMBOL (graphic for space) || || Alt +2422
|-
|<center><big>β</big></center>||
*Pros: Fluid look and easy to write; Lowercase 
*Cons: Languages that use this character don't consider it a B. in Greek it's a V, and the German character it resembles is a hard S.
|| GREEK SMALL LETTER BETA || ||Alt +03B2
|-
|<center><big>∆</big></center>|| delta for "digital" || Greek capital Delta. (In Greek it's pronounced as the "th" in "then" and not like "d" in "digital". || || U+0394
|-
|<center><big>ɸ</big></center>|| contains 0 and I || Greek small Phi || || U+0278
|-
|<center><big>币</big></center>|| pronounced "bi", combines "b", turned "c" and "T", many Chinese users, also 网民币 - Wangminbi, "The Netizen's Currency" (pun on Renminbi) || Chinese for "Currency" || || U+5E01
|-
|<center><big>¤</big></center>|| || CURRENCY SIGN ||Alt 0164 ||Alt +00A4
|-
|<center><big>Ƅ</big></center>|| || LATIN CAPITAL LETTER TONE SIX || ||Alt +0184
|-
|<center><big>∄</big></center>|| || (Unicode Block: Mathematical Operators) THERE DOES NOT EXIST || ||Alt +2204
|-
|<center><big>≡</big></center>|| three bars like three bits
* Cons: this resembles the letter ksi (Ξ) in Greek and it sounds like "x" in "axiom".
|| (Unicode Block: Mathematical Operators) IDENTICAL TO || || U+2261
|-
|<center><big>ઘ</big></center>|| || GUJARATI LETTER GHA (Indo-Aryan language) || ||Alt +0A98
|-
|<center><big>ϭ</big></center>|| || (Unicode Block: Greek and Coptic) COPTIC SMALL LETTER SHIMA || ||Alt +03ED
|-
|<center><big>ⓢ</big></center>|| Purposed as a smaller unit of bitcoin. E.g. A hundredth of a bitcoin || CIRCLED LATIN SMALL LETTER S || || Alt +24E2
|-
|<center><big>◪</big></center>|| || (Unicode Block: Geometric Shapes) SQUARE WITH LOWER RIGHT DIAGONAL HALF BLACK || || Alt +25EA
|-
|<center><big>㋡</big></center>|| ||CIRCLED KATAKANA TU' (Japanese)|| || Alt +32E1
|-
|<center>[[Image:Bat.png|24px|alt=The b'at]] 
the b'at</center>
||
* Pros: Is round like a coin. Contains the B for Bitcoin. Borrows a style widely associated with the Internet. Not used for other meanings.
* Cons: Does not exist in the Unicode standard
* Cons: Very similar to the existing trademarked logo of [http://www.broad.com Broad]
|| n/a || ||
|-
|<center>[[Image:Bitcoin Symbol Suggestion circled struck-through B.png|24px]]</center>||
* Cons: Does not exist in the Unicode standard
|| n/a || ||
|-
|<center>[[Image:Bitcoin Symbol Suggestion rotated power.png|24px]]</center>||
* Cons: Does not exist in the Unicode standard
|| n/a || ||
|-
|<center>A 'C' with '1' and '0' inside [[http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/8840/bitcoinlogodraft.png]]</center>||
* Cons: Does not exist in the Unicode standard
|| n/a || ||
|-
|<center>A 'C' with a 'circle' and 'dot' inside [[http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/6006/bitcoinlogodraftii.png]]</center>||
* Cons: Does not exist in the Unicode standard
|| n/a || ||
|-
|<center>B-T-C monogram [[http://hosting11.imagecross.com/image-hosting-61/2381unicode1s.png]][[http://hosting11.imagecross.com/image-hosting-61/162bitcoin_uni_s.png]]</center>||
* Cons: Does not exist in the Unicode standard
|| n/a || ||
|}

==See Also==

* [[Promotional graphics]]

[[Category:Introduction]]

Bitbills

2012-05-15T14:21:08Z

Kieronbm: bitbills are no longer in production

According to the product's announcement Bitbills are the first physical incarnation of bitcoins.

A Bitbill is a plastic card that holds the cryptographic key that will allow the face value amount of the card to be spent. The key is on a QR code embedded within the card such that it cannot be read without the card showing evidence of tampering. Additionally, the card has a hologram affixed to ensure that the card is not a counterfeit.

