I have a multibit wallet and I don't see any funds

[DireWolfM14]

I'm starting to suspect that the OP is confusing some terminology.

The term "wallet" is a general term, and it really consists of two parts; the public address and the private key.  If you have a paper wallet that looks similar to the photo posted by LoyceV, you should have both the public address and the private key on that piece of paper.  Since Blockchain.com told you that you need the private key to spend the bitcoin, I'm assuming you never actually imported the private key to Blockchain.com.  Blockchain and Multibit will allow to import the public address, which will allow you to view the transactions, but will not allow you spend the bitcoin.  That makes it a "watch-only" wallet.

My suspicion is that you imported the public address to these wallets, which allowed you to view the coins therein, but since you never imported the private key, you are unable to spend the coins.

The paper wallet should have two QR codes with text underneath them.  The public address will start with "1," and the private key will start with either "5", "L", or "K".  If you're phone will not recognize the QR code, you'll have to type out the private key manually.

[HCP]

I have been trying to tansfer the bitcoins I own from Blockchain to Coinfloor.  I was having trouble as it wouldn't allow me to do so.  It transpires that I have a wallet in Blockchain with an imported Bitcoin address and I need the private key to 'access' it. 

Correct, you can import an address into Blockchain.com wallet (ie. a "watching-only" wallet) and 1Blockchain.com will be able to monitor the transactions and balance etc... but you won't be able to send any transactions without the private key.

I have a paper wallet which I printed off years ago.  I try to scan the QR code but my phone doesn't manage to do it.  It is faded a little.  Under the wallet address is a number and letters  (very fine) which I'll need a magnifying glass if I have any hope of reading it.  Is there another way of getting the private key?  I have just managed to open up my old Bittylicious account from where I bought the Bitcoins.  Would I find the key there? 

Probably not. As far as I can tell, Bittylicious does not generate private keys or have wallet functionality available to users. You need to already have a wallet of some kind (web wallet like blockchain, paper wallet, desktop wallet like multibit/electrum etc) and when you buy bitcoins, you enter you wallet address and Bittylicious sends the coins directly to that wallet address.

Where would I have got that paper wallet from?  Would that have come from Blockchain or Bittylicious?  I would be very greatful for some help.  Thanks.

Without seeing the paper wallet and it's design etc. it's impossible to say really... but I am fairly sure that you didn't get it from either Blockchain or Bittylicious... I don't think either of those services ever produced "paperwallets".

Yes I apologise and thanks for your reply.  Forget the multibit as they weren't a part of the picture.  I had downloaded a mulitbit wallet to my computer years ago and now I thought by bitcoin was in there.  But I managed to track them to to Blockchain by looking at my old computer's 'favourites'.  I have access to the Blockchain account.  I tried to move the Bitcoin to Coinfloor but it wouldn't allow me to.  Blockchain helped me to realise that they are kept in a wallet in Blockchain which had been imported.  I had imported it from Bittylicious. 

I don't think you imported it from Bittylicious. You would have sent the coins to a bitcoin address when purchasing them from Bittylicious... but Bittylicious does not generate private key/addresses for you.

I even still have the Bittylicious account which I managed to gain access to.  But, in order for me to do anything with the Bitcoin in the imported account, I need the Private Key which is either a Base-58 or WIF format key.

Can you see if the letters/numbers underneath the QR code start with a "5", an "L" or a "K"? If it does... then those letters/numbers are indeed the private key that is on the paper wallet (no guarantees that it is the private key that matches your imported address, but it is a good start)

Now I have a paper wallet which is I believe linked to this imported wallet.  It's a little faded and my phone is unable to read it.  I do have an Iphone 5s. But there's writing under the wallet address which I believe is the private key.  I gather Blockchain generated the private key? 

I don't think so... not if the only thing you have in blockchain.com wallet is an address... the private key was likely generated elsewhere.


At this point I would suggest:

1. Getting a magnifying glass and attempting to read the letters/numbers underneath the QR code
or
2. Make a physical copy of the QR Code using a photocopier and then darken up the QRCode code on the copy by hand with a pen/marker
or
3. You could attempt to make a copy of the QR Code and then darken up the image (using photoshop or similar) so it can be read by your phone
or
4. Attempt to re-create the QR Code in a QR Code generator app that allows pixel by pixel editing, like this: https://www.pixilart.com/draw/qr-code-c70c8f58df


Note that making a digital copy of the QR Code (ie. options #3 and #4) is NOT recommended unless you are happy that your computer is malware free... if someone gets hold of that QRCode, they could take your coins... which, being 2 BTC, is quite a significant sum. Appropriate precautions should be taken.

