Bitcoin-ready linux distro

[takuma sato]

Is there such a thing being developed and kept updated? What I mean is a distro that comes with preinstalled software that you would need for any Bitcoin related business (full node software like Core, another lightweight software like Electrum, all libraries pre-installed, Tor, some other useful tools and everything else declutted)

I ask this because if you were to for instance land in another country, and you needed to install everything from scratch, it would take a ton of time. If you could have everything in an .iso more or less ready to run, you would just get your laptop (which you wiped before crossing any borders) and install your linux Bitcoin distro, and leave it there installing everything while you chill on your hotel's swimming pool or something. After a while everything is ready so you just enter your passphrase or recover your wallet.dat which you temporarily left somewhere in the cloud encrypted and get your coins ready.

I know Tails has Electrum but it doesn't have Bitcoin Core. It also has a ton of stuff I don't need and Electrum is always outdated.

The idea would be a minimalist setup, with some sort of system that automatically downloads, verifies and compiles the required software and libraries during the installation process.

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[Stalker22]

The idea would be a minimalist setup, with some sort of system that automatically downloads, verifies and compiles the required software and libraries during the installation process.

Typically, during the installation process, the operating system and its core components are installed. However, it is common for many systems to have outdated or missing software and libraries that are needed to run applications and perform certain tasks. To ensure that the system is up-to-date and functioning optimally, it is important to perform software updates regularly.

No distribution, as far as I know, carries out software updates during the installation process. Instead, the updates are done after the installation is complete. This is often done through a prompt or a notification from the operating system, inviting the user to update the installed software.

[LoyceMobile]

It takes a few minutes to install Electrum and Bitcoin Core on a new system. That's better than trusting an unknown iso.

[Marvelman]

It takes a few minutes to install Electrum and Bitcoin Core on a new system. That's better than trusting an unknown iso.

Agreed! Trusting an unknown ISO could potentially lead to disastrous consequences. Taking the time to install Electrum or Bitcoin Core may take a few minutes, but it's worth it to have full control over your funds and the security of knowing that you're not relying on an unknown source. Better safe than sorry!

[ranochigo]

Bitcoin Core and minimalist usually doesn't come in the same line. You would probably need to wait for at least a day for it to synchronize on a computer with pretty good specs and I doubt those would be useful in the situation that you've listed. If you're looking for an ISO that does this, then Tails would be the closest to what you've described though they only include Electrum.

You can customize your own ISO if you want, but I think that would be too much of a hassle.

[pooya87]

(full node software like Core, another lightweight software like Electrum, all libraries pre-installed, Tor, some other useful tools and everything else declutted)

I ask this because if you were to for instance land in another country, and you needed to install everything from scratch, it would take a ton of time.

These wallet softwares don't really need that many "libraries" to install before you can install/run them. For example Electrum only requires python 3 which comes pre-installed with most Linux distros already. So there isn't much time to be spent installing these.

The time consuming part is verifying the authenticity of these which is best done by yourself instead of trusting a distro that won't be popular or reviewed enough. Besides, if you do it a couple of times you should become fast in doing the verification since it is really easy.

[LoyceV]

I ask this because if you were to for instance land in another country, and you needed to install everything from scratch, it would take a ton of time.

Why don't you bring your laptop

you would just get your laptop (which you wiped before crossing any borders)

Why would you do that? I've crossed many borders with my laptop, and nobody cares. It's normal.
Which problem are you trying to solve?

while you chill on your hotel's swimming pool

Chances are the hotel is going to complain about your 500 GB download.

[o_e_l_e_o]

Why would you do that? I've crossed many borders with my laptop, and nobody cares. It's normal.

You can also just encrypt your bitcoin related stuff (although obviously not the data to support a full node) in a hidden volume somewhere, disguised as something less sensitive you can decrypt if coerced.

Chances are the hotel is going to complain about your 500 GB download.

Maybe you'll just have managed to sync everything when your vacation ends.

Why not just leave your full node running at home and connect to it remotely from Electrum or similar at your holiday destination? You can do all this with Tails if you want to keep all traces of bitcoin off your laptop until you arrive.

[NeuroticFish]

I know Tails has Electrum but it doesn't have Bitcoin Core. It also has a ton of stuff I don't need and Electrum is always outdated.

I'm not sure I understand your point. Installing a new Bitcoin Core is usually not enough. And I'm not sure you'll want to download the whole blockchain via the hotel's network (or WiFi).
And getting and installing Electrum and Kleopatra takes, what, 1-2 minutes?

I'll extrapolate what you said about Tails: any iso you'd have, it's more work than usefulness, since the things will soon get outdated. Plus there will be a trust issue.


Get with yourself a HW, maybe some paper notes spread here and there with the seed backup and you'll be fine. If you need more, just get your laptop with you, with everything already installed.

