To receive bitcoins, you must be connected to the Internet ????

[shereer]

Do I have to keep the electrum application connected to the Internet to receive bitcoins?
Or it can be received at any time, even when the device is turned off ?

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[OmegaStarScream]

No, you don't have to be online.

[shereer]

Where are coins stored when I'm not online and sent

[shereer]

No, you don't have to be online.

So all I have to do is copy the address. And at any time when I open the application, I find the Coins that were sent when I was offline.
The question is where was it stored during this time?

[NotATether]

You only need to keep your Electrum open if you are receiving Bitcoins using Lightning Network. You can receive Bitcoins any time without internet or having the computer on if they are received directly on-chain.

Also, if you set up a watchtower on your computer or another computer, then you can receive bitcoins on Lightning Network without leaving Electrum open.

[apogio]

Where are coins stored when I'm not online and sent

The coins are "stored" in the blockchain.
Electrum holds the keys that can "unlock" your ability to spend bitcoin you have received.
Electrum (and every other wallet) DON'T store coins. They only store keys. That's a common misconception.

In order to "receive" coins, you need NOTHING at all. Just give someone an address.

You need Internet in order to:
1. Monitor your incoming transactions and perhaps get notifications about them.
2. Broadcast transactions a.k.a "send coins"

You don't need Internet to:
1. Receive coins
2. Sign transactions (assuming you will broadcast them later)
3. Create new wallets aka new pairs of keys

I hope I have answered your question. You don't need Internet to receive bitcoin. Coins are stored nowhere. That's not how it works. If someone wants to send you coins, they have to broadcast a transaction and let people (other nodes and miners) know that they have sent the coins. Once you open up electrum you need Internet to "see that you have received the coins".

[shereer]

Thank you all

[so98nn]

Where are coins stored when I'm not online and sent

The coins are "stored" in the blockchain.
Electrum holds the keys that can "unlock" your ability to spend bitcoin you have received.
Electrum (and every other wallet) DON'T store coins. They only store keys. That's a common misconception.

In order to "receive" coins, you need NOTHING at all. Just give someone an address.

You need Internet in order to:
1. Monitor your incoming transactions and perhaps get notifications about them.
2. Broadcast transactions a.k.a "send coins"

You don't need Internet to:
1. Receive coins
2. Sign transactions (assuming you will broadcast them later)
3. Create new wallets aka new pairs of keys

I hope I have answered your question. You don't need Internet to receive bitcoin. Coins are stored nowhere. That's not how it works. If someone wants to send you coins, they have to broadcast a transaction and let people (other nodes and miners) know that they have sent the coins. Once you open up electrum you need Internet to "see that you have received the coins".

This is amazing. But as far as I am trying to understand the balance is not updated unless and until it is connected to the internet right? Basically, if I am not looking at my wallet and only scanning my address over the blockchain then I can see the updated balance.

Which is a similar thing I am doing with Mycelium.

For example, the smartphone on which I have Mycelium installed is always turned off for safety reasons. I keep getting payment on that address, which is obviously getting synched in the background (without internet obviously).

Then this makes no difference to any wallets I believe.

I thought we already invented a technology that can work without the internet. I was shocked for a second after reading all the replies. It seems it's just usual thing, you synch up when you are online. Thats all.

[apogio]

This is amazing. But as far as I am trying to understand the balance is not updated unless and until it is connected to the internet right? Basically, if I am not looking at my wallet and only scanning my address over the blockchain then I can see the updated balance.

Which is a similar thing I am doing with Mycelium.

For example, the smartphone on which I have Mycelium installed is always turned off for safety reasons. I keep getting payment on that address, which is obviously getting synched in the background (without internet obviously).

Then this makes no difference to any wallets I believe.

I thought we already invented a technology that can work without the internet. I was shocked for a second after reading all the replies. It seems it's just usual thing, you synch up when you are online. Thats all.

Well in fact we oversimplified the response, but yes.

Essentially what you do is cool, but if you keep sending funds to the same address is not good for privacy reasons.

Also, actually there is no "balance". There are unspent UTXOs but that's more advanced. And yes, of course we can say "balance" and understand each other

[mendace]

Do I have to keep the electrum application connected to the Internet to receive bitcoins?
Or it can be received at any time, even when the device is turned off ?

When someone sends bitcoins to your bitcoin address, the transaction is broadcast to the bitcoin network and added to the blockchain.  The transaction is confirmed by the nodes of the bitcoin network and subsequently included in the blockchain.  When the Electrum application is launched and connects to the bitcoin network, the application checks the blockchain to see if there are any incoming transactions for your bitcoin address.

 If the device is turned off, the Electrum application cannot be running to receive incoming transactions.  However, as soon as you turn on the device and launch the Electrum application, it will be synchronized with the blockchain and will check if there are any incoming transactions for your bitcoin address.