The intention is that the card will be left unopened and then can be treated as money by being acceptable at face value when making a transaction in-person at a retailer, for example. At any time, the card can be opened and the funds spent through the Bitcoin payment network. Once the card has been opened it will no longer be acceptable as payment anywhere else due to the fact that the private key will have been revealed.

At the time this article was created, the ability to spend a Bitbill requires first that a patch to the Bitcoin software is in place.

The card is sold in denominations of 1 BTC, 5 BTC, 10 BTC and 20 BTC. Orders for the cards are accepted online and the only form of payment is Bitcoin.

The Bitbill launch was announced on May 9, 2011<ref>[http://www.bitcoin.org/smf/index.php?topic=7724.0 Introducing Bitbills!]</ref>.

As of May 15, 2012, Bitbills are no longer in production<ref>[http://bitbills.com/order Ordering Bitbills]</ref>.
==See Also==

* [[Digital currency]]

==External Links==

* [http://Bitbills.com Bitbills] web site

==References==

<references />

[[Category:Financial]]
[[Category:Digital_currencies]]
[[Category:Physical bitcoins]]

Securing your wallet

2012-01-26T23:56:44Z

Kieronbm: fixed typo

==Introduction==

Wallet security can be broken down into two independent goals:
# Protecting your wallet against loss.
# Protecting your wallet against theft.

In the case that your current wallet hasn't been protected adequately (e.g. put online with a weaker password):
# Making a new secure wallet, using appropriate long-term protection.

''For a brief overview see also: [[Wallet Security Dos and Don'ts (Windows)|Wallet Security Dos and Don'ts]]''

==Paper Wallets==
[[Paper wallet]]s are a fairly simple way to store Bitcoins without needing a computer. When generated securely, a paper wallet also puts your Bitcoins well outside the reach of hackers and computer viruses.

"Storing" bitcoins is a little bit of a misnomer - what you are actually "storing" is a sequence of secret numbers that is used to prove your right to spend the Bitcoins you have received. This secret number is called a [[private key]]. The most common way to write a Bitcoin private key is as a sequence of fifty-one alphanumeric characters that always starts with a '5'.

One way you can print a paper wallet is at the website [[BitAddress]]. This website features a free client-side paper wallet generator written in Javascript. This generator can be saved as a file and used on an offline computer. Using it online is relatively safe, but not airtight unless you take a couple of extra precautions to ensure your keys are not stolen by spyware. Alternatively blockchain.info offers a [https://blockchain.info/wallet/paper-tutorial tutorial on how to generate a paper wallet] with an online component so you can still check your balance easily.

To generate a safe paper wallet, you need to "clean-boot" your computer with a bootable CD (such as a Linux Live CD), with your computer not connected to the internet, to ensure that you do not have any active spyware that might steal the private keys you generate. Disconnecting from the Internet allows you to confirm that the paper wallet generator is truly self-contained and isn't depending on communication with a remote server. Run the saved paper wallet generator in a web browser, print your paper wallets (do not save them on the computer), and then shut down the computer. You may need to load an appropriate printer driver in order to print while booted from the Live CD.

A paper wallet lists multiple Bitcoin addresses and the corresponding "private key". You can send Bitcoins to any address on the page, and they will be inaccessible until the private key is loaded back onto a computer. The Bitcoin software does not yet have a built-in way to load private keys, but you can use the "Add Funds" - "Private key" screen at [[MtGox]] to recover digital coins from a private key. Coins are deposited in your MtGox account and can be sent out of MtGox shortly thereafter.

Remember that spyware and viruses often attempt to monitor your computer activities so that their authors can steal from you. They are interested in your passwords (such as to banking, etc.) and anything of value. Bitcoin wallets and Bitcoin private keys are something of value that will be targeted by malware. Paper wallets isolate you from much of this risk.

If your computer is infected with spyware or viruses - even if there are no symptoms or your antivirus isn't reporting anything - then anything you type, view, or save on your computer could potentially be stolen by someone remotely controlling your computer. Your private key could potentially be intercepted at the point you type it in to redeem it, so only enter a Bitcoin private key into your computer when your intent is to redeem its value ''immediately''.