I would personally attempt #1 first.

[BitDraig]

I have been trying to tansfer the bitcoins I own from Blockchain to Coinfloor.  I was having trouble as it wouldn't allow me to do so.  It transpires that I have a wallet in Blockchain with an imported Bitcoin address and I need the private key to 'access' it. 

Correct, you can import an address into Blockchain.com wallet (ie. a "watching-only" wallet) and 1Blockchain.com will be able to monitor the transactions and balance etc... but you won't be able to send any transactions without the private key.

I have a paper wallet which I printed off years ago.  I try to scan the QR code but my phone doesn't manage to do it.  It is faded a little.  Under the wallet address is a number and letters  (very fine) which I'll need a magnifying glass if I have any hope of reading it.  Is there another way of getting the private key?  I have just managed to open up my old Bittylicious account from where I bought the Bitcoins.  Would I find the key there? 

Probably not. As far as I can tell, Bittylicious does not generate private keys or have wallet functionality available to users. You need to already have a wallet of some kind (web wallet like blockchain, paper wallet, desktop wallet like multibit/electrum etc) and when you buy bitcoins, you enter you wallet address and Bittylicious sends the coins directly to that wallet address.

Where would I have got that paper wallet from?  Would that have come from Blockchain or Bittylicious?  I would be very greatful for some help.  Thanks.

Without seeing the paper wallet and it's design etc. it's impossible to say really... but I am fairly sure that you didn't get it from either Blockchain or Bittylicious... I don't think either of those services ever produced "paperwallets".

Yes I apologise and thanks for your reply.  Forget the multibit as they weren't a part of the picture.  I had downloaded a mulitbit wallet to my computer years ago and now I thought by bitcoin was in there.  But I managed to track them to to Blockchain by looking at my old computer's 'favourites'.  I have access to the Blockchain account.  I tried to move the Bitcoin to Coinfloor but it wouldn't allow me to.  Blockchain helped me to realise that they are kept in a wallet in Blockchain which had been imported.  I had imported it from Bittylicious. 

I don't think you imported it from Bittylicious. You would have sent the coins to a bitcoin address when purchasing them from Bittylicious... but Bittylicious does not generate private key/addresses for you.

I even still have the Bittylicious account which I managed to gain access to.  But, in order for me to do anything with the Bitcoin in the imported account, I need the Private Key which is either a Base-58 or WIF format key.

Can you see if the letters/numbers underneath the QR code start with a "5", an "L" or a "K"? If it does... then those letters/numbers are indeed the private key that is on the paper wallet (no guarantees that it is the private key that matches your imported address, but it is a good start)

Now I have a paper wallet which is I believe linked to this imported wallet.  It's a little faded and my phone is unable to read it.  I do have an Iphone 5s. But there's writing under the wallet address which I believe is the private key.  I gather Blockchain generated the private key? 

I don't think so... not if the only thing you have in blockchain.com wallet is an address... the private key was likely generated elsewhere.


At this point I would suggest:

1. Getting a magnifying glass and attempting to read the letters/numbers underneath the QR code
or
2. Make a physical copy of the QR Code using a photocopier and then darken up the QRCode code on the copy by hand with a pen/marker
or
3. You could attempt to make a copy of the QR Code and then darken up the image (using photoshop or similar) so it can be read by your phone
or
4. Attempt to re-create the QR Code in a QR Code generator app that allows pixel by pixel editing, like this: https://www.pixilart.com/draw/qr-code-c70c8f58df


Note that making a digital copy of the QR Code (ie. options #3 and #4) is NOT recommended unless you are happy that your computer is malware free... if someone gets hold of that QRCode, they could take your coins... which, being 2 BTC, is quite a significant sum. Appropriate precautions should be taken.

I would personally attempt #1 first.

Thank you for that informative post.

The letters/numbers do begin with a 5 and it's 50 characters long.  The good new is that I've use a magnifying glass and I believe I've got most if not all the characters correctly written down.

The paper wallet I have says blockchain.info/wallet/my account name on the top.  It then has two qr codes similar to the one post above with Scan to load & Verify above one on the left and Scan to redeem above the one on the right.  In the middle is a bitcoin address identical to the one holding the bitcoins in the blockchain imported address.  So it must surely have somehow come from Blockchain.  It even has what looks like their faded logo on the top.

