completely new and need help please...

[riverron]

Hi,  I don't know what I'm doing and I need help.  I created a bitcoin wallet account with Bitcoin Core Wallet, and then I created an account with Circle to transfer money and convert it into bitcoins.  My goal was to send the converted money that is now bitcoins in my Circle account to my Bitcoin Core Wallet.  Last night around 14 hours ago I sent the bitcoins and it was pending for a long time so I went to sleep.  Today I woke up and it says sent, but it's not in my Bitcoin Core Wallet account.  I contacted Circle over the phone and they sent me a transaction ID to show that it was sent, and said for me to contact the Bitcoin Core Wallet to see why it isn't showing up in my account.  The problem is I can't find any contact for Bitcoin Core Wallet.  So where do I go from here?  Any advice or suggestions are greatly appreciated.  Thanks in advance.

[longbob72]

Is your bitcoin core fully synced? The tx won't appear if you haven't synced up to the time when it shows up in the blockchain.
If you're fully synced already please post the tx ID.

Note that to sync bitcoin core you need to download around 80GB of data. If you don't want to do this use lightwallets such as electrum instead.

[OmegaStarScream]

Is your Bitcoin core wallet synced with the network or not ? that could be the problem. If the address that shows in the transaction (on the blockchain) is the same address you have in "Receiving addresses" in Bitcoin then there is nothing to be worried about. Please post the TXID and tell us what version of Bitcoin core you are using.

[ImnotOctopus]

If its really sent, and correct address you use all you have to do is update your wallet to sync thats all i know.

I hope this helps you.

[riverron]

I'm sorry but I am completely new to this and still don't understand everything.  I don't know how to check to see if my Bitcoin core wallet synced with the network or not ?  at the bottom it says "synchronizing with network... 2 years and 46 weeks behind".  So I'm guessing that is probably the problem? The address that shows in the transaction (on the blockchain) is the same address I have in "Receiving addresses" in Bitcoin.  can you please explain what you meant by "post the TXID"?  and when I click on help, it says I'm using Bitcoin Core version v0.13.0 (64-bit), I don't know if that's what you were asking for?

[franky1]

bitcoin core is not a bank and doesnt have a call centre
it is just a piece of software.

your bitcoin is not actually transfering from a single central service to another service. bitcoins are on the network every service sits around.
so
go to blockchain.info(a network transaction explorer) and type the transaction ID(TXID) into the search box to see if it shows the amount in bitcoin in green or red square.
if green then it is indeed confirmed to be in the destination. so you can relax..
if red then its not yet confirmed.
but circle seemed to have already checked the network for you, to say its confirmed. but still worth checking yourself to ease your mind.

as for using core. it takes a while for your computer to get all the 7 years worth of data of the network to then see the most recent data (which includes your recent transaction).
so you have to leave bitcoin core open for it to 'sync'

down at the bottom of core, you will see it tell you how far behind/out of sync it is and how much it has to go before being uptodate.

this does not mean the funds are in limo. all it means is that bitcoin core doesnt/cannot see the recent transaction yet to show it within bitcoin core.
you can easily get the private key out of core and use another service or wallet or software if you want to spend your bitcoin if you dont want to wait for core to sync.

[Bigdan]

i think you need to get synchronized and post your TX ID for further assistance

[longbob72]

I'm sorry but I am completely new to this and still don't understand everything.  I don't know how to check to see if my Bitcoin core wallet synced with the network or not ?  at the bottom it says "synchronizing with network... 2 years and 46 weeks behind".  So I'm guessing that is probably the problem? The address that shows in the transaction (on the blockchain) is the same address I have in "Receiving addresses" in Bitcoin.  can you please explain what you meant by "post the TXID"?  and when I click on help, it says I'm using Bitcoin Core version v0.13.0 (64-bit), I don't know if that's what you were asking for?

That "synchronizing with network... 2 years and 46 weeks behind" means that you're not synced yet. The tx id is what circle sent you when you contacted them.

[riverron]

bitcoin core is not a bank and doesnt have a call centre
it is just a piece of software.

your bitcoin is not actually transfering from a single central service to another service. bitcoins are on the network every service sits around.
so
go to blockchain.info(a network transaction explorer) and type the transaction ID(TXID) into the search box to see if it shows the amount in bitcoin in green or red square.
if green then it is indeed confirmed to be in the destination. so you can relax..
if red then its not yet confirmed.
but circle seemed to have already checked the network for you, to say its confirmed. but still worth checking yourself to ease your mind.

as for using core. it takes a while for your computer to get all the 7 years worth of data of the network to then see the most recent data (which includes your recent transaction).
so you have to leave bitcoin core open for it to 'sync'

down at the bottom of core, you will see it tell you how far behind/out of sync it is and how much it has to go before being uptodate.

this does not mean the funds are in limo. all it means is that bitcoin core doesnt cannot see the recent transaction yet to show it within bitcoin core.
you can easily get the private key out of core and use another service or wallet or software if you want to spend your bitcoin if you dont want to wait for core to sync.

Thank you so much for explaining that to me.  Now that makes more sense.  Sorry for not knowing this already

[riverron]

I'm sorry but I am completely new to this and still don't understand everything.  I don't know how to check to see if my Bitcoin core wallet synced with the network or not ?  at the bottom it says "synchronizing with network... 2 years and 46 weeks behind".  So I'm guessing that is probably the problem? The address that shows in the transaction (on the blockchain) is the same address I have in "Receiving addresses" in Bitcoin.  can you please explain what you meant by "post the TXID"?  and when I click on help, it says I'm using Bitcoin Core version v0.13.0 (64-bit), I don't know if that's what you were asking for?

That "synchronizing with network... 2 years and 46 weeks behind" means that you're not synced yet. The tx id is what circle sent you when you contacted them.

1Ckr8jDoC6xgSnGKemjhhpQg55duobhnmg

Transaction ID:
a582e02de82ee93b92f9301000b09b89036fc1912de7d0ac1b9860cda6362b89

You can check that this completed on blockchain.info

Best,

Rachel - Team Circle

[arancra]

You can use multibit hd or electrum for faster usage. You can try online wallets like coinbase and xapo. But you must know this; online wallets is not secure 100%. Dont use online wallets for big amounts.

[longbob72]

1Ckr8jDoC6xgSnGKemjhhpQg55duobhnmg

Transaction ID:
a582e02de82ee93b92f9301000b09b89036fc1912de7d0ac1b9860cda6362b89

You can check that this completed on blockchain.info

Best,

Rachel - Team Circle

It's been confirmed, and you'll be able to use the bitcoins as soon as you get synced.

If you want to use the bitcoins right away without waiting for the sync to finish, do this:
1. Download and install the latest version of electrum from http://electrum.org/.
2. In your bitcoin core wallet,  go to Help > Debug window > Console.
3.1. If you have a passphrase type walletpassphrase "yourpassphrase" 600.
3.2. Type dumpprivkey "yourreceivingaddress".
4. Open electrum. If this is your first time you should see an installation wizard. If you don't see it, go to File > New/Restore. Now choose "Standard wallet" then "Use public or private keys. Enter the private key you got from bitcoin core. Done.

[pawel7777]

I sense this kind of post can attract scammers, so OP, if someone sends you a private message offering "help" in getting your coins quickly and asks for your private keys or backup file, do not send them anything, just ignore or report to moderators as scam attempt.

[riverron]

Thank you for the advice and warning, I really appreciate it.  I'm not using the online wallet for big amounts.  How long will it take to sync if it says 2 years and 35 weeks?

[longbob72]

Thank you for the advice and warning, I really appreciate it.  I'm not using the online wallet for big amounts.  How long will it take to sync if it says 2 years and 35 weeks?

It depends on your download speed. Last 2 years of blockchain is above 50GB.

[riverron]

You can use multibit hd or electrum for faster usage. You can try online wallets like coinbase and xapo. But you must know this; online wallets is not secure 100%. Dont use online wallets for big amounts.

Are multibit hd or electrum a lot faster?  and are online wallets like coinbase and xapo a lot better?  How much faster would this have all been done had I used one of those other options?  Sorry for all of the newbie questions, just trying to figure this all out so that in the future I make the right choice.  Thanks for all of the replies.  

[longbob72]

You can use multibit hd or electrum for faster usage. You can try online wallets like coinbase and xapo. But you must know this; online wallets is not secure 100%. Dont use online wallets for big amounts.

Are multibit hd or electrum a lot faster?  and are online wallets like coinbase and xapo a lot better?  How much faster would this have all been done had I used one of those other options?  Sorry for all of the newbie questions, just trying to figure this all out so that in the future I make the right choice.  Thanks for all of the replies.  

Multibit HD or electrum doesn't need to sync, that's why they're called light wallets. However multibit HD doesn't allow importing private keys or even sweeping (afaik).
Coinbase and Xapo pays the tx fee for you (they're the only web wallets that does this afaik), but you'll be trusting them to keep your money safe because the bitcoins will be fully under their control. If their service/site go down you bitcoins goes down with them too.

[franky1]

You can use multibit hd or electrum for faster usage. You can try online wallets like coinbase and xapo. But you must know this; online wallets is not secure 100%. Dont use online wallets for big amounts.

Are multibit hd or electrum a lot faster?  and are online wallets like coinbase and xapo a lot better?  How much faster would this have all been done had I used one of those other options?  Sorry for all of the newbie questions, just trying to figure this all out so that in the future I make the right choice.  Thanks for all of the replies.  

multibit/electrum/mycelium are server linked wallets (lite wallets) where the server is synced up to the latest network data.
and you keep the private key.. but dont have to worry about being synced up yourself

coinbase/xapo/circle are web services (webwallets) where they are all synced up
and you are literally handing them the private key and using them to handle transactions on your behalf.

the downside of not having the full network data is that you are not part of securing bitcoin. you are just a bitcoin user.
it depends on how often you use bitcoin. and how deeply you want to be involved in it. and how much control, or ease of use you want, which will help you make your choice of what you use to transact with.

the downside of using a lite/web wallet is that if their server goes down. your left in limbo. atleast with lite wallets you can move the key to another wallet service/software when it happens.

the downside of webwallets. they have your keys. they could at some point just take your funds and pretend it was a hack. leaving you with nothing.

dont use webwallets as long term store. just use it as a temporary use within the hour to move funds.. generally stick away from web wallets

[Carlton Banks]

You can use multibit hd or electrum for faster usage. You can try online wallets like coinbase and xapo. But you must know this; online wallets is not secure 100%. Dont use online wallets for big amounts.

Are multibit hd or electrum a lot faster?  and are online wallets like coinbase and xapo a lot better?  How much faster would this have all been done had I used one of those other options?  Sorry for all of the newbie questions, just trying to figure this all out so that in the future I make the right choice.  Thanks for all of the replies.  

Yes, like Longbob says, there is no "better" or "worse" really.

"Light" wallets:

• Setup is fast
• Not as private as full node wallets
• Takes from the network, doesn't really give back anything
• No real double-spend protection

"Full node" wallets

• Setup is slow
• Better privacy
• Contributes to the network
• Best available double-spend protection

Web wallets

• Setup is instant
• Worst privacy available (still ok, the service has an incentive not to sell you out)

Web wallets are essentially a full node wallet running from the website, and the website provides the graphical front-end to let you use their full-node. But obviously, you have to tell the website (almost) everything about your Bitcoin wallet for that to work.


Ignore anyone telling you that Light wallets rely on servers: it depends on the wallet. The Mycelium light wallet, for example, does use it's own special servers, and if those go down, accessing the funds is a technical job. But if you used the Bitcoin Wallet light wallet, you'd never have that problem, as it uses any Bitcoin node on the network, not special servers.

[riverron]

Wow that's very helpful, thank you everyone for typing all of that out!  I guess I should have researched this better before trying to just dive in.  I appreciate everyone taking the time to explain all of this to me!