Bitcoin Core as main wallet

[o_e_l_e_o]

Running a node is not the opposite of offering a wallet functionality. CMIIW.

Bitcoin Core software is a full node and a software wallet. You can use it as both, or you can use it just for the full node functionality.

There are many other software wallets which can be linked (either directly or indirectly via additional server software) to your Bitcoin Core node. This means that instead of your software wallet connecting to a bunch of third parties in order to obtain blockchain data and therefore leaking your privacy, it will connect only to your own Bitcoin Core node. All the data it needs about transaction history, address balances, and so on, is pulled exclusively from your own node, and so your privacy is maintained.

Popular such wallets are Electrum and Sparrow.

[Zoomic]

But if I were Op, I will take your recommendation by using some non custodial that can connect to my bitcoin core full node. I just feel bitcoin in the core if not taken good care of will lose be in the network

What are you trying to say? You can’t lose Bitcoins “in the network”. Coins stored in Bitcoin Core can be as safe as those stored in any other non-custodial wallet, as long as.. they’re properly stored. That’s literally all you need to do, just keep them safe.

Ok, thanks for this explanation. I well know that security depends on us and how we set up the wallet be it a non custodial wallet or bitcoin core.

Running a node is not the opposite of offering a wallet functionality. CMIIW.

Bitcoin Core software is a full node and a software wallet. You can use it as both, or you can use it just for the full node functionality.

This is great explanation. As someone running a node means you are holding the blockchain data in your custody, you can fetch and use without looking upto to third parties.

[hosseinimr93]

I well know that security depends on us and how we set up the wallet be it a non custodial wallet or bitcoin core.

Take note it's not that bitcoin core and non-constodial wallets are two different categories of wallets.
Any wallet that gives us full access to our private keys is called a non-custodial wallet. This means that bitcoin core is also a non-custodial wallet.

[Zoomic]

I well know that security depends on us and how we set up the wallet be it a non custodial wallet or bitcoin core.

Take note it's not that bitcoin core and non-constodial wallets are two different categories of wallets.
Any wallet that gives us full access to our private keys is called a non-custodial wallet. This means that bitcoin core is also a non-custodial wallet.

Yes, I am aware of this. But what if I want to show an explicit difference between a non-custodial wallet like Electrum and a non custodial wallet that also runs a node like Bitcoin core. What better name should I call the later?

[virasog]

I mainly use Bitcoin Core for sending and receiving Bitcoins.

Is it bad idea to use Bitcoin Core for the main wallet? I don't trust any online exchanges, that require my private keys.

Thanks,

Why don't you use an Electrum wallet instead of bitcoin core.  Unless you are some sort of techy person or a developer, you do not need to download the whole database on your system.

I think Electrum is as good as Bitcoin core wallet but if you want to completely secure your wallet, you better go for the hardware wallets.

BTC stored in any wallet can be lost if the owner doesn't have good operational security, it doesn't matter if it is BTC core, Electrum, BlueWallet or any other wallet. Hot wallets can be hacked, so cold wallets are safer than hot wallets, but in either of them if your seed phrase is exposed, the funds would be lost. If you know how to store and use your funds in a safe enviroment, the chances of losing it is very low.

If you lose your seed phrases or expose your seed phrases to anyone, then the wallet security has nothing to do with any mishap, it is your own carelessness which may lead to the loss of funds from your wallet.

[blue Snow]

Yes, I am aware of this. But what if I want to show an explicit difference between a non-custodial wallet like Electrum and a non custodial wallet that also runs a node like Bitcoin core. What better name should I call the later?

if you explore further between them (bitcoin core and Electrum) you will find explicit differences like, the electrum wallet uses a 12 mnemonic seed while the bitcoin core does not. So that case, if you want to recover your fund from Electrum to Core, you shouldn't use that mnemonic seed, but you have to get the private key 1st on your Electrum wallet to be able to import to the bitcoin core wallet. It's vice versa, you have to get the private key on core to be able to import it to the Electrum wallet.

[o_e_l_e_o]

But what if I want to show an explicit difference between a non-custodial wallet like Electrum and a non custodial wallet that also runs a node like Bitcoin core. What better name should I call the later?

You can call it a full node wallet.

Unless you are some sort of techy person or a developer, you do not need to download the whole database on your system.

Although I obviously agree more people will just use Electrum, you don't need to be technical to download Core. Anyone who wants the security of being able to verify everything locally or the privacy of not having to connect to third party servers should download Core. And it is very easy to set up.

[Yamane_Keto]

Yes, I am aware of this. But what if I want to show an explicit difference between a non-custodial wallet like Electrum and a non custodial wallet that also runs a node like Bitcoin core. What better name should I call the later?