==Securing an online wallet with the Bitcoin software==

Bitcoin transactions send Bitcoins to a specific public key. A Bitcoin address is an encoded hash of a public key. In order to use received Bitcoins, you need to have the private key matching the public key you received with. This is sort of like a super long password associated with an account (the account is the public key). Your Bitcoin wallet contains all of the private keys necessary for spending your received transactions. If you delete your wallet without a backup, then you no longer have the authorization information necessary to claim your coins, and the coins associated with those keys are lost forever.

The wallet contains a pool of queued keys. By default there are 100 keys in the [[key pool]]. The size of the pool is configurable using the "-keypool" command line argument. When you need an address for whatever reason (send, “new address”, generation, etc.), the key is not actually generated freshly, but taken from this pool. A brand new address is generated to fill the pool back to 100. So when a backup is first created, it has all of your old keys plus 100 unused keys. After sending a transaction, it has 99 unused keys. After a total of 100 new-key actions, you will start using keys that are not in your backup. Since the backup does not have the private keys necessary for authorizing spends of these coins, restoring from the old backup will cause you to lose Bitcoins.

Creating a new address generates a new pair of public and private keys, which are added to your wallet. Each keypair is mostly random numbers, so they cannot be known prior to generation. If you backup your wallet and then create more than 100 new addresses, the keypair associated with the newest addresses will not be in the old wallet because the new keypairs are only known after creating them. Any coins received at these addresses will be lost if you restore from the backup.

The situation is made somewhat more confusing because the receiving addresses shown in the UI are not the only keys in your wallet. Each Bitcoin generation is given a new public key, and, more importantly, each sent transaction also sends some number of Bitcoins back to yourself at a new key. When sending Bitcoins to anyone, you generate a new keypair for yourself and simultaneously send Bitcoins to your new public key and the actual recipient's public key. This is an anonymity feature – it makes tracking Bitcoin transactions much more difficult.

So if you create a backup, do more than 100 things that cause a new key to be used, and then restore from the backup, some Bitcoins will be lost. Bitcoin has not deleted any keys (keys are never deleted) – it has created a new key that is not in your old backup and then sent Bitcoins to it.

== Making a new wallet ==

In the case that a wallet has been distributed, or stored, in a (real or potential) compromised state, it is wise to create a new wallet and transfer the full balance of Bitcoins to an address contained only in the newly created wallet.

For example, this will be necessary if one created a wallet with a password of 12 characters, as suggested. However a few years have passed and the wallet is now more easily compromised. Just re-encrypting isn't secure. One needs to make a new wallet and make the old wallet worthless (spending the funds to the new wallet).

==Making a secure workspace==

===Linux===

The first step is to make a [http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/ubuntu/add-a-user-on-ubuntu-server/ new user,] so run:

<code>adduser new_user_name</code>

as root. When you get to the prompt 'Enter the new value, or press ENTER for the default', just keep hitting ENTER.

Then switch user to the new user. To get to the new user you can use the switch user icon for your system, which on Ubuntu is in the 'System/Quit' screen, or if there is no switch icon on your system you can log out and log back in as the new user. Then click on a folder in the new user to display the file browser, then keep going up folders until you see the new user home directory, then right click to bring up the Properties dialog, then click on the Permissions tab, then in the Others section, set the folder access to None.

For secure browsing, open Firefox, and then go into the Edit menu and click Preferences. Starting from the left, click on the General tab, and in the 'Startup/When Firefox starts' pop up menu, choose 'Show a Blank Page'. Then click on the Content tab, and deselect 'Load images automatically' and deselect 'Enable Javascript'. Then click on the Privacy tab, and in the 'History/Firefox will' pop up menu, choose 'Never remember history'. Then click on the Security tab, and in the Passwords section, deselect 'Remember passwords for sites' and deselect 'Use a master password'. Then click on the Advanced tab, then click on the Update tab, and then in the 'Automatically check for updates to' section, deselect 'Add-ons' and 'Search Engines'.

When javascript is disabled, the [http://sourceforge.net/projects/bitcoin/files/Bitcoin/bitcoin-0.3.23/bitcoin-0.3.23-linux.tar.gz/download linux download page] will not download automatically, so you'll have to click on the 'direct link' part of the "Problems with the download? Please use this 'direct link' or try another mirror." line.