[Pmalek]

The whole idea of a bitcoin full node is you being able to download and verify the entire blockchain locally on your machine and not having to trust that someone else did it for you. If you already operate a full node, then the rules don't change just because you are on holiday. If you want to use bitcoin when on holiday, prepare some UTXOs before the holiday starts, move them to a software, hardware, or different paper wallets, and backup the seed words any way you are comfortable with.

Setting up a full-node to use during a week or two of holiday seems excessive.

[takuma sato]

I ask this because if you were to for instance land in another country, and you needed to install everything from scratch, it would take a ton of time.

Why don't you bring your laptop

you would just get your laptop (which you wiped before crossing any borders)

Why would you do that? I've crossed many borders with my laptop, and nobody cares. It's normal.
Which problem are you trying to solve?

while you chill on your hotel's swimming pool

Chances are the hotel is going to complain about your 500 GB download.

Laptops are forced to be handled randomly on airport checkups for instance. Never travel with sensitive information. As far as Wifi in hotels, you can always pick an airbnb with internet if needed.

I know Tails has Electrum but it doesn't have Bitcoin Core. It also has a ton of stuff I don't need and Electrum is always outdated.

I'm not sure I understand your point. Installing a new Bitcoin Core is usually not enough. And I'm not sure you'll want to download the whole blockchain via the hotel's network (or WiFi).
And getting and installing Electrum and Kleopatra takes, what, 1-2 minutes?

I'll extrapolate what you said about Tails: any iso you'd have, it's more work than usefulness, since the things will soon get outdated. Plus there will be a trust issue.


Get with yourself a HW, maybe some paper notes spread here and there with the seed backup and you'll be fine. If you need more, just get your laptop with you, with everything already installed.

HW's are anti privacy because it already reveals by default you are holding Bitcoin.

[dkbit98]

Is there such a thing being developed and kept updated? What I mean is a distro that comes with preinstalled software that you would need for any Bitcoin related business (full node software like Core, another lightweight software like Electrum, all libraries pre-installed, Tor, some other useful tools and everything else declutted)

There was one bitcointalk member MagnumOpus3kwho created Linux distro preloaded with Bitcoin related software and it's called LockBox Linux OS.
He created topic about that OS in bitcointalk forum, but I don't know how often he updates it.
Second option is Tails OS, this is minimalist Linux OS you can use with USB stick, but I think it comes only with Electrum wallet.
You don't need to install Bitcoin Core because it's unrealistic to use it minimalist like you want and you would have to wait a long time to sync.

I would rather install Fedora CoreOS or Debian myself (they are both coming without any bloatware) and than add Electrum or any other wallet or software later.

HW's are anti privacy because it already reveals by default you are holding Bitcoin.

This is so wrong....with your logic if you carry a knife or axe with you than you are already a killer right?
On your laptop or phone you can carry much more than bitcoin keys, including bunch of your sensitive information.

[serveria.com]

Is there such a thing being developed and kept updated? What I mean is a distro that comes with preinstalled software that you would need for any Bitcoin related business (full node software like Core, another lightweight software like Electrum, all libraries pre-installed, Tor, some other useful tools and everything else declutted)

I ask this because if you were to for instance land in another country, and you needed to install everything from scratch, it would take a ton of time. If you could have everything in an .iso more or less ready to run, you would just get your laptop (which you wiped before crossing any borders) and install your linux Bitcoin distro, and leave it there installing everything while you chill on your hotel's swimming pool or something. After a while everything is ready so you just enter your passphrase or recover your wallet.dat which you temporarily left somewhere in the cloud encrypted and get your coins ready.

I know Tails has Electrum but it doesn't have Bitcoin Core. It also has a ton of stuff I don't need and Electrum is always outdated.

The idea would be a minimalist setup, with some sort of system that automatically downloads, verifies and compiles the required software and libraries during the installation process.

Oh no, sounds like a terrible idea and heaven for cybercriminals. There are just so many things that could go wrong potentially: phished distro's website, hacked distro's website, phished repo, hacked repo, malicious developers, backdoor/trojan in OS, backdoor in wallet software etc etc etc... I mean such a distro, once launched will become a bullseye and a magnet for all sorts of crypto criminals. Easy way to lose your hard earned coins... 

[LoyceV]

Laptops are forced to be handled randomly on airport checkups for instance. Never travel with sensitive information. As far as Wifi in hotels, you can always pick an airbnb with internet if needed.

I think it's much more likely for someone to steel your laptop while you're chilling in the pool, than for airport checks to steal your Bitcoin.
How are you going to bring your wallet.dat anyway? I hope you're not planning to use cloud storage....

[NeuroticFish]

HW's are anti privacy because it already reveals by default you are holding Bitcoin.

Actually this is mostly incorrect. At least the HW I have doesn't write anywhere it's a HW and also doesn't write Bitcoin on it. So your HW is just another electronic device most will not even know what it is and for what (I don't know how all HWs look like, do you..? And then what you expect from the customs employee?)
And if you don't want to use a HW for the job then you can use an older smartphone for that, just make sure it indeed stays always offline (see this topic).

Plus, you've missed the whole point. The point was that you can easily install (and check!!) a SPV wallet while you're away, you can easily restore your seed on a hardware device and you're fine. If you don't get your laptop with you, then where will you install the ISO anyway? Plus, again, how will you do Bitcoin Core's IBD there?
Arguably even Tor you may not need since you're not from home, since you don't necessarily need to hide your IP. Or you can just use a Tails USB which you already know.

Imho you either don't tell something, either you're overthinking something.

[ABCbits]

Setting up a full-node to use during a week or two of holiday seems excessive.

I agree, although it's less excessive if you create your own or use someone's else snapshot of pruned node (such as https://prunednode.today/).

HW's are anti privacy because it already reveals by default you are holding Bitcoin.

Actually this is mostly incorrect. At least the HW I have doesn't write anywhere it's a HW and also doesn't write Bitcoin on it. So your HW is just another electronic device most will not even know what it is and for what (I don't know how all HWs look like, do you..? And then what you expect from the customs employee?)

But with recent "crypto travel rule" from FATF which followed by some country, there's higher chance border employee would know existance of cryptocurrency HW.

[o_e_l_e_o]

Actually this is mostly incorrect. At least the HW I have doesn't write anywhere it's a HW and also doesn't write Bitcoin on it. So your HW is just another electronic device most will not even know what it is and for what (I don't know how all HWs look like, do you..? And then what you expect from the customs employee?)

If you are being searched and they find an electronic device they do not recognize, then I expect them to ask you what it is, or even plug it in and show them what it is. Lie to them at your own risk.

I tend to agree with takuma sato on this point. If you want to hide the fact that you are taking bitcoin across a border, then using a hardware wallet and simply hoping no one recognizes it is not a good plan. There are plenty of better ways to hide a seed phrase, which is all you actually need to carry across a border, and you can download all the necessary software once you reach your destination.

Arguably even Tor you may not need since you're not from home, since you don't necessarily need to hide your IP.

Using Tor in this scenario also prevents the hotel (or whoever owns the WiFi you are using) from seeing which websites you are connecting to. I would definitely still use it, unless you are happy with the hotel staff knowing you are connecting to bitcoin.org, electrum.com, etc.

[NeuroticFish]

Actually this is mostly incorrect. At least the HW I have doesn't write anywhere it's a HW and also doesn't write Bitcoin on it. So your HW is just another electronic device most will not even know what it is and for what (I don't know how all HWs look like, do you..? And then what you expect from the customs employee?)

If you are being searched and they find an electronic device they do not recognize, then I expect them to ask you what it is, or even plug it in and show them what it is. Lie to them at your own risk.
[...]

Arguably even Tor you may not need since you're not from home, since you don't necessarily need to hide your IP.

Using Tor in this scenario also prevents the hotel (or whoever owns the WiFi you are using) from seeing which websites you are connecting to. I would definitely still use it, unless you are happy with the hotel staff knowing you are connecting to bitcoin.org, electrum.com, etc.

Both are valid (and very good) points, thank you for that.
In this case Tor remains, maybe an old phone as cold (enough) storage and the seed fragmented and scattered on multiple pieces of paper.
Still SPV wallets are the way to go given the size of the blockchain..., right?

[Carlton Banks]

Is there such a thing being developed and kept updated? What I mean is a distro that comes with preinstalled software that you would need for any Bitcoin related business

yes

but don't do it. It's much too tempting for some employee(s) to abuse the situation and ship something that steals BTC or other data.

just get a standard distribution and figure it out, anything else is going back to "be my bank", not "be your own bank"

[o_e_l_e_o]

In this case Tor remains, maybe an old phone as cold (enough) storage and the seed fragmented and scattered on multiple pieces of paper.
Still SPV wallets are the way to go given the size of the blockchain..., right?

Not entirely sure about the phone. How would you be hiding the wallet on it? And what are you going to say under a targeted search when they ask you why you have an airgapped phone with no SIM card in it?

The seed phrase can be easily obfuscated in a stack of academic/professional/employment related documents, notes, books, etc. Alternatively, it is easy to hide in a hidden volume on your laptop, which you could decrypt to show copies of sensitive documents such as your passport or travel insurance. Impossible to prove the hidden volume even exists.

But yes, I would just use Electrum and point it at my own server which is running at home.