Blockchain.info wallet import "reversed" my transaction change.

[dbbit]

I've imported a bitcoin-qt wallet.dat into blockchain.info.

For some reason, blockchain.info ignore the "change" that you get as part of a transaction. So now the balance is way off.

E.g if you look at:
https://blockchain.info/tx/2f2b2b49523fe9c964115efdf7fc2254caa52dba33055f1ab500cccae900ccbd

I spent BTC 0.25 from an address with BTC 1 in it, so I got BTC 0.75 in change. Yeah, BlockChain.info just see it as I spent BTC 1. Uhh... 

So I think somehow blockchain.info missed the "return addresses" (what are these called anyway?) during the import.

How do I fix it?


PS: Why are the return addresses for the change unique addresses, and not just the originating address?

[dbbit]

Figured it out.

pywallet.py --dumpwallet

Then paste the output into "Import Wallet" in blockchain.info.

[Mitchell]

So I think somehow blockchain.info missed the "return addresses" (what are these called anyway?) during the import.

PS: Why are the return addresses for the change unique addresses, and not just the originating address?

They are called change addresses and are used to increase security and anonymity.

[jackjack]

https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Change

[DannyHamilton]

Figured it out.

pywallet.py --dumpwallet

Then paste the output into "Import Wallet" in blockchain.info.

Another option would have been to send the entire balance from your -QT wallet to a single receive address in your -QT wallet prior to importing.  That way none of the balance would have been associated with a "change" address.  I'm surprised that the import doesn't recognize "change" addresses.  Hopefully Piuk fixes that in the near future.  It sure seems like an oversight on his part.