After you've made your secure new user, to maintain security you should use it only for bitcoin.

It's also a good idea to encrypt the Home directory of whatever user you run Bitcoin under using ecryptfs-utils. To do this:
# If the Home directory is not empty you should back it up first, by just copying the data to an external drive or something.
# install ecryptfs-utils (on Ubuntu: sudo apt-get install ecryptfs-utils)
# log out of X (graphical system) and press Ctrl+Alt+F1 to login to the command shell (you must be logged out or some files will be open and the tool won't be able to encrypt your data)
# change directory to something that's not in your home folder (ex: cd / )
# run the migration tool (on Ubuntu: sudo ecryptfs-migrate-home -u username)
# if it's successful, you can now press ALT+F8 to go back to the GUI and login
# run 'ecryptfs-unwrap-passphrase' and '''WRITE DOWN OR SAVE THE CODE IT RETURNS''' because you will need it if you ever have to pull your data off while the OS is not working. (You can run it again later if you need to, but run it now so that you can get your data if your Linux install gets botched.)
# run 'ecryptfs-setup-swap' to encrypt your swap partition (the encrypted folder data is not encrypted while it's in memory, and so if it's ever sent to the swap partition it can be stolen from there unless that too is encrypted - be aware that this will mean you cannot use Hibernate anymore, as the bootloader won't be able to restore the hibernation data)
(instructions from [http://bodhizazen.net/Tutorials/Ecryptfs/#Migrate])

===Mac===
This solution '''does not scale'''; the amount of needed space can grow beyond the image size.

=====Backup all data=====
Follow these instructions to backup all the bitcoin data (wallet and block chains) to an encrypted disk image.
# Open Disk Utility
# Click New Image and choose a big enough size, 128-bit or 256-bit (faster or more secure) encryption and single partition.
# Save it somewhere you won't lose it (like your Wuala, Dropbox, Strongspace or whatever)
# Choose a safe and strong password
# Move everything from ~/Library/Application Support/Bitcoin/ to the image
# Symlink it back so the app would be able to use it
:::ln -s /Volumes/Bitcoin ~/Library/Application Support/Bitcoin

Don't forget to mount your image before using Bitcoin and unmount after quitting it.

=====Backup just wallet.dat=====
Follow these instructions to backup just the wallet.dat file. This results in a smaller disk image, but it's more complicated to do.
# Open Disk Utility
# Click New Image and choose a big enough size, 128-bit or 256-bit (faster or more secure) encryption and single partition.
# Save it somewhere you won't lose it (like your Wuala, Dropbox, Strongspace or whatever)
# Choose a safe and strong password
# Move your wallet.dat file to the image
# Symlink it back so the app would be able to use it
:::ln -s /Volumes/Bitcoin/wallet.dat ~/Library/Application Support/Bitcoin/wallet.dat

[[File:MountWalletAndLauchnBitcoin_OSX_Automator.png|thumbnail|150px|Mount Wallet and launch Bitcoin]]
Don't forget to mount your image before using Bitcoin and unmount after quitting it.

'''Note''': If you start the Bitcoin application without having the image mounted, the application will overwrite your symlink with a new wallet. If that happens, don't panic. Just delete the new wallet.dat, mount the image, and recreate the symlink like above.

'''Automation''': You can create a small application using [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automator_%28software%29 Automator] (included in OS X) to automatically mount the wallet and then launch Bitcoin App. See the Screenshot on how to do this.

If one ''doesn't'' want to use encrypted Disk images, then a '''small shell script''' can be used instead that takes care of decrypting the wallet, launching bitcoin client, and encrypting it after the client exits. This script works on both OSX and Linux: [http://lorelei.kaverit.org/bitcoin.sh bitcoin-launch-script]

===Windows===

If you are using Windows XP or Windows 7, you can keep your wallet on an encrypted disk image created by third-party software, such as [http://www.truecrypt.org/ TrueCrypt] (open source) or [http://www.jetico.com/encryption-bestcrypt/ Jetico BestCrypt] (commercial). You can probably do the same with Windows Vista or Windows 2000.

