Wallet
A Bitcoin wallet is a collection of private keys but may also refer to client software used to manage those keys and to make transactions on the Bitcoin network.
This page covers various wallet formats in use.
Bitcoin Core
The original Bitcoin client stores private key information in a file named wallet.dat following the so called "bitkeys" format.
The wallet.dat file contains your private keys, public keys, scripts (which correspond to addresses), key metadata (e.g. labels), and the transactions related to your wallet. If you have an HD wallet, it also includes the HD seed and the derivation paths for each private key.
It contains:
- keypairs for each of your addresses
- transactions done from/to your addresses
- user preferences
- default key
- reserve keys
- accounts
- a version number
- Key pool
- Since 0.3.21: information about the current best chain, to be able to rescan automatically when restoring from a backup.
The wallet.dat file is located in the Bitcoin data directory and may be encrypted with a password.
It is intended that a wallet file be used on only one installation of Bitcoin at a time. Attempting to clone a wallet file for use on multiple computers will result in "weird behavior"[1].
The format of this file is Berkeley DB. Tools that can manipulate wallet files include pywallet.
Armory
The Armory client uses a custom Deterministic wallet format described here and runs on top of Bitcoin Core.
Bitcoin Wallet
Bitcoin Wallet uses the bitcoinj protobuf format for its wallet file. However, due to Android isolation of applications, it is impossible to access the wallet file as a non-root user.
Blockchain.info
Blockchain.info offers a hybrid eWallet called "My Wallet". It use a plain text JSON wallet format. Private keys Keys are stored in base58.
Denarium.com
Denarium is Physical Bitcoin coin manufacturer. Denarium produces easy, handy and secure wallets in a coin form. The private key is stored under a security seal without password protection. Denarium also offers a trustless multisignature coins, which eliminates the need to trust the manufacturer.
Ledger Wallet
Ledger Wallet manufactures various hardware wallets.
Blockchain App Factory
Blockchain App Factory offers Whitelabel cryptocurrency wallet with the latest features, unrivaled security, and user-friendly design to safeguard your cryptocurrencies and monitor them 24/7.
Multibit
Multibit HD (the current version) uses a BIP 0032 (type 2) Deterministic wallet with the format described here. The "Classic" version used the bitcoinj protobuf wallet file.
Blocktrail
Blocktrail offers a BIP 0032 (type 2) Deterministic wallet and for added security also implements Multisignature wallet technology.
TREZOR
TREZOR is an isolated hardware environment for offline transaction signing and using a small display you can visually verify the transaction contents.
Opendime
Opendime is a small USB stick that allows you to spend Bitcoin like a dollar bill. Pass it along multiple times. Connect to any USB to check balance. Unseal anytime to spend online. Trust no one.
See Also
- Transaction fees
- Securing your wallet
- EWallet
- Deterministic Wallet
- Choose your wallet
- wallet.dat files with balance and lost password