Bitcoin Forum

Recently I have been contacted by a guy through social media asking me for wallet ssuggestion. I have asked him to use Electrum for BTC and coinomi for other. He doesn't have pc, neither a smart phone above android version 4, he can't use many of the wallet. But I liked his interest in bitcoin and other cryptocurrency, that's why I wanted to help him.
Is there any multi crypto wallet for Android version 4?

If the dude couldn't afford a newer and better mobile phone, chances are, he doesn't have that much bitcoin/crypto to start with. So in this case, though I really don't suggest using web wallets, it looks like it's probably his only choice assuming that his phone couldn't support all other wallets. Probably the Blockchain wallet(through the web browser, not the Android app) could work: https://login.blockchain.com/#/signup

No, your friend should consider the security patch level on lower versions are more risky, even using web wallet on the latest browser will not work fully on that version. Tech are upgrading for security, that version is too many bugs that was fixed up to the recent android version. Any company today will never consider to run their latest app to that kind of phones.
So let him buy a new device, even a budget of $100 can buy a good one.

As your friend is asking for the suitable wallet for his need, i can conclude he is willing to buy some crptos or migrate his funds from another type of wallet {exchange maybe} to his mobile device. And as his mobile is an old version, it's fine to advice him to buy a new mobile phone first (a good one may cost just 50$) because of the reasons detailed in posts above.
After he will purchase a new mobile, i recommend him to use electrum for bitcoin {friendly use for biggenners} and MEWconnect for ethereum where you can also use it to store all the tokens developped at the top of Ethereum (don't get confused because it's not a multicurrency wallet). When for a wallet that supports multiple coins, i would suggest TrustWallet or blockchain wallet .

Which version 4 exactly? Mycelium works with Android 4.4 according to the info given on the Play Store > https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mycelium.wallet.

Alternatively you might want to check this post that I found from jackg. He says that he has two older wallets that could work. The post is from 2018 and a lot could have changed by now, but maybe you are a lucky one.


 

Yeah I still got them. The phone is 4.0.1, I'll have a look for it if you want them...

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I was trying to look before I posted this but I've since split my tea in doing so :'(.

I think he can still use a Bitcoin wallet for Android version 4 but for Multi crypto you can find any that will work on Android 4.

For Bitcoin, I suggest to check Electrum old version I think Around 2.7.x or 2.6 version you can give this link to him below
- https://download.electrum.org/

Then tell him to download APK from 2.7.x folder or 2.6.x folder. Since the old version of Electrum is no longer connected to Electrum servers he can only use it as an offline wallet(Airgap wallet) but still, he can receive bitcoin and make a transaction from coinb.in/#newTransaction and broadcast it on coinbin or any pool (With pushtx feature).

It is good as cold storage but it takes a lot of time on making transactions. It is not likely the same as an online wallet where you can just set and send the BTC to the receiver.

https://talkimg.com/images/2023/09/02/muAUG.png

Older versions of blockchain.com wallet supported on kitkat and few other older versions of android but he have to download the apk from other sources not from google play.

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Seriously,he have to hold his crypto on that device? Better spend $100 or even lesser to buy a new android device.

As other user mentioned, few wallet still works on Android 4.4 even though it may changed in future. But you should ask him whether there's OS update for his device to Android 5 or higher before giving him recommendation.

Using custom ROM is also an option if you or him have done such thing previously and don't mind reinstall/reconfigure some application.

The most current version of Coinomi requires Android 6 and newer. On Google Play you can still get Coinomi for older versions of Android, but unfortunately your friend will miss out on some nice new features. Of course he can still use the wallet normally, but we really recommend that he gets a more modern device if he decides to carry any meaningful amount of crypto. Such old Android versions have known vulnerabilities that can put all their funds at risk. You can read about Coinomi's security features here: https://coinomi.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/29000016248-how-safe-are-my-funds-how-are-myprivate-keys-stored-

+1. Forgot about this. Though it completely depends on the phone model OP's friend has, as chances are, custom ROMs for super older models aren't being developed anymore. Wouldn't hurt to try looking though. And just try to flash the custom ROM on a decent internet cafe or on a friend's computer. https://forum.xda-developers.com/

No as BitMaxz said you can use it as a very small and very cheap cold wallet, easy to carry with you. Ofc he should remove his sim card and only use it in airplane mode

He's likely going to use his phone as his daily driver, considering that he tried to find a wallet for a very Android phone. I bet he's not going to use it as a cold wallet.

Oh yeah, this will work, but as my experience in android modding years ago, jellybean version can only do be modified or upgrade to Kitkat, not so sure in lollipop (android 5) version. But anyway, still recommend to buy a new phone with latest patch if you're using it to hold your funds.

Personally, I wouldn't advise anyone to use an outdated OS like Android version 4, if memory serves me well, that version has been released in 2012 or maybe even earlier. I think most manufacturers, and Google itself, no longer release security updates for Android versions below 8. Accordingly, any crypto wallets on such an outdated operating system carry a high security risk.

What would you answer if someone asked you if they could use some crypto wallet on Windows XP or even something older? I'm sure most would react on this completely negative, in the sense that it should not be attempted at all. Android 4 is full of security holes that are not and will never be patched. The very idea of using such an outdated device is merely a search for a problem, which will appear sooner or later.

Well if he only uses it to make phone calls and send SMS , and if he doesn't activate the "data mode", his wallet would still be pretty safe.

Multi coin wallets are a relatively new development. I'd be amazed/impressed if any developer bothered to create one for an OS version that was dead before they got to work.

Even if they did find one that worked it would likely become incompatible within a few more updates. No one's going to expend any extra effort accommodating something that old.

Web wallets or paper are the only viable options and neither are ideal.

So he only has such an old phone and no computer... Maybe you can let him use your computer to create a paper wallet? That way he'll be able to invest in some crypto and still hold it as secure as humanly possible given his resources.

If you decide to take this path, make sure you use a community vetted paper wallet generator, make sure you only generate a wallet while offline (and reboot before going back online), make sure you print on an offline printer, make sure you bip38 encrypt using a strong password, make sure you keep a couple copys in a secure spot (preferably laminate the paper wallet).

That being said, i'd probably advise your friend to buy a new phone anyways... You can always check dx.com, gearbest, buyincoins, aliexpress,...
https://www.dx.com/p/global-xiaomi-redmi-3s-50-inch-4g-smartphone-snapdragon-430-2gb-16gb3gb-32gb-13mp-camera-4100maheu-plug-renewed-2719852.html
I mean, if you don't have €45 for an android 6 phone, you probably shouldn't invest in crypto to begin with, you probably need your money to pay for food, medicine, shelter,...
I'd probably even advise him to pay €60-€70 and get an android 9 phone, just make sure you vet the brand before you buy a phone, some brands are great (security wise), others not so much

But what about unbanked people? I thought one of the main goals of BTC was to offer a solution to them?

I'm not sure bip38 is very suitable for beginners because they need to manage an additional information. The iancoleman page (https://iancoleman.io/bip39/) allows to create HD paper wallet with a seed, it can be a good solution for beginners since they just need to remember the mnemonic seed with that.

Bitcoin itself has no influence over who develops on top of it or how it's interacted with.

Considering how many old phones there are out there in the world I'm surprised there isn't a wallet specifically maintained for broke people with old systems. There's got to be some demand for it. Existing wallets could offer a hand to anyone willing to develop their project for older OSs.

That's why i proposed a paper wallet ;)
I just don't see the point in running an old (potentially vulnerable) wallet on an old (vulnerable) OS. In order to use a paper wallet, the OP's friend just needs one friend with a clean pc + printer... Sure, a paper wallet is only suitable for holding, but still, he can hold in a very secure way.


Most paper wallet generators, like the offline version of https://www.bitaddress.org/, have bip38 encryption build right into the tool... Just click the "paper wallet" tab and enter a strong password... That's all.

Iancoleman's page (at least the offline version) is nice to, like you say, it's basically a HD paper wallet, but missing the encryption... The bottom line is that we agree that a paper wallet is a good idear for somebody who can't affort a decent phone nor a decent home computer :)


I'm pretty sure there's a market, however, i just don't think it's a good idear to fill this market...
https://www.cvedetails.com/vulnerability-list/vendor_id-1224/product_id-19997/version_id-177951/Google-Android-4.4.4.html

If you develop a wallet that's compiled for such an old version of android, they'll point a finger at your wallet every time they lose funds because of a vulnerability in the underlying OS.
Granted, there are also vulnerability's in newer versions, but at least they'll still receive patches.

I agree with you it's quite easy to create one, but it could be confusing for beginners, because it can be hard for them to understand why they got a private key, an address and a password, they could easily confound the address and the private key moreover, so you need to be very educational if you do that IMO.

Yes he can safely store his funds into paper wallets and use his old phone as an everyday wallet with only small amounts in it.
For example he can dispatch his funds into several paper wallets and then only import one wallet at once time to spend his funds.

I guess you'd have to spray it in disclaimers and urge people to upgrade if they can, or tell them they're on their own. That'll probably scare them away so you'd never get a download.

If I were in that position I'd appreciate at least one option. If your machinery is that lowly you're likely to be a bit poor, or a shocking luddite.

If he really can't get a new phone not so expensive with newer android then it should use web wallet like blockchain.