'''NOTE:''' You should configure Bitcoin in this manner only on computers where you use Bitcoin, but do not use that computer to mine. For example, this is a good configuration for a notebook or tablet computer.

Assuming that you have installed the Windows Bitcoin client and run it at least once, the process is described below.

To mount the Bitcoin data directory on an encrypted drive
<ol start=1 type=1>
<li>Use the third-party disk image encryption program of your choice to create and mount an encrypted disk image of at least 100 MB in size.</li>
<li>Locate the Bitcoin data directory, and copy the directory with all contents to the encrypted drive.
For help finding this directory, see [[Securing_your_wallet#Locating_Bitcoin_s_data_directory|Locating Bitcoin's Data Directory]].</li>
<li>Create a Windows shortcut that starts Bitcoin with the <code>-datadir</code> parameter and specifies the encrypted drive and directory.
For example, if you installed Bitcoin in the default directory, mounted your Bitcoin encrypted drive as <code>E:\</code>, and stored your Bitcoin data directory on it as <code>Bitcoin</code>, you would type the following command as the shortcut Target:
<blockquote><code>C:\Program Files\Bitcoin\bitcoin.exe -datadir=E:\Bitcoin</code></blockquote></li>
<li>Open Bitcoin's settings and configure it NOT to start automatically when you start Windows.
This is to allow you to mount the Bitcoin encrypted disk image before starting Bitcoin.</li>
<li>Shut down Bitcoin, and then restart it from the new shortcut.</li>
</ol>

After doing this, any time you want to use Bitcoin, you must first mount the Bitcoin encrypted disk image using the same drive designation, and then run Bitcoin from the shortcut that you created, so that it can find its data and your wallet. :-)

== Locating Bitcoin's data directory ==

The [[data directory]] is the location where Bitcoin's data files are stored, including the wallet data file.

=== Windows ===

Go to Start -> Run (or press WinKey+R) and run this:

explorer %APPDATA%\Bitcoin

Bitcoin's data folder will open. For most users, this is the following locations:

C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\Application data\Bitcoin (XP)

C:\Users\YourUserName\Appdata\Roaming\Bitcoin (Vista and 7)

"AppData" and "Application data" are hidden by default.

=== Linux ===

By default Bitcoin will put its data here:

~/.bitcoin/

You need to do a "ls -a" to see directories that start with a dot.

If that's not it, you can do a search like this:

find / -name wallet.dat -print 2>/dev/null

=== Mac ===

By default Bitcoin will put its data here:

~/Library/Application Support/Bitcoin/

==Backup==

'''Note''': Using a service like Dropbox to back up your Bitcoin data is not recommended as doing so introduces [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dropbox_(service)#Criticism security concerns] such as:
# the fact that they store your encryption key (meaning that a disgruntled Dropbox employee or an attacker who gained access to the system could decrypt your Dropbox data and steal your Bitcoins)
# the fact that the Dropbox client only needs a password for the first login. After it authenticates once, the server assigns it a token which it uses to show that, at one time, its user knew the password rather than sending the actual password (meaning that if you ever use the Dropbox client on another PC, that PC's users can access your Dropbox - even if you change your password - and can steal your Bitcoins or get a virus that will steal your Bitcoins).

For these reasons, an alternative is Wuala which does not store your encryption key and requires a password each time. With Wuala, the client can be set to remember your password but the server will check each time to make sure that the client is sending the correct password. Like Dropbox, the basic, lowest-storage-space account with Wuala is free of charge, and coincidentally, Wuala [http://www.wuala.com/en/bitcoin is experimenting with allowing users to pay for "upgraded" plans using Bitcoin.]

Whether you use Dropbox as your backup or not, use what Steve Gibson calls "pre-Internet encryption" (which he [http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/security-corner/cloud-security-and-privacy-do-they-exist/ discussed in the context of Dropbox's security concerns]) and use some form of encryption on the files before you back them up -- just in case someone other than yourself ever gains access to that backup. Make sure to pick a password that's memorable but secure.

The only file you need to back up is "wallet.dat". Ensure that Bitcoin is closed, copy this file somewhere else, encrypt it, and put it somewhere safe. Ideally, you would put this file in two places: one nearby, and one 100+ miles away.

You can use the [[api|backupwallet]] JSON-RPC command to back up without shutting down Bitcoin.

