What's the max amount of time a transaction can stay uncofirmed ?

[N1CKH0LAS]

Hey,
What's the max amount of time a transaction can stay unconfirmed ? Two of my transactions are still unconfirmed after 48-72 hours and it seems like they will never confirm. However, i read they will eventually be rejected or something and return. How long can that take ? Already fucked as i needed the BTC two days ago, but just wondering how long will it still take...

Thanks in advance for answers

[Foxpup]

What's the max amount of time a transaction can stay unconfirmed ?

There is no maximum imposed by the Bitcoin protocol, but since the computers on which it runs are made of matter, the laws of physics impose an upper bound on the length of time they can exist. Your transactions will certainly cease to exist within 10⁴⁰ years when all atomic particles break down, unless the universe (or at least the Bitcoin network) is destroyed some other way before then.

Two of my transactions are still unconfirmed after 48-72 hours and it seems like they will never confirm. However, i read they will eventually be rejected or something and return.

You read wrong. Most software will continue to broadcast your transactions until they are confirmed with no easy way to stop it.

Already fucked as i needed the BTC two days ago, but just wondering how long will it still take...

What fee (if any) was paid on these transactions? If no fees were paid, you may be waiting a while longer. Use the time to complain about the software or service used to create the transactions, since it is clearly defective.

[Velkro]

You read wrong. Most software will continue to broadcast your transactions until they are confirmed with no easy way to stop it.

I don't think so. There is a thing called mempool, it stores unconfirmed transactions. If it is not confirmed during 48 hours its dropped from this mempool and u should broadcast transaction again with higher fee (coz this was reason it didnt confirm in 48h)

[--Encrypted--]

it should be dropped after 48-72 hours unless someone is rebroadcasting it periodically. bitcoin qt does this automatically so you'll have to zap your wallet by starting the client with -zapwallettxes command. multibit classic/hd will not return the btc to your wallet even if it gets dropped unless you use the reset blockchain feature (google it).

[Foxpup]

I don't think so. There is a thing called mempool, it stores unconfirmed transactions. If it is not confirmed during 48 hours its dropped from this mempool and u should broadcast transaction again with higher fee (coz this was reason it didnt confirm in 48h)

Wrong. Transactions are stored in a node's memory pool for 72 hours by default, though some nodes are configured to keep mempool transaction indefinitely. In any case, a transaction will simply return to the mempool if it is still being broadcast (as transactions usually are until they are confirmed).

[N1CKH0LAS]

Thanks everyone for answers. It eventually went through after like 3 days. There was a fee that i paid, but won't bother searching the exact amount. It was my fault for not paying a higher fee it seems.

[alani123]

RBF has the potential to fix this. Hopefully more user friendly wallets will adopt the feature soon.

[mrhelpful]

In worst case scenario it can delay up to 2-3 days I seen.

But those odds are very slim chance, but now a days most people avoid the unconfirmed times by sending a decent tx amount to find their block with using the recommended in their wallets.

Unless the situation is a double spend thats a entirely different issue.

[nhando]

Guys any idea on what would happened to my transaction?  I ordered over $2K worth of Equipment with bitcoins to NewEgg.    But since it's not really moving due to the low fees, NewEgg put my order on hold and now 6 hrs later the payment is still showing as unconfirmed.  What will happen to my money???


To / From Date Amount Balance
161qQdhRhYNjsShWuMoSrFG55oDHApDnHt
Today 03:09:41 Unconfirmed Transaction!
-4.183263 BTC
2.12393411 BTC




https://blockchain.info/tx/5b50edc64886c66403e48dd5689424d31a598611addf7284cfe6ed73b4b34f9f

Summary

Size 2143 (bytes)

Received Time 2016-06-14 08:09:41
Estimated Confirmation Time Very Soon (High Priority)
Relayed by IP Blockchain.info
Visualize View Tree Chart
Inputs and Outputs
Total Input 4.32348931 BTC
Total Output 4.32318931 BTC

Fees 0.0003 BTC
Estimated BTC Transacted 4.182963 BTC
Scripts Hide scripts & coinbase
Network

[alani123]

nhando, the size of the transaction is kinda big because of having so many inputs and the fee wasn't enough as you said. Don't worry though, it'll probably confirm sooner or later, you won't lose your money. NewEgg is a trusted store and I'm sure that they'll process your -now on hold- order once the transaction confirms.