[bettercrypto]

Do I have to keep the electrum application connected to the Internet to receive bitcoins?
Or it can be received at any time, even when the device is turned off ?

If you use Electrum and receive bitcoin, it's okay even if you don't have internet, it will still go to your electrum address given to the person who sent you the bitcoin.

         But if you are going to send Bitcoin yourself, you really need to have internet, you can't have it because the transaction won't work without an internet data connection for sure.

[Z-tight]

I thought we already invented a technology that can work without the internet. I was shocked for a second after reading all the replies. It seems it's just usual thing, you synch up when you are online. Thats all.

If you are using your wallet on an air-gapped device, you don't need to connect it to the internet to see your updated balance, all you need to do is to create a watch-only version of your wallet, and in it you can see everything, create transactions and also broadcast it, your air-gapped device is to remain disconnected from the internet forever, and would only be used for the purpose of signing transactions when you want to spend.

But if you are going to send Bitcoin yourself, you really need to have internet, you can't have it because the transaction won't work without an internet data connection for sure.

You can sign a transaction without connecting the wallet that holds your keys to the internet, that is if you are using an air-gapped wallet and a watch-only version of the wallet:
https://electrum.readthedocs.io/en/latest/coldstorage.html

[batang_bitcoin]

That's why there's the receiving address that we need to give to whoever is going to send us Bitcoin. We don't need to be online or active by the time they send it. It's not compulsary unless you want to monitor it.

I guess the simpliest logic in here is that, when someone sends us a mail to our address, we don't need to be at that house upon receiving it. The mailman will just have to drop it to the mailbox. But OP since you're still new, please know the difference of giving the public key address and private key. You don't give your private key to anybody.

[sheenshane]

It's not compulsary unless you want to monitor it.

Even if you want to monitor it there's no one to get online, there are too many block explorers to use and check your public key address if your Bitcoin was successfully landed at your address.  I highly recommend Blockchair.com which has a simple user interface that you can easily understand the status of the transaction you monitor.

Here is a List of useful Bitcoin block explorers that you need to track any traction incoming in your wallet.  Always remember the said above, only the sender will need to broadcast the transaction that needs to be online.

[ormatr]

Where are coins stored when I'm not online and sent

The coins are "stored" in the blockchain.
Electrum holds the keys that can "unlock" your ability to spend bitcoin you have received.
Electrum (and every other wallet) DON'T store coins. They only store keys. That's a common misconception.

In order to "receive" coins, you need NOTHING at all. Just give someone an address.

You need Internet in order to:
1. Monitor your incoming transactions and perhaps get notifications about them.
2. Broadcast transactions a.k.a "send coins"

You don't need Internet to:
1. Receive coins
2. Sign transactions (assuming you will broadcast them later)
3. Create new wallets aka new pairs of keys

I hope I have answered your question. You don't need Internet to receive bitcoin. Coins are stored nowhere. That's not how it works. If someone wants to send you coins, they have to broadcast a transaction and let people (other nodes and miners) know that they have sent the coins. Once you open up electrum you need Internet to "see that you have received the coins".

I keep reading about this "keys". Can you please tell me where I can  find key in my Electrum wallet?
Every Electrum has how many keys and are they public or private 

[apogio]

I keep reading about this "keys". Can you please tell me where I can  find key in my Electrum wallet?
Every Electrum has how many keys and are they public or private  

Bitcoin is based on cryptography. There is no better place to educate yourself about it than those links:
1. https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/mastering-bitcoin-2nd/9781491954379/ch04.html
2. https://learnmeabitcoin.com/beginners/keys_addresses

There are basically three concepts you must get familiar with:

A bitcoin wallet contains a collection of key pairs, each consisting of a private key and a public key.  Therefore, a wallet can have multiple key pairs.

Private key: The private key is just a number (256 bit long), picked at random. Imagine something like 00101...101

Public key: The public key is calculated from the private key using elliptic curve multiplication (that's pure mathematics). Please make sure to remember that the process of deriving a public key from the private key is a method that is irreversible. I mean, you can't derive a private key from the public key. A private key can be converted into a public key, but a public key cannot be converted back into a private key because the math only works one way.

Address: A bitcoin address is a string of digits and characters that can be shared with anyone who wants to send you money. The bitcoin address is derived from the public key through the use of one-way cryptographic hashing. A bitcoin address is not the same as a public key. Bitcoin addresses are derived from a public key using a one-way function.

Now, since you asked about electrum I will let people answer specifically about electrum. However, what I have written above is NOT application specific. It is essential to bitcoin.