=== General Solutions ===

Your wallet.dat file is not encrypted by Bitcoin, by default. The most current release of the Bitcoin client provides a method to encrypt with a passphrase the private keys stored in the wallet. Anyone who can access a wallet which is not using the passphrase encryption can easily steal all of your coins. Use one of these encryption programs if there is any chance someone might stumble upon your wallet.
* [http://www.7-zip.org/ 7-zip] - Supports strongly-encrypted archives.
* [http://www.axantum.com/axcrypt/ AxCrypt by Axantum]
* [http://lrzip.kolivas.org lrzip] - Compression software for Linux and OSX that supports very high grade password protected encryption
* [http://www.truecrypt.org/ TrueCrypt] - Volume-based on-the-fly encryption (for advanced users)
* [http://www.rarlab.com/ WinRar] - Commonly used archive software that supports verification records and encryption.

There is also a list of [[OpenSourceEncryptionSoftware|open source encryption software.]]

Decrypting and encrypting the wallet.dat every time you start or quit the Bitcoin client can be ''tedious'' (and outright error-prone). If you want to keep your wallet encrypted (except while you're actually running the Bitcoin client), it's better to relegate the automation to a [http://lorelei.kaverit.org/bitcoin.sh small shell script] that handles the en/decryption and starting up Bitcoin client for you (Linux and OSX).

There is also a method to Print out and encrypt your Wallet.dat as a special barcode. See details here: [[WalletPaperbackup]]

==== Password Strength ====
Brute-force password cracking has come a long way. A password of random [a-Z] [0-9] [!-~] of 8 characters long was previously thought secure but can be trivially solved now (using appropriate hardware). The recommended length is '''at least''' 12 characters long. You can also use a multi-word password. [http://www.baekdal.com/tips/password-security-usability The Usability of Passwords]

However, simply using dictionary words is also insecure as it opens you up to a dictionary attack. If you use dictionary words, be sure to throw random symbols and numbers in the mix as well.

If you use keyfiles in addition to a password, it is unlikely that your encrypted file can ever be cracked using brute force methods, even 10 years from now when even a 12 character password might be too short.

Assume that any encrypted files you store online (eg. gmail, Dropbox) will be stored somewhere forever and can never be erased.

===== Choosing Your Password =====
Make sure you pick at least one character in each group: 

Lowercase: abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
Uppercase: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Number: 1234567890
Symbol: `~!@#$%^&*()-_=+\|[{]};:'",<.>/? (space)

<9 char = unsuitable for use
09 char = insecure
10 char = low security
11 char = medium security
12 char = good security (good enough for your wallet)
13 char = very good, enough for anything.

==== Storage of Archive ====
One of the most simple methods for storing a appropriately '''encrypted''' archive of your wallet.dat file is to send the archive as an email attachment to your own e-mail address. Services like gmail.com use very comprehensive distributed networks that make the loss of data very unlikely. One can even obfuscate the name of the files within the archive, and name the archive something less inviting, such as: 'personal notes' or 'car insurance'.

Another solution is to use a file storage service like [http://www.wuala.com/bitcoin Wuala] ( encrypted, [http://www.bitcoin.org/smf/index.php?topic=5817.0 instructions]), [http://www.dropbox.com Dropbox] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_online_backup_services others], including the more secure [http://www.spideroak.com SpiderOak].

=== Linux solution ===

Linux users can setup backups using cron by telling it to run a backup script at set intervals of time. Run 'crontab -e' and add this line near the bottom:

01 */1 * * * /usr/local/bin/backupwallet.sh

This cron line will run the /usr/local/bin/backupwallet.sh script at the 01 minute of every hour. Remember to add a newline after the last line of the crontab file, or else the last line won't run. You may also wish to ignore the script's output by appending " > /dev/null 2>&1" to the line (this will also prevent emails from being sent).

