Help:Installing Bitcoin Core: Difference between revisions
Add link for to EWallet entry for funding from the faucet. |
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=Local Wallet= | =Local Wallet= | ||
Those who run the Bitcoin software on a computer | Those who run the Bitcoin software on a computer have their wallet stored locally on their hard drive. | ||
== On Windows == | == On Windows == | ||
Revision as of 18:13, 8 January 2011
You can start exchanging bitcoins within a few minutes.
Online Wallet
Ewallet services are available and may provide the quickest path to getting started with Bitcoin. In just minutes an account can be created and funded.
Local Wallet
Those who run the Bitcoin software on a computer have their wallet stored locally on their hard drive.
On Windows
Installation
Download and install Bitcoin.
Initialisation
The first time you run Bitcoin, it needs to download all the blocks to setup. You already have your bitcoin address at this point, but you won't see any transactions before the initialisation is complete (it can take from an hour to a few hours).
Getting my first coins
The Bitcoin Faucet website currently hands out 0.05 BTC to new bitcoin users. Fill in the form with your bitcoin address.
A new entry should appear in Bitcoin. The network hasn't yet confirmed it, but you know it's being processed. After about one hour it should get 6 confirmations. You are able to spend the coins when there is only one confirmation.
The confirmation counter will, just like the block counter, increase by one every 10 minutes approximately. Six confirmations are considered as 100% sure a transfer has been processed.
Points to remember
- You don't need to be online for receiving BTC.
- You can create as many new addresses as you like. Using a different address each time helps keep you anonymous.
- You can be anonymous with adequate precautions.
- You cannot send BTC to an invalid address. Typos are not a worry as the payment will refuse to send.