Electrum Nodes with higher than default history limits

[natastna2]

Bitcoin Client Software and Version Number: Electrum 4.1.2
Operating System: Windows 10
System Hardware Specs:
Description of Problem:

I am having an issue in that our Electrum Wallet fails to synchronise. After looking at the logs it seems to be disconnecting due to the numbers of transactions in the history.

I have read there are some Electrum nodes with higher than the default amount of history limit which I gather is 10,000. I am hoping to use one of these nodes to synchronise and move the BTC across to another wallet.

any information or help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your help and time.


Any Related Addresses:
Any Related Transaction IDs:
Screenshot of the problem:
Log Files from the Bitcoin Client:

20210512T155418.460037Z |    ERROR | interface.[electrum.stippy.com:50002] | disconnecting due to GracefulDisconnect(RPCError(1, 'history too large'))

[1715601908]

1715601908

[1715601908]

1715601908

[LoyceV]

I have read there are some Electrum nodes with higher than the default amount of history limit which I gather is 10,000. I am hoping to use one of these nodes to synchronise and move the BTC across to another wallet.

Would it be an option to import all addresses into Bitcoin Core?

[natastna2]

Hello,

Thank you for your response.

I am not very knowledgeable unfortunately regarding BitCoin despite receiving / sending transactions for quite a long time.

We have only used 1 address to receive payments if that makes any difference.

BitCoin Core is this - https://bitcoin.org/en/download ?

This would then I think mean that all the information from the blockchain would be stored locally and therefore the synchronising would no longer be an issue as BitCoin core would simply read the info from the hard drive?

Is it moderately simple to achieve this?

I would download BitCoin Core to my PC and then somehow import my existing Electrum wallet into BitCoin Core?

Thank you again for your help and time.

Regards,
Anthony

[BitMaxz]

Try other Electrum servers maybe the server that you used recently might have a limit.

You can change your server under tools>network there are many servers listed there just right-click and use them as a server and try to resync again.

If it still doesn't work choose another server and try again.

I would download BitCoin Core to my PC and then somehow import my existing Electrum wallet into BitCoin Core?

Yes, you need to export the private key of the used address and import it to Bitcoin core.

It's optional if my suggestion above doesn't work.

[HCP]

I have read there are some Electrum nodes with higher than the default amount of history limit which I gather is 10,000. I am hoping to use one of these nodes to synchronise and move the BTC across to another wallet.

I'm not aware of any servers that explicitly state what their data limits are... or whether they have raised/lowered the defaults used in ElectrumX (the most popular Electrum Server).

Among your options (in no particular order) would be:

1. Manually creating sub-wallets of your main wallet that only include say 100 addresses
- that should hopefully reduce the total "history" of any one wallet to be small enough that it doesn't cause any server to throttle your connection or disconnect you.
- Won't work if the bulk of the "history" is associated with one address
- Once you have identified exactly which address/private keys still have a balance/UTXOs associated with them, you could create a wallet with just those private keys so you can shift the coins.


2. Run your own Electrum Server
- Setup and run your own personal Electrum server and remove all the limits, so it doesn't throttle your client.
- Requires that you download Bitcoin Core and then setup a server of some sort (ElectrumX/EPS/electrs etc)


3. Use a different wallet
- You could export all your private keys from Electrum and then import them into another wallet
- Given that you'd exceeding limits on Electrum servers, then any wallet you try to use might also offer sub-optimal performance
- Bitcoin Core might be your best bet, but again, having a wallet that has over 10,000 transactions in it might still be problematic.


4. Try and find an Electrum Server admin who can temporarily modify their server setup for you
- Quite how you actually identify or contact a server admin, I'm not sure... some list contact details on the server text displayed in the console when you connect to a different server... some list donation addresses which you might be able to Google and find associated contacts for etc.

[LoyceV]

1. Manually creating sub-wallets of your main wallet that only include say 100 addresses

That won't work:

We have only used 1 address to receive payments if that makes any difference.

4. Try and find an Electrum Server admin who can temporarily modify their server setup for you

I remember mocacinno runs his own Electrum server. You can try to PM him.

BitCoin Core is this - https://bitcoin.org/en/download ?

This would then I think mean that all the information from the blockchain would be stored locally and therefore the synchronising would no longer be an issue as BitCoin core would simply read the info from the hard drive?

Is it moderately simple to achieve this?

I would download BitCoin Core to my PC and then somehow import my existing Electrum wallet into BitCoin Core?

This is quite simple, but takes a while. You'll need to download and verify the 400 GB blockchain. Depending on your system that can take days. Then all you need is to export your private key from Electrum, and import it into Bitcoin Core. Don't post/show your private key to anyone!
If you've been using the same address for many years, you may own some value in Forkcoins that might be worth checking.

You may want to read about consolidating inputs without overpaying on fees if you don't apply this already.

[DaveF]

Since as others have stated you only have been using 1 address you can just import the one private key into the core wallet.

If you have not started yet, just to save some time, start it and while it is just beginning to download the blockchain import your private key.
This way as it downloads it is looking for your transactions instead of rescanning the entire blockchain when you are done.

Depending on the available RAM in your system you can speed up the initial download by increasing your dbcache setting.

-Dave

[natastna2]

Thank you everyone for your responses and suggestions!

I think the best bet is to download BitCoin Core and import the private key and so I will go ahead with downloading that over the next few days.

On a sidenote, we have received various BCH payments into the BTC wallet.

Once I have imported the private key into BitCoin Core and transferred the BTC out. Can I do a similar thing with a BCH wallet to claim the BCH that was sent to the BTC wallet?

Thanks!

Ant

[mocacinno]

--snip--

Once I have imported the private key into BitCoin Core and transferred the BTC out. Can I do a similar thing with a BCH wallet to claim the BCH that was sent to the BTC wallet?

--snip--

As long as you do it in this sequence (first spend the unspent outputs on the BTC network, only then start spending unspent outputs on other networks... There are at least 4 or 5 forks that have *some* value) you should be able to do this, yes... As long as those unspent outputs were funding your addresses before the BCH fork, you should have some BCH waiting for you...

Do realise some of these forks have serious security issues... So (like you already said yourself), first move your bitcoin to a new wallet, then start messing around with the forks...

A quick google search turned up a list like this one (i'm not affiliated with them, use at your own discretion): https://forkdrop.io/#table-bitcoin

[natastna2]

Thanks Mocacinno!

The BTC wallet with the issue was first used on 28th December 2017.

Since then we have received various BCH payments into it (sent to the BTC wallet)

As the BCH fork was apparently 1 August 2017 which is before this date, should we still be able to retrieve the BCH that has been sent to the BTC wallet since then?

Thank you for your help and time!

Ant

[mocacinno]

Thanks Mocacinno!

The BTC wallet with the issue was first used on 28th December 2017.

Since then we have received various BCH payments into it (sent to the BTC wallet)

As the BCH fork was apparently 1 August 2017 which is before this date, should we still be able to retrieve the BCH that has been sent to the BTC wallet since then?

Thank you for your help and time!

Ant

yeah, sorry, i stumbled upon this thread because i was mentioned in it and i failed to read that you actually received BCH payments and were not merely trying to claim the "airdrop".... If you actually received BCH, you should indeed be able to spend it by importing the seed into the bch electrum client AFTER you emptied out your btc electrum wallet.

Sorry for the confusion... The main point still remains: you should be able to spend the bch aswell, as long as you spend your btc first (in theory you can spend your bch before you spend your btc, but this is not advisable)

[natastna2]

Thanks Mocacinno!

BitCoin Core is currently synching so we will import the private key into that once ready and move those BTC out and then will attempt to import the private key into Electron Cash wallet.

I will update if any issues.

Hope you have a great rest of the week!

Ant

[LoyceV]

The BTC wallet with the issue was first used on 28th December 2017.

This means you "missed" most of the Forks with some value. That makes it easier.

Since then we have received various BCH payments into it (sent to the BTC wallet)

BCH Forked twice again, and none of those Forks have replay protection. Which means that if you move your BCH, chances are you move those Forks too (and lose access to them). So I recommend to read up on replay protection before moving your BCH.

BitCoin Core is currently synching so we will import the private key into that once ready and move those BTC out and then will attempt to import the private key into Electron Cash wallet.

Assuming you didn't hit the 10,000 transaction limit, this should work. Note that you should consider the private key compromised after importing it into another wallet, so you shouldn't use it to receive Bitcoin again.

[DaveF]

BCH Forked twice again, and none of those Forks have replay protection. Which means that if you move your BCH, chances are you move those Forks too (and lose access to them). So I recommend to read up on replay protection before moving your BCH.

Or, if you are going to just exchange them to BTC, use an exchange that generates the same address for BCH, BCHA, and BSV and any other of the direct forks.
IIRC coinex does this so even if you send some coins that do not have replay protection they all wound up in your account.
There was at least one other exchange that did that, but I do not remember which one.

-Dave

[natastna2]

Hello,

Thank you for the information.

I am sorry but I am a little confused when LoyceV says

"Assuming you didn't hit the 10,000 transaction limit, this should work. Note that you should consider the private key compromised after importing it into another wallet, so you shouldn't use it to receive Bitcoin again."

Do you mean in regards to retrieving the BCH payments?

We have most certainly gone over the 10,000 BTC transactions which is the cause of our current issues. Do you mean this may cause an issue with retrieving our BTC through BitCoin Core or is this in reference to Electron Cash perhaps having a 10,000 BCH transaction limit? We have only received 50 or so BCH payments.

Thank you for your help and time.

Ant

[LoyceV]

Do you mean in regards to retrieving the BCH payments?

Yes

We have only received 50 or so BCH payments.

You should be fine Just make sure you wait until all your BTC is confirmed in your new wallet. People have lost their Bitcoins installing compromised Forkwallets.

[natastna2]

OK thanks guys!

I really appreciate the help! There'll be a delay after removing the BTC from the wallet whilst we make sure there are no more incoming payments. So I'll read up on the replay protection you have mentioned before attempting to retrieve the BCH.

Thanks again!

Ant