[ormatr]

2. https://learnmeabitcoin.com/beginners/keys_addresses

Thanks for the help. Your reply need some merits but unfortunately I don't have any at the moment. Once I have I will share on that post. I have 2 more questions.

1. So private key is made from the password which I choose while creating the wallet? Is there any way I can see whats my private key?

2. There are so many addresses in our wallets, are they all public addresses ?

[apogio]

2. https://learnmeabitcoin.com/beginners/keys_addresses

Thanks for the help. Your reply need some merits but unfortunately I don't have any at the moment. Once I have I will share on that post. I have 2 more questions.

1. So private key is made from the password which I choose while creating the wallet? Is there any way I can see whats my private key?

2. There are so many addresses in our wallets, are they all public addresses ?

Don't worry about merit! I am happy to help.

1. Unfortunately I don't use electrum, so I don't really know what password you are referring to. Normally, most modern wallets support BIP-39 which is an improvement that allows you to memorize and back-up (always offline) 12 - 24 english words from a list of 2048 words. Those 12 - 24 words can help you recover your private key. Please check here: https://learnmeabitcoin.com/technical/mnemonic. Some applications also allow you to use a password, but this not related to bitcoin protocol. It is application specific as an extra measure of safety. If you forget your password, you don't have to worry as you can enter your 12-24 words to another software and have access to all of your funds. If you lose and forget your 12-24 words, you lose everything.

2. What do you mean public addresses? They can be shared without risk, if this is your question.

Extra note: Since I understand that this is your first contact with Bitcoin, make sure to be ultra safe when backing up your wallet. Don't share anything with anyone unless you are absolutely sure.

[ormatr]

Don't worry about merit! I am happy to help.

1. Unfortunately I don't use electrum, so I don't really know what password you are referring to. Normally, most modern wallets support BIP-39 which is an improvement that allows you to memorize and back-up (always offline) 12 - 24 english words from a list of 2048 words. Those 12 - 24 words can help you recover your private key. Please check here: https://learnmeabitcoin.com/technical/mnemonic. Some applications also allow you to use a password, but this not related to bitcoin protocol. It is application specific as an extra measure of safety. If you forget your password, you don't have to worry as you can enter your 12-24 words to another software and have access to all of your funds. If you lose and forget your 12-24 words, you lose everything.

2. What do you mean public addresses? They can be shared without risk, if this is your question.

Extra note: Since I understand that this is your first contact with Bitcoin, make sure to be ultra safe when backing up your wallet. Don't share anything with anyone unless you are absolutely sure.

1. In Electrum there is a 'seed' which is also a collection of words (dont know whether they are 12 or 24). I always wrote it down on paper and after that I select password. Seed can be used to recover wallet in case your device is compromised (for any reason). In that case Seed is private key?

2. There are many addresses in our wallet on which we can received funds. All such addresses are our Public keys?

3. Why at the moment Bitcoin fee is so high? 22 dollars for ETA within 5 blocks. normally its 0.3 to .5 dollars or even less.

[apogio]

Don't worry about merit! I am happy to help.

1. Unfortunately I don't use electrum, so I don't really know what password you are referring to. Normally, most modern wallets support BIP-39 which is an improvement that allows you to memorize and back-up (always offline) 12 - 24 english words from a list of 2048 words. Those 12 - 24 words can help you recover your private key. Please check here: https://learnmeabitcoin.com/technical/mnemonic. Some applications also allow you to use a password, but this not related to bitcoin protocol. It is application specific as an extra measure of safety. If you forget your password, you don't have to worry as you can enter your 12-24 words to another software and have access to all of your funds. If you lose and forget your 12-24 words, you lose everything.

2. What do you mean public addresses? They can be shared without risk, if this is your question.

Extra note: Since I understand that this is your first contact with Bitcoin, make sure to be ultra safe when backing up your wallet. Don't share anything with anyone unless you are absolutely sure.

1. In Electrum there is a 'seed' which is also a collection of words (dont know whether they are 12 or 24). I always wrote it down on paper and after that I select password. Seed can be used to recover wallet in case your device is compromised (for any reason). In that case Seed is private key?

2. There are many addresses in our wallet on which we can received funds. All such addresses are our Public keys?

3. Why at the moment Bitcoin fee is so high? 22 dollars for ETA within 5 blocks. normally its 0.3 to .5 dollars or even less.

1. Oh yeah. This seed can be used to derive your private key. It is not the actual private key, but if you have access to the seed, then it is essentially the same thing.

2. No! Addresses are not public keys. Please check the first link I sent you. In general, the process is: Private Key -> Public Key -> Addresses

3. I will not comment on that, since I haven't done extensive research. However, you can see people complaining here about ordinals and NFTs and how they have lead to mempool's extreme congestion. I am so against ordinals and NFTs that I don't wish to comment and use bad language