Create /usr/local/bin/backupwallet.sh:

#!/bin/bash
# /usr/local/bin/backupwallet.sh
#
# Performs backup of bitcoin wallet.
#
# Written by: https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Securing_your_wallet

#
# Standard Options
#
TS=$(date "+%Y%m%d-%H%M")
WALLET=/tmp/wallet-${TS}
WALLET_E=/tmp/wallet-${TS}.crypt
BITCOIN=bitcoind # /path/to/bitcoind
GPG=gpg # /path/to/gpg
GPG_USER=username # Username of gpg recipient. User should have gpg setup.
RM=rm
RM_OPTS='--force'
USE_SHRED=0 # Flip to 1 to use `shred` instead of `rm`.
SHRED=shred
SHRED_OPTS='--force --iterations=9 --zero --remove'

#
# Storage Options
# Only 1 set of options should be un-commented (the last one will be used).
# Update CP_DEST paths as neccessary.
#
# CP - Storage on a local machine. Could be Dropbox/Wuala folder.
#CP=cp
#CP_DEST='/var/data/backups/' # '~/Dropbox/', etc.
#
# SSH - Storage on a remote machine.
CP=scp
CP_DEST='remoteuser@example.com:~/wallets/'
#
# S3 - Storage on Amazon's S3. Be sure s3cmd is installed and properly setup.
# You may need "s3cmd put --force" if you use a sub-directory in CP_DEST.
#CP=s3cmd put
#CP_DEST='s3://bucket'

do_clean() {
# Remove temporary wallets.
if [ 1 -eq $USE_SHRED ]; then
$SHRED $SHRED_OPTS $WALLET $WALLET_E
else
$RM $RM_OPTS $WALLET $WALLET_E
fi
}

do_fail() {
do_clean
echo failed!
exit 1
}

# Perform the backup.
echo -n Making backup...
$BITCOIN backupwallet $WALLET
[ ! -s "$WALLET" ] && do_fail # If the backup does not exist or is empty, fail.
echo done.
echo -n Encrypting backup...
$GPG -r $GPG_USER --output $WALLET_E --encrypt $WALLET
[ 0 -ne $? ] && do_fail # If gpg returns a non-zero result, fail.
echo done.
echo -n Copying to backup location...
$CP $WALLET_E "$CP_DEST"
[ 0 -ne $? ] && do_fail # If the $CP command returns a non-zero result, fail.
echo done.
do_clean

exit 0

The shell script:

* Calls bitcoind backupwallet to create a time/date-stamped wallet.
* GPG encrypts the wallet with your public key.
* Copies the result using one of several storage options (cp, scp, and s3cmd).
* Uses the rm or shred command to remove the temporary wallet files.

Be sure to modify the script options to fit your setup. After you save, make sure the file can be executed properly by the cron user. Common permissions for files in /usr/local/bin/ can be applied using (verify with your distribution!):

cd /usr/local/bin/ && chown root:root backupwallet.sh && chmod 755 backupwallet.sh

[[Category:Technical]]

==Restore==

Assuming your backup is recent enough that you haven't used up all of your key pool... restoring a wallet to a new (or old) location and rescanning the block chain should leave you with all your coins. Just follow these steps:
* Quit bitcoin(d).
* Copy your backed up wallet.dat into your bitcoin profile directory.
* If copying into existing profile, delete file ''blkindex.dat'' and ''blk0001.dat'' to make the client re-scan the block chain.

And you'll be good as new.

==Erasing Plain Text Wallets==

A good practice is to keep at least two wallets, one as a "current account" for everyday transactions and one as a "savings account" where you store the majority of your Bitcoins.

The "savings account" wallet should be backed up in encrypted form only and all plaintext copies of this wallet should be erased. In case someone gains unauthorised access to your computer (either by physically stealing it or by exploiting a system vulnerability via the internet), they will only be able to spend the coins in your "current account" wallet.

In most operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X, simply deleting a wallet.dat file will ''not'' generally destroy it. It is likely that advanced tools can still be used to recover the wallet.dat file, even after it has been deleted.

The Linux '''shred''' command can be used to overwrite the wallet file with random data prior to deleting; this particular copy of the file will then be practically impossible to recover. Using shred (and similar tools on Windows) however does not guarantee that still other copies don't exist somewhere hidden on your HD. That will depend on your system configuration and what packages you have installed. Some system restore and backup tools, for instance, create periodic snapshots of your filesystem, duplicating your wallet.dat.

In Mac OS, the equivalent of '''shred''' is '''srm''' (introduced in Leopard). Using the Finder to remove files, clicking "Secure Empty Trash" in the Finder menu will shred the contents of the trash can. As with any OS this doesn't guarantee that there are not other copies elsewhere on your system.

