To be able to store the most popular cryptocurrency today, you need to create a Bitcoin wallet. In the proposed review, we will learn in detail how to do this and analyze the registration process step by step.
Installing a stationary Bitcoin wallet
Wallets installed on a PC are considered the best, as they provide maximum security for electronic money. As an example, we will consider the Bitcoin core wallet, which is popular with hundreds of thousands of people.
Download and install the client
Bitcoin Core Software Wallet Download Site
To use this application, you must first do the following:
- Go to the official website of this Bitcoin wallet (bitcoin.org/ru).
- Select the operating system on which it will be installed. The list will include the most popular platforms (Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Ubuntu).
- Wait for the file to download to the PC. It weighs only 13 MB, so the download will be very fast.
- Run the setup file and click the Next button.
- Go through the usual installation process. You will only need to periodically press the "Next" button.
- Complete the installation and launch the Bitcoin wallet.
- In the window that appears, select the storage location for the blockchain (the chain of all transactions in the Bitcoin network). Please note that today the blockchain weighs more than 150 GB, and this volume will continue to increase, so it is recommended to clear the hard drive space in advance.
- Start Bitcoin core sync. This process will take a lot of time. As a rule, full synchronization takes from 1 to 3 days (sometimes even a little more). At this stage, you can turn off the PC, but you must first close the program. The next time you open the synchronization will resume from the point where it was interrupted. But if you turn off the computer with the client running, you can provoke a system crash, due to which everything will have to start over.
Setting up the installed client
Activating Login Management on a Bitcoin Core Wallet
The wallet, in fact, has already been practically created, but first you need to configure the program. Here are the points to pay attention to:
- Input management. After enabling this feature, the program will generate new wallet addresses with each transfer. This option will ensure even greater safety of your anonymity. To enable it, you need to go to the settings, select the "Wallet" item and check the box next to the "Enable input management" line.
- Transaction hash display. A very useful option for those who make deposits to online exchanges, casinos or resources related to investments. To activate it, you need to go to the settings, click on the "Display" tab, find the "Third-party transaction URL" field and paste the following link into it: http://blockchain.info/tx/%s. After performing the above steps, each time a transfer is made, the transaction hash will be written in place of "%s". You can throw it to the administrators of Internet resources to confirm the sending of money to the deposit.
- Wallet password protection. Here you will need to go to the settings again and select the "Encrypt wallet" item. You will see a window with two fields. In one field you need to enter the password, and in the other - duplicate it. Your personal code must be at least 8 characters long. It is strongly not recommended to use full-fledged words that are somehow related to you as a password (pet's name, favorite sport, city you want to visit, and so on). The best option is a set of 10-12 random characters (both alphabetic and numeric).
- Create a wallet backup. This is the last but extremely important point. Here you will have to copy the wallet.dat file several times, which, in fact, is your Bitcoin storage. You can copy it manually by finding the program in the appropriate folder, or entrust this task to the application. The second option is simpler and more understandable. You will need to click on the "File" tab (located to the left of the "Settings" tab) and select "Backup Wallet" from the context menu. In the window that appears, you will need to enter a name for the file, as well as select a location for storing it. It is recommended to make 3-4 such copies and put them on different media: to a separate folder on your computer, to a USB flash drive, to a CD, to another PC. Thanks to these duplicates, you will be able to restore your wallet after reinstalling the operating system or buying another computer.
Using the official Bitcoin core wallet
Fields to fill in when sending Bitcoins via Bitcoin Core
Once the vault is installed, synced, and configured, you can start using it. It provides 4 main tabs that will be used when sending and receiving electronic money:
- Review. The main field of your repository. It displays the current balance, the number of coins sent, as well as the amount of funds awaiting network confirmation. This field does not provide any action. Its main function is informational.
- Send. By going to this field, you can send Satoshi or whole Bitcoins to other people. There is a line where you need to enter the recipient's wallet address. For each identifier, you can set a label in order to include it in your address book. In addition, in the menu in question, you can set the amount of the commission. In principle, the system itself offers you the optimal percentage; you can increase or decrease it. But remember, the higher the commission, the faster the transaction will be added to the block. If you set an underestimated percentage, the system may not carry out the transfer. In the worst case, the transaction will be lost. If you have created several addresses, the "Inputs" button will appear in the "Send" field, by clicking on which you can choose from which specific address to transfer.
- Get. This is the most important tab for most users, because we all want to receive Bitcoins. In this field, you can generate the address of your Bitcoin wallet. To get your ID, you just need to click on the "Request payment" button. A set of letters and numbers consisting of 25–34 characters will appear in the corresponding field. These characters will become your personal address.
- transactions. Another field that is for informational purposes only. In it you can view all completed transactions. Sorting by date, amount, labels is available.
If you want to create another Bitcoin wallet (for example, MultiBit), you will need to follow almost the same steps:
- download client;
- install it;
- go through synchronization;
- make settings;
- generate address.
Registering a Blockchain Bitcoin Wallet
Registration page on the Blockchain website
Creating a cryptocurrency storage on an online platform is an ideal option for those who want to have access to their savings from any gadget. If you choose any site with a Bitcoin wallet, you will not have to go through a long synchronization, load the computer's memory, and depend on the performance of a stationary machine. You will be able to receive, transfer and exchange electronic money from anywhere in the world where there is an appropriate device (PC, laptop, smartphone) and stable Internet. True, online storages are inferior to stationary ones in terms of security, but they are suitable for accumulating a small amount of Satoshi.
As an example, we will consider registering a Bitcoin wallet on the Blockchain website. It happens like this:
- You need to go to the blockchain.info website.
- In the appropriate fields, enter your email address and your password (2 times).
- Check the box next to agree to the terms of service and click on the "Continue" button.
- Log in to the email address provided during registration.
- Open the letter from the site and follow the link to confirm registration. Also, the letter will contain your wallet ID. Let's say right away that this is not an address to which you can receive Satoshi. This is just an additional identifier for your account.
- After clicking on the link, you need to return to the main page of the resource and re-enter your data specified during registration (including the ID sent to the mail).
- Click on the "Login" button. After that, you will be taken to the main menu of your profile. Your bitcoin wallet on the Blockchain website will be created automatically. Wallets for two more cryptocurrencies will become available to you: Bitcoin Cash and Ethereum.
- To find out the address of your electronic wallet, you need to select a currency (for example, Bitcoin) and click on the "Get" button. The public key will be generated automatically.
Best Online Bitcoin Wallets
How the HARO wallet menu looks like
There are a couple more online resources worthy of attention:
- HARO wallet- one of the best online bitcoin wallets. Registration on the site is almost the same as on the Blockchain site. Of the differences, we can only highlight that the resource in question is not tied to a unique ID. However, there is another way to protect against unauthorized entry - a four-digit pin code, which is entered before the password. For successful registration of this Bitcoin wallet, you also need to go through verification through the link in the letter sent to the e-mail. To generate an address, you need to click on the Wallet button in the profile menu, and then on RECEIVE.
- exmo.com is the official website of an online exchange that allows you to create a Bitcoin wallet and more. In total, the platform provides for use about two dozen wallets for both national and cryptocurrencies. Registration is extremely simple. You just need to enter your email and password. After that, you can safely use the resource. To find out the wallet address, you need to go to the "Wallet" section, select the currency you are interested in and click on the "Top up" button. There will be a transition to the page where the button "Create address" will be located on the right. By clicking on it, you will get your ID. The exchange has its own exchanger, so you can buy and sell electronic money directly on it. Although the site is online, it has earned a reputation for being a reliable service. Your wallets with Bitcoins and other money will remain intact.
Which Bitcoin wallet is better to install on a smartphone and tablet?
What does a mobile Bitcoin wallet look like?
Usually this question is asked by people who want to always have access to the accumulated cryptocurrency, but are afraid to create a wallet on the site. They can be helped by the official Bitcoin wallet for mobile devices - Bitcoin Wallet, which, in fact, is a copy of the Bitcoin core mentioned above.
To acquire such storage, you need:
- Go to Google Play and enter the name of the wallet.
- Select the appropriate application and click on the "Install" button.
- Wait until the installation is completed, then open the Bitcoin wallet.
- Go to the Request Bitcoins tab to find out the address of your wallet.
We paid attention to this particular client for a number of reasons. First, it is considered one of the safest. Secondly, it has a user-friendly interface (albeit in English). And thirdly, the program is constantly being improved by developers. For example, the last update of this Bitcoin wallet dates back to December 20, 2017.
How to withdraw money from wallets?
Cryptocurrency withdrawal interface
It all depends on what service you use. The same Exmo.com allows you to withdraw funds immediately to the card without using third-party sites. But, as a rule, you have to resort to the help of specialized online exchangers. In particular, you can use the bestchange.ru platform. It combines the most popular platforms involved in the exchange of cryptocurrencies. With its help, you will be able to transfer Bitcoins to QIWI wallet, WebMoney, Yandex.Money, Sberbank card, Alfa Bank, Privat Bank, VTB, PUMB. The commission on services that provide such services is not the smallest, but transactions are quite fast.
So, we have learned how to register various Bitcoin wallets. As you can see, the algorithms are in many ways similar (both in computer programs, and in mobile applications, and on websites), but there are certain nuances in all three cases. If you still do not know which Bitcoin wallet to choose, decide what is more important for you: security or mobility. In the first case, you need clients installed on a PC, in the second - online platforms. Well, if you want to get a universal solution, then download the wallet to your smartphone or tablet.
How to create a Bitcoin wallet on Blockchain, see the following video: