Multibit bitcoin client
Multibit bitcoin client is a popular Bitcoin wallet program that aims to combine fast startup times, a simplified feature set, and support for multiple languages. MultiBit is no longer supported. This post was written in and only slightly modified since then.
It remains for those who may need to use MultiBit Classic, but should not be used by beginners. This guide documents MultiBit through step-by-step examples written from the perspective of a reader new to both MultiBit and Bitcoin.
Having access to a small amount of bitcoin will make the examples multibit bitcoin client here easier to understand. Many purchase options are available; U. The information presented here applies to this version of MultiBit 0.
Download the installer for your operating multibit bitcoin client from the downloads page. If this software is not present on your computer, the installer will ask if you want to add it. After Java has been installed, re-run the MultiBit download. If downloading MultiBit from a browser, be sure to save the installer rather than trying to open it with a package manager.
The installer will guide you from there. To send you funds, a payer requires your Bitcoin address. Alternatively your receiving address QR code can be scanned by a handheld device. Next, make a payment from the software or service currently hosting your funded wallet into your unfunded MultiBit wallet.
Fill in an amount. For this example, transfer 0. Localbitcoins, like other exchanges, does not always send funds immediately. Delays of a few minutes are multibit bitcoin client be expected because transfers are often batched to minimize fees. In my tests, Localbitcoins took on average ten minutes to process a withdrawal. As the Bitcoin network processes this new transaction, its status will be updated in the transactions listing. The network multibit bitcoin client a confirmation once every ten minutes or so.
MultiBit considers transactions fully processed after receiving six confirmations. Processed transactions are designated with a green checkmark. Only two fields are required to make a payment: Amounts can be denominated in bitcoin BTCor local currency.
Fees must be accounted for in every transaction. The network expects a transaction fee of 0. Paper wallets are sometimes received as multibit bitcoin client from another Bitcoin user.
Unfortunately, the procedure described here for securely importing paper wallets into MultiBit is complicated. If you received a paper wallet and simply want to spend it, consider using another Bitcoin wallet program - for example, Electrum.
Create a text file called import. The timestamp should represent a time safely before the first payment into the multibit bitcoin client was made. An example file might look like this:. Unfortunately, mis-assigning the timestamp in an import file is both easy to do and can cause confusing MultiBit behavior. Should MultiBit multibit bitcoin client display balances as expected after importing a private key, see the Stuck Transactions section.
When prompted for a filename, enter paper-wallet. The newly-created wallet should be empty. Next, import the paper wallet.
After synchronization, you should see two wallets, one of which contains the balance of the newly-imported paper wallet. Enter an amount that will fully transfer funds from Paper Wallet when transaction fees are taken into account. Why not directly import the private key into the default wallet? The answer has to do with change addresses. Leaving an imported private key in a MultiBit wallet multibit bitcoin client it possible for bitcoin to be stolen in the future.
As of version 0. However, this concern multibit bitcoin client not apply if you multibit bitcoin client import private keys securely created by you. Select a convenient filename for the backup in this case, petty-cash.
Many instances of theft have been caused by MultBit users storing unencrypted backups to cloud storage. Anyone finding such multibit bitcoin client backup file can take the funds in your wallet - with or without access to your your computer. Add a secure password to any backup of a wallet holding non-trival amounts of bitcoin. Unfortunately, testing backup recovery is not easy in MultiBit.
The next two paragraphs describe a procedure to simulate a clean MultiBit installation. Use it only on a backed-up wallet containing a trivial amount of bitcoin, and only if you multibit bitcoin client comfortable modifying system files. The MultiBit data directory resides at an operating system-specific path that is also displayed at the top of the MultiBit main window.
Having found this data directory, close MultiBit. Next, delete the data directory. On restarting MultiBit, your previous wallet will have been replaced by a new, unfunded wallet. This ends the procedure for simulating a clean MultiBit installation.
Starting with a clean installation of MultiBit, the procedure for restoring a backup is similar to the one outlined under Sweep a Paper Wallet. The backup file plays the role of multibit bitcoin client manually-created import. If you enter the multibit bitcoin client password, MultiBit will respond with a message to that effect.
MultiBit will synchronize with the multibit bitcoin client, which multibit bitcoin client take a minute or two. When synchronization is complete, your wallet should be restored to its previous condition. The MultiBit wallets used so far have not been protected by a password.
Without a password, anyone who can access your computer or read from your had drive can, in principle, steal bitcoin from the wallet. Adding a password makes such theft more difficult.
Wallets protected by password behave differently than unprotected wallets. They must be unlocked before spending or backing up. They also display a lock icon in the wallet view.
Although this fix often solves the problem, there are cases in which it does not. For example, this condition can result from the use of an incorrectly-formatted paper wallet import file.
As described in Sweep a Paper Walletcare must be taken when assigning the timestamp for a private key. If the chosen timestamp occurs after the first transaction, MultiBit may persistently display an incorrect balance. Should this problem arise, the solution is multibit bitcoin client.
Open the exported file with a text editor, then sweep the private key into another wallet program. Imagine that a dispute arises between a buyer and a seller. The seller claims they were not paid. The buyer points to the block chain transaction, which shows a payment.
The buyer and seller take the case before an arbiter. The arbiter asks the buyer to produce a message signed with the private key of the sending address in the block chain transaction. The buyer does so, the arbiter verifies the message, and the case is decided in favor of the buyer. Enter the address to sign from and a message. Enter the address, message, and signature to verify.
MultiBit automatically converts bitcoin to local currency. The default exchange rate is Bitstampbut other exchange rates can also be used. Click on the name of the exchange to open multibit bitcoin client. For most uses, MultiBit performs well as a simplified, fast-loading Bitcoin wallet. This guide covered the essentials every user should be familiar with: Nevertheless, MultiBit remains a popular, simple wallet that should be considered.
Installation Download the installer for your operating system from the downloads page. Installation on Windows Double click on the MultiBit download. The installer will guide you through the rest of the installation. Installation on Mac Double click on the MultiBit download.
Installation on Ubuntu Linux If downloading MultiBit from a browser, be sure to save the installer rather than trying to open it with a package manager.
Receive a Payment To send you funds, a payer requires your Bitcoin multibit bitcoin client. Sweep a Paper Wallet Paper wallets are sometimes received as gifts from another Bitcoin user. The sweep procedure will consist of these steps: An example file might look multibit bitcoin client this:
MultiBit Classic is designed to be as easy to use as possible. It is intended for domestic or small scale merchant users who wish to use a desktop computer for their day to day Bitcoin transactions. This guide will provide you with the first steps you should take after you have installed MultiBit Classic so that you can be confident about how to get things done safely.
When multibit bitcoin client first open MultiBit Classic a new, empty wallet is created for you called "multibit. In multibit bitcoin client to get you started quickly, this wallet will not have a password so it will not be encrypted. MultiBit Classic is very careful multibit bitcoin client maintain backups of wallets and as such it is always useful to know where your wallets are being multibit bitcoin client. You can always see the file location of your current wallet in the main title bar of your MultiBit window.
For instance, it might say: The file name at the end is where your wallet is stored. The receiving bitcoin article explains how to generate new receiving addresses and how to keep track of them. Spending bitcoin on goods and services helps to keep the Bitcoin economy growing. The first time you decide to send some bitcoin can be a little daunting so it is worth having a practice with a small amount beforehand.
The sending bitcoin article explains how sending bitcoin to someone is done. That's all there is to it. MultiBit Classic will alert you if there multibit bitcoin client a newer version available and we recommend that you keep your version up to date as the developers are continuously improving it. If you encounter any problems, the main help contents provide answers to many common questions and you should have a look there first. Step 1 - Password protect your wallet When you first open MultiBit Classic a new, empty wallet is created for you called "multibit.
You should now password protect your wallet. Step 2 - Locate your wallet files MultiBit Classic is very careful to maintain backups multibit bitcoin client wallets and as multibit bitcoin client it is always useful to know where your wallets are being stored. Step 3 - Create a new address to receive Everyone likes to receive bitcoin and MultiBit Classic makes this simple. Step 4 - Send some bitcoin Spending bitcoin on goods and services helps to keep the Bitcoin economy growing.
Finish That's all there is to it. Related articles Here are some related articles: Upgrading from an earlier version of MultiBit Classic Synchronization is not working.
Download the Windows installer. On Windows 7 bit you may find that the Java Virtual Machine JVM is not correctly located, or "Failed to create a selector" is shown in the messages. As an alternative, consider uninstalling Java and then reinstalling. This has been known to clear out problems. Download the Mac OS X installer. In the open folder window, drag the MultiBit Classic. MultiBit Classic will then be copied to your Applications folder. Click the install button which will take you to the Java for OS X support page.
Once there click the "Download" button multibit bitcoin client follow the installation procedure. After installation, you will have a shortcut to start MultiBit Classic in your "Applications Other" menu. If you get multibit bitcoin client error like "No command 'java' multibit bitcoin client or the installer window does multibit bitcoin client appear you probably need to install an up-to-date version of Java.
See the section 'How to install Java on Linux' below. If you run the installer again with the same settings it normally fixes it. MultiBit Classic recommends Java 7.
To install Java on a recent copy of Multibit bitcoin client open a terminal window and type:. If you are running an older version of Ubuntu e.
The error manifests when trying to add a password to a wallet and occurs deep within the multibit bitcoin client parts of the JVM. If this affects you the error will be like this:. However further research found a reliable workaround involving deleting libscrypt.
Windows Download the Windows installer. To run the installer, double click it and multibit bitcoin client the instructions. You should now read the Getting Started guide. A known workaround is to change the compatibility settings: Select the compatibility dialog right click on multibit bitcoin client Properties After you have downloaded the disk image file, double click it and a folder window opens.
MultiBit Classic will then be copied to your Applications folder Multibit bitcoin client can then open MultiBit Classic by double clicking on this app in your Applications folder. After Java 6 is installed you will be able to start MultiBit Classic as normal. Open a terminal window and make the installer executable with: Common gotchas If you get an error like "No command 'java' found" or the installer window does not appear you probably need to install an up-to-date version of Java.
To install Java on a recent copy of Ubuntu open a terminal window and type: If this affects you the error will be like this: