Does transferring BTC into a wallet require downloading the entire block chain?

[klamrisk]

Greetings BitCoinTalk!

I'm quite new to BTC in general, but I am interested in the possibilities of decentralized currency.

My questions are as follows:

1. I haven't downloaded a wallet application yet. Once the wallet application is installed, am I required to download the entire block chain in order to deposit BTC into my wallet?

2. If so, how large of a download would this block chain be?

3. Would a (somewhat) slow internet connection hinder my future BTC purchase experience?

Thanks for any and all help you might be able to give me. I look forward to conversing with more of you all in the future! Thanks again!

-Klamrisk

[🏰 TradeFortress 🏰]

You don't need in order to deposit, but it won't show up until you downloaded it. The blockchain is around 9 GB right now.

Use Inputs.io!

[gillespies]

If you just want to try your hand on BTC and have no immediate intention to "invest" hundreds or thousands of your fiat currency, I would suggest using a web wallet to test the water.

Coinbase
Blockchain
inputs.io

are just three of many available options.

Few of my friends started with the immediate installation of the official client, and straight away, got pissed off by the need to download 8 or 9 GB of "useless" date (their words) before they can even do anything. Hence my suggestion above.

Good luck, and welcome to the BTC family.