I've been in touch with Blockchain and been trying to move the imported bitcoin address to a Blockchain Private Key wallet.  But their system won't allow this to be done at the moment.  They are now looking into it and I'm waiting to hear back from them.

At what point would I need to use my Private Key?

I did all this back in 2013 and more or less forgott about but I decided to do some searching since bitcoin became much more valuable.  I wonder how many others are the same?  I remember a guy in Wales who had thrown a computer away (possibly by accident) and it had thousand of bitcoins on it.  A search of the local dump wasn't successful.

 

[LoyceV]

The letters/numbers do begin with a 5 and it's 50 characters long.

Are you sure it's not 51? See:

WIF (Wallet Import Format) (51 characters base58, starting with "5").
Example: 5KMWmYkn5YWkJnUDG4utD9L1HXQv3DBseqqCGsQXmthcEerbA7k

The good new is that I've use a magnifying glass and I believe I've got most if not all the characters correctly written down.

When you're sure your computer doesn't have malware, an easy way to check if you got it correct is by importing the private key into Electrum.

I've been in touch with Blockchain and been trying to move the imported bitcoin address to a Blockchain Private Key wallet.  But their system won't allow this to be done at the moment.  They are now looking into it and I'm waiting to hear back from them.

Be very careful who you trust with your private key! I wouldn't enter it on a website (like Blockchain.com's wallet).

At what point would I need to use my Private Key?

To spend your funds

[BitDraig]

Yes it's 51.  I had missed out a letter.

Is that easy to do.....importing into electrum?

[BitDraig]

The letters/numbers do begin with a 5 and it's 50 characters long.

Are you sure it's not 51? See:

WIF (Wallet Import Format) (51 characters base58, starting with "5").
Example: 5KMWmYkn5YWkJnUDG4utD9L1HXQv3DBseqqCGsQXmthcEerbA7k

The good new is that I've use a magnifying glass and I believe I've got most if not all the characters correctly written down.

When you're sure your computer doesn't have malware, an easy way to check if you got it correct is by importing the private key into Electrum.

I've been in touch with Blockchain and been trying to move the imported bitcoin address to a Blockchain Private Key wallet.  But their system won't allow this to be done at the moment.  They are now looking into it and I'm waiting to hear back from them.

Be very careful who you trust with your private key! I wouldn't enter it on a website (like Blockchain.com's wallet).

At what point would I need to use my Private Key?

To spend your funds

If I import the private key into electrum, will the bitcoin also be imported?  I apologize for not having too much knowledge concerning Bitcoin etc.

[BitDraig]

I have managed to get the QR codes to work by scanning and darkening and I used my iphone to read of the computer screen.  I wasn't too far out with the magnifying glass.

So now I have the address where these bitcoin are held and I have what I am sure is the private key.

I guess that the only thing now is for the issue at Blockchain to resolve?

[LoyceV]

Is that easy to do.....importing into electrum?

Yes. Just make sure you don't download Electrum from a fake website, maybe verify your download, install Electrum, create a new wallet, and select "Import Bitcoin addresses or private keys".
Warning: If your computer contains malware, chances are you lose your 2BTC at this point!

If I import the private key into electrum, will the bitcoin also be imported?

If you import the private key, Electrum will know your address and lookup your balance. After that, you can send it anywhere you want.

So now I have the address where these bitcoin are held and I have what I am sure is the private key.

Did your QR-scanner read the address or the private key? Or both?

I guess that the only thing now is for the issue at Blockchain to resolve?

If that's related to the same address, you don't need Blockchain.com if you have the private key.

[BitDraig]

OK thank you.

What kind of new wallet do I wan to create?

Import "Bitcoin addresses or private keys" I would imagine?

[hosseinimr93]

Import "Bitcoin addresses or private keys" I would imagine?

Yes, select "Import bitcoin addresses or private keys". Then enter your private key and click on "Next".
If you have imported the correct private key, you should see your bitcoin address in "Addresses" tab.
(If "Addresses" tab is not available, click on "View" at top of the window and then select "Show addresses".)

[BitDraig]

It then askes....."Enter a list of Bitcoin addresses (this will create a watching-only wallet), or a list of private keys."

[BitDraig]

It looks like they have appeared in my wallet. :-)  What should I do now?

[hosseinimr93]

It then askes....."Enter a list of Bitcoin addresses (this will create a watching-only wallet), or a list of private keys."