For Windows, the built-in command ''cipher /W'' will shred all previously-deleted files. [http://www.cylog.org/utilities/cybershredder.jsp CyberShredder] can securely deleted individual files.

==eWallet==

Storing bitcoins with an [[eWallet]] provider incurs risks as well. Basically you grant the third party, in this case eWallet, full access to your wallet. These eWallets, or Electronic Wallets have a number of pros and cons. For example, you can access your wallet on any computer in the world, but the wallet can be forged or hacked and your bitcoins could be lost. You can also get eWallet applications for your Android phone, which also download the block chain like the normal client but allow the user to send bitcoins by QR code or NFC. The problem with this is that Bitcoins can be intercepted through means of mobile hacking.

==See Also==

* [[Data directory]]
* [http://startbitcoin.com/how-to-create-a-secure-bitcoin-wallet/ Secure Bitcoin Wallet Tutorial]
* [[How to set up a secure offline savings wallet]]
* [http://arimaa.com/bitcoin/ Bitcoin Gateway - A Peer-to-peer Bitcoin Vault and Payment Network]

[[de:Sichere deine Geldbörse]]
[[zh-cn:保护你的钱包]]

Liberty Reserve

2012-01-24T04:38:56Z

Kieronbm: broken link deleted

'''Liberty Reserve''' is a private currency exchange system issued by Liberty Reserve S.A. of San José, Costa Rica.

The two Liberty Reserve currencies are Liberty Reserve USD (LRUSD) and Liberty Reserve EURO (LREUR). Liberty Reserve S.A.'s terms of service reads:
:: <tt>1.7. Liberty Reserve (LR): means the digital currency in which the electronic transfer services are provided; '''backed by United States of America Dollars and Euros'''; hereinafter for all legal purposes referred to as LR. </tt> [emphasis added]

Liberty Reserve is a digital currency used frequently for adding funds to and withdrawing funds from [[:Category:Exchanges|Bitcoin exchange markets]].

==Fees==
Transfers charged by Liberty Reserve are a flat 1% to the recipient of the funds. The fee is rounded up to the nearest penny, so the minimum fee is $0.01. The maximum fee is $2.99 so essentially fees are only charged on the first $300 of any transfer.

If you are transferring LR from your account with a merchant, that merchant may charge a fee for that withdrawal, however that fee is withdrawn before the merchant sends the funds to your Liberty Reserve account.

In some circumstances, if you will be transferring LR funds from one merchant to another, you might be able to skip treating your LR as a hub and just transfer funds directly from one merchant to the other. This will save on the fee that would have been charged on the second transaction<ref>Additional risks may be incurred when bypassing your own account for this type of transaction. For instance, if the destination claims to not have received funds you won't have any way to inquire on the transaction -- your LR account was not involved in the transaction.</ref>.

==Chargebacks==
Liberty Reserve allows no refunds and has no mechanism for performing a chargeback. The site has security protections to help lessen the likelihood of an unauthorized transaction occurring.

==Criticism==

Some are concerned that Liberty Reserve's alleged moves towards becoming a bank are likely to cause potential losses to some of its existing currency holders.

A security issue involving the loss of customer's privacy (browser info exposed to Amazon and Google) was identified on April 26, 2011
<ref>[http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.comp.finance.gold-silver-crypto/22812 Liberty Reserve Integrity?]</ref>

==See Also==

* [[Payment methods]]
* [[WM-Center]]
* [[Nanaimo Gold]]
* [[AurumXChange Company]]
* [[MtGox]]
* [[Bitcoin Market]]

==External Links==
* [http://www.libertyreserve.com LibertyReserve.com]

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Digital currencies]]

Coinedbits

2012-01-23T14:16:55Z

Kieronbm:

Coinedbits are an attempt to raise awareness of bitcoins, and should not be confused with [[physical bitcoins]].

http://www.coinedbits.com/

[[Category:Bitcoin Novelties]]

Coinedbits

2012-01-23T14:15:21Z

Kieronbm: Changed category. These are NOT physical bitcoins - see the website.

Coinedbits are another source for physical bitcoins. please add some more infos

http://www.coinedbits.com/

[[Category:Bitcoin Novelties]]