You are comparing two different types of wallets, the correct comparison is between them Full node wallet like Bitcoin core and SPV wallet like Electrum The point of comparison between them in terms of privacy, downloading the entire blockchain or the headers and so on while non-custodial wallet VS custodial wallet the difference between them in the security, are you the only one who accesses the private key or others access the private key.

I don't like the terms non-custodial wallet and custodial wallet because if someone else has access to your wallet, we can't call it a wallet, but whatever.

  So that case, if you want to recover your fund from Electrum to Core, you shouldn't use that mnemonic seed, but you have to get the private key 1st on your Electrum wallet to be able to import to the bitcoin core wallet. It's vice versa, you have to get the private key on core to be able to import it to the Electrum wallet.

Although your are correct, but it is better to generate a new wallet and send the coins to it instead of extracting the private key and including it in the Core wallet.

[blue Snow]

  So that case, if you want to recover your fund from Electrum to Core, you shouldn't use that mnemonic seed, but you have to get the private key 1st on your Electrum wallet to be able to import to the bitcoin core wallet. It's vice versa, you have to get the private key on core to be able to import it to the Electrum wallet.

Although your are correct, but it is better to generate a new wallet and send the coins to it instead of extracting the private key and including it in the Core wallet.

I am still confused why we have to create a new wallet instead can restore it with a private key?
because for me, keeping lots of note (private key) make me discomfiture how to save in a safe place.
So when only have 1 key, I'll be more focused and can freely to keep it in a place where I think is no one knows that.
Create a new wallet also complicated for me, I must used a PC which never connect to internet.

[o_e_l_e_o]

I am still confused why we have to create a new wallet instead can restore it with a private key?

It depends.

Moving private keys or seed phrases between various hot wallets is generally not recommended. Every time you handle a raw private key (as opposed to it being stored encrypted within a piece of wallet software), you risk leaking it. Every wallet has its own attack vectors and weaknesses, so for every additional wallet you import the same private key in to you increase the number of potential attack vectors and therefore the risk of it being compromised. If, on the other hand, your private keys are created and stored on a permanently airgapped device, then this matters less.

because for me, keeping lots of note (private key) make me discomfiture how to save in a safe place.

If you are creating a new wallet and sending your coins over to it, and emptying your old wallet, then there is no real disadvantage to storing your old seed phrase and new seed phrase in the same place. I wouldn't shred your old seed phrase just in case (never delete a wallet!), but if your back up location is secure then you don't need a different location for your new seed phrase.

[ranochigo]

It depends.

Moving private keys or seed phrases between various hot wallets is generally not recommended. Every time you handle a raw private key (as opposed to it being stored encrypted within a piece of wallet software), you risk leaking it. Every wallet has its own attack vectors and weaknesses, so for every additional wallet you import the same private key in to you increase the number of potential attack vectors and therefore the risk of it being compromised. If, on the other hand, your private keys are created and stored on a permanently airgapped device, then this matters less.

Doesn't complicate all that much so I would recommend creating a new wallet regardless.

Importing a single private key is usually not a great idea either. Most (if not all, I hope) wallets will send the change back to the original address which makes it difficult for the user to maintain privacy. In addition, certain wallets also use a different derivation paths or different formats (Core vs Electrum for example) which serves to add a whole lot of confusion. Most wallets would allow their user to sweep their funds into the wallet which is better than importing them outright.

Besides, data on the clipboard doesn't usually get cleared in a timely manner.

[Zoomic]

But what if I want to show an explicit difference between a non-custodial wallet like Electrum and a non custodial wallet that also runs a node like Bitcoin core. What better name should I call the later?

You can call it a full node wallet.

Thank you very much. It was a straight forward question but I was amazed how some people misunderstood it and started giving me unrelated answers.

So when only have 1 key, I'll be more focused and can freely to keep it in a place where I think is no one knows that.

Moving your funds from one wallet to another by creating a new wallet instead of importing the seed phrase means that the former wallet is no longer in use. It can mean that you still have only one wallet. The difficulty lies if you have shared the address of the former wallet so wide that a random someone can send coins into the address without consenting you.

[Yamane_Keto]

I am still confused why we have to create a new wallet instead can restore it with a private key?

Because you often copy and paste the private key, which increases the possibility of leakage.

Create a new wallet also complicated for me, I must used a PC which never connect to internet.

Export your master public key and manage your wallet only from any online device, you need to do that once.
You can generate a new address each time, and you will not need the seeds except when you want to send or sign a transaction.