If you enter a private key, you will be able to see your balance and also spend the fund.
If you enter an address, you will create a watch-only wallet. A watch-only wallet can be used for checking the balance and transactions without touching the private key. Note that you can't spend any fund from a watch-only wallet.

It looks like they have appeared in my wallet. :-)  What should I do now?

If you want to spend any bitcoin from your wallet, you should go to "send" tab.
In the "Send" tab, you need to enter the address you want to send bitcoin to in "Pay to" field and the amount of bitcoin you wish to send in "Amount" field.
You can also click on "Max" button to send the entire balance.
After you click on "Pay", you should select the fee rate on the new window.
Note that the more fee you pay, the faster your transaction will be confirmed.
If you want a very fast confirmation, you can use "ETA" option as the estimation method and move the slider to right side.

[BitDraig]

It then askes....."Enter a list of Bitcoin addresses (this will create a watching-only wallet), or a list of private keys."

If you enter a private key, you will be able to see your balance and also spend the fund.
If you enter an address, you will create a watch-only wallet. A watch-only wallet can be used for checking the balance and transactions without touching the private key. Note that you can't spend any fund from a watch-only wallet.

It looks like they have appeared in my wallet. :-)  What should I do now?

If you want to spend any bitcoin from your wallet, you should go to "send" tab.
In the "Send" tab, you need to enter the address you want to send bitcoin to in "Pay to" field" and the amount of bitcoin you wish to send in "Amount" tab.
You can also click on "Max" button to send the entire balance.
After you click on "Pay", you should select the fee rate on the new window.
Note that the more fee you pay, the faster your transaction will be confirmed.
If you want a very fast confirmation, you can use "ETA" option as the estimation method and and move the slider to right side".

Thank you.  :-)

[BitDraig]

I managed to move the Bitcoin to Electrum and from the to Coinfloor.  So thank you for all of your assistance on here.

I have another question......I have a couple of Bitcoin Cash coins.  What can I do with them?

[hosseinimr93]

I have another question......I have a couple of Bitcoin Cash coins.  What can I do with them?

To access you bitcoin cash, you need to import your private key into a wallet supporting bitcoin cash.
The best choice is electron cash. Download it only from its official website.
Electron cash is a fork of electrum and it works same as electrum.
After you import your private key into electron cash, you will have access to your bitcoin cash and you can send them to anywhere (e.g. an exchange) you want.

Also, note that besides bitcoin cash, you should have some other fork coins too.
For more information on how to claim those fork coins, I recommend you to visit the link below and read the guide provided by LoyceV.

LoyceV's Bitcoin Fork claiming guide (and service)

[LoyceV]

I have a couple of Bitcoin Cash coins.  What can I do with them?

What you do with them is up to you (burn them, donate them, keep them, sell them....), so I assume you mean the "how" part: in my experience, there are currently 5 Forkcoins worth claiming:
https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/bitcoin-cash/
https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/bitcoin-sv/
https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/bitcoin-cash-abc-2/
https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/bitcoin-gold/
https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/bitcoin-diamond/

The first 3 don't have replay protection, which means if you just sell your BCH, chances are you lose your BSV and BCH-A too. You need to ensure replay protection (by adding some fork dust to your address) before moving those.
The other 2 Forks don't have that problem, but I'd recommend to start with the most valuable coin. The total value of those coins is currently about 2.5% of the value of the Bitcoin you owned when they Forked.
Depending on the total value you could just import the private keys in a hot wallet, or use offline signing. I also offer my Bitcoin Fork claiming guide (and service) (coin prices in the OP are outdated).

[Pmalek]

You can also use Find My Coins.ninja to see the entire list of fork coins available on your address. You just enter your address in the search field. The site was created by Bitcointalk user TryNinja, feel free to try it out. You have already moved your bitcoin from the address, but as a remainder, it's always a good idea to move your valuable bitcoin from an address whose private key you are about to import in a wallet for one of those forks.  

[TryNinja]

You can also use Find My Coins.ninja to see the entire list of fork coins available on your address. You just enter your address in the search field. The site was created by Bitcointalk user TryNinja, feel free to try it out.

Lol, why do people keep saying I created this website.

I clearly would have done a better job, since you cannot use addresses with more than 20 transactions.

[LoyceV]

You can also use Find My Coins.ninja to see the entire list of fork coins available on your address.

Warning: you shouldn't trust this site! Although it works sometimes, it doesn't work for all addresses. Example: 1ELTDVM85P22TdMkK6asC5Sxzywafi1JKL holds 50 BTC and (most probably) every possible Forkcoin. Find My Coins shows this: