thank you for this post. when i got to restore, i cannot see the wallet.dat file. this is in linux. i thought i have "shown hidden files" in the GUI but when the browser comes up to locate the wallet.dat file, none of those hidden files are shown. i assume there is a setting i missed in linux?

i know these are broadly used (seed phrases) but are any experts on these boards concerned about having to rely on more than btc core and using or possibility losing the ability to use them in the future (losing your keys?) due to not having access to the software to access (apps that implement BIP39)

is that idea i have unfounded?

thank you. is having a watching only wallet not a security risk?

thank you. i genuinely appreciate that.


trying to get a streamline, airgapped process using btc core only if possible and no manufactured hardware wallets (don't trust them). for some reason i am weary about having to use other apps or programs in the process. that is either due to a lack of understanding or paranoia.

also, isn't electrum quite difficult/not newb friendly? i have started looking into seedsigner but again it seems like i need an electrum server set up and sparrow wallet. two additional programs to keep all this together. but i don't know what i don't know.

thank you for the links i will check them out.

It would be a cold storage, but you should not rely on digital back ups, as disk corruption is a common phenomenon. Instead, you should be able to back up your bitcoin in paper, human-readable. That's a seed phrase.
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and getting a paper back up of a btc core HD wallet is difficult/cumbersome?

but this is not native to btc core, correct? so if one uses a "seed phrase" for their keys, they always need some sort of software wallet to.....im not sure how to say it. make the seed phrase usable?

not answering for OP, but i would prefer to use only btc core for a cold wallet. is there a a straightforward and secure way to do this? having to use electrum or sparrow or any other software/hardware with btc seems to add surface area and complexity to the process.

forgive me. i am struggling with this stuff as well.

could someone just install btc core on an airgapped device. launch core. create a new wallet. create a "receive address" and the from an exchange or other hot wallet send btc to that  receive address?

would this not be a cold wallet? then that person could make back up copies of the wallet.dat file for redundancy/protection?

is it possible to tell from an xpub if a wallet is single sig or multi sig?

thank you

is the only reason to use something other than bitcoin core to create a wallet to set up multi-sig?

im looking at a seedsigner and they recommend sparrow or specter desktop wallet. is it just "easier" to create a watch-only wallet with those?

im trying to understand better why someone would want to use something other than btc core for cold storage wallet set up and have to work with two different programs instead of one?

i want to make the best decision for my use but its hard to understand all the use case to determine that. appreciate you alls responses.

goal is to have deep cold storage and then use a software wallet (via phone) to accumulate more btc over time. as the amount builds up, send that to cold storage. then one day be able to access btc from cold storage (myself or other family).

is it possible to

1) load bitcoin core on a laptop not connected to the internet
2) create a new wallet for cold storage
3) remove the dat file or at lease the private key (make it a "watch only" type wallet)
4) get public key/address in order to send btc from software wallet
5) connect laptop to internet and DL blockchain/run node, monitor wallet balance

then if i need to move funds from that cold wallet, have another laptop that is not connected to the internet reinsert private key and move funds.

i know i must be missing something, but the hardware wallet/ multi sig stuff makes a semi complex procedure more complex, imo.

that thought hit me after i posted that question, but good to confirm. thank you all so much. i am genuinely thankful for you all taking the time to answer my questions. this had helped me a lot.

thank you.

finally got around to testing the backups and they work. was able to confirm the same receive addresses showed up. however, there was never a point at which i was asked for the passcode. i did encrypt the wallets before i backed them up. is that normal?

no, i meant the blockchain data (400 gigs or whatever) on the initial download. seems easier/faster to just copy that over instead of downloading it all again.

also, is there a way to back up the blockchain info and save those so i don't have to download the entire thing each time i set up a node?

sorry, had another question i figured id ask here.

i bought a second computer (computer 2) to just load btc core (not DL the whole block chain) and test my back ups. i know some of you said thats not necessary but i figured it doesn't hurt going through all the steps again for familiarity. anyway, once i do that and test the back ups, i may want to use computer 2 to run a full node all the time. currently my plain was to run the first computer to set up my btc core wallets, move btc, and shut it down.

if i restore the wallets on computer 2 to test, should i then remove those back ups and not have a wallet set up on computer 2 at all for security purposes or does it matter since i have back ups and the back ups are encrypted.

sorry if this the question is not clear.

again, thank you all. this has all helped a lot.

This has all been very helpful, assuming I am understanding you all. Thank you.

This is another very noob question, but how do I ensure Bitcoin core isn’t running when I go to copy the .dat files? I have been using qt and so I can “exit” it and I assume that closes it and stops it running but being new to Ubuntu I’m not sure.

alright. so i found the wallets folder that has folders for both wallets i created. i can open each folder and now locate each "wallet.dat" file for each individual wallet. couple more questions

1) is there any reason i shouldn't just copy the entire "wallets" folder and save it to a few flash drives and burn it to a dvd, instead of ONLY the "wallet.dat" files themselves?

2) for each "wallet.dat" file, i can change the name in front of ".dat" and it won't affect the file, but i would need to change it back to "wallet.dat" when try to restore, correct?

3)

when you say "I create all my backups on a file system level" do you mean you are backing up your entire linux? or the entire .bitcoin folder?

and when you say "testing is as simple as running it in bitcoin core" are you saying just change out the existing wallet.dat file with the one in just copied?

and there should be address even if all ive done is create the wallet(s) and not used/received any btc to them?