c64wallet - Commodore 64 Bitcoin Wallet

[mcrypto1984]

Hi

I created c64wallet - Commodore 64 Bitcoin Wallet.

It works as offline wallet (standard c64 doesn't have access to internet) and provides basic functionality:

• Creating new bitcoin wallet
• Saving/loading wallet from tape/disk (with encryption)
• Displaying address wih QR code (only bech32 segwit addresses are supported)
• Displaying privete key with QR code (WIF format)
• Displaying public key in hex format

https://github.com/geek197/c64wallet

One screen from main menu:
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/geek197/c64wallet/refs/heads/master/screens/c64wallet.png

Because C64 has very slow CPU (compared to current CPUs) generating key pair takes around 30 minutes. But it works!
It's just fun project. Try store you paper wallets in 80-s way but don't expect too much  

[cygan]

Hi

I created c64wallet - Commodore 64 Bitcoin Wallet.
✂️

hello... i think it’s really interesting and kind of funny to name a Bitcoin wallet that way
i used to have a c128 myself, which was equipped with a floppy drive and a dataset - those were really good times back then...
and im curious to see how this Bitcoin wallet develops… i’m guessing it’ll only be available as a desktop version, right?

btw maybe you should change the text background color from yellow to Bitcoin orange

[ABCbits]

I never use Commodore 64 in my whole life. But after i skimmed your code, do you use entropy from user keyboard input because Commodore 64 (whether real or emulated) doesn't provide OS/hardware level secure RNG?

[NotATether]

Interesting.

When you say generating a keypair takes 30 minutes, are you referring to private key -> pubic key calculation, or are you referring to PBKDF derivation of private keys from seed phrases, or both?

Though I wouldn't be surprised if it was ECC itself that's slow, considering that the C64 cpu and other really old CPUs like the i386 were made in a different era before most transistor optimization techniques were known/used.

[mcrypto1984]

I never use Commodore 64 in my whole life. But after i skimmed your code, do you use entropy from user keyboard input because Commodore 64 (whether real or emulated) doesn't provide OS/hardware level secure RNG?

There is something similar to hardware random generator using SID (sound device subsystem in c64) but I'm not sure if this realy random. So I decided to use user input. Maybe I investigate this topic deeper in future.

[mcrypto1984]

Interesting.

When you say generating a keypair takes 30 minutes, are you referring to private key -> pubic key calculation, or are you referring to PBKDF derivation of private keys from seed phrases, or both?

Though I wouldn't be surprised if it was ECC itself that's slow, considering that the C64 cpu and other really old CPUs like the i386 were made in a different era before most transistor optimization techniques were known/used.

Yes, private->public keys computation (ECC) takes around 30 minutes. Standard PBKDFs, like iterations of sha256 are also painfuly slow, so I decided to use custom solution where ratio (modern cpu speed / c64 cpu speed) is lowest. Iternaly it uses RC4 which is pure 8-bit algorithm. It's not secure for encryption anymore but I think for PBKDF is still good enough.

[mcrypto1984]

Hi

I created c64wallet - Commodore 64 Bitcoin Wallet.
✂️

hello... i think it’s really interesting and kind of funny to name a Bitcoin wallet that way
i used to have a c128 myself, which was equipped with a floppy drive and a dataset - those were really good times back then...
and im curious to see how this Bitcoin wallet develops… i’m guessing it’ll only be available as a desktop version, right?

btw maybe you should change the text background color from yellow to Bitcoin orange

Currently there is only version for real c64 computer (or emulator) + command line version for testing/development purposes.

[Stalker22]

~
Currently there is only version for real c64 computer (or emulator) + command line version for testing/development purposes.

If I remember right, the C128 actually had a C64 mode built into the hardware, so it could run all the programs and games perfectly like a real C64 without any issues.

I think I still have one lying around somewhere.  It would be interesting to fire it up and see if it still works after all these years.  Not exactly sure how to transfer files from a PC to a Commodore, though.  I doubt I can find a working 5.25 inch PC floppy drive lying around.

Anyone have any other ideas?

[DaveF]

You are going to make me buy one of these: https://www.commanderx16.com/

What emulator did you test on any non standard setting? Mine just crashes and resets when running the builds you have in /releases

Cool idea, are you going to do this for any other 6502 machines?

-Dave

[mcrypto1984]

~
Currently there is only version for real c64 computer (or emulator) + command line version for testing/development purposes.

If I remember right, the C128 actually had a C64 mode built into the hardware, so it could run all the programs and games perfectly like a real C64 without any issues.

I think I still have one lying around somewhere.  It would be interesting to fire it up and see if it still works after all these years.  Not exactly sure how to transfer files from a PC to a Commodore, though.  I doubt I can find a working 5.25 inch PC floppy drive lying around.

Anyone have any other ideas?

I personaly use Tapecart SD. It emulates tape device but works as huge floppy in practice. You can copy prg file to sd card and load this in c64. Example: https://www.ebay.pl/itm/395237835083 . I don't know if this works on c128.

[mcrypto1984]

You are going to make me buy one of these: https://www.commanderx16.com/

What emulator did you test on any non standard setting? Mine just crashes and resets when running the builds you have in /releases

Cool idea, are you going to do this for any other 6502 machines?

-Dave

I use VICE on Linux (https://vice-emu.sourceforge.io/). I tested also this app on real c64 and works correctly. If you provide some details about your emulator I'll check crashes.

Probably I won't release this for other 8-bit machines because of lack of time, hardware for testing and knowledge. Hardest parts of code are portable C - maybe someone will do fork for other machines.

[DaveF]

denise for windows is what I use. No real reason, started using it a while ago and never really looked at anything else because it what I needed to do which was play some old games.
Will try VICE
Any pointers for config or just install it and it works?

-Dave

[Stalker22]

~
I personaly use Tapecart SD. It emulates tape device but works as huge floppy in practice. You can copy prg file to sd card and load this in c64. Example: https://www.ebay.pl/itm/395237835083 . I don't know if this works on c128.

Thanks. I really appreciate the recommendation! 
I love the SD card idea.  The C128 is usually pretty good with C64 peripherals in 64-mode, but I will have to double-check if it plays nice. Either way, have to look into that.

[mcrypto1984]

denise for windows is what I use. No real reason, started using it a while ago and never really looked at anything else because it what I needed to do which was play some old games.
Will try VICE
Any pointers for config or just install it and it works?

-Dave

Thanks for details, I will test my app on Denise emulator. VICE emulator should work without configuration - download, start x64sc.exe, use File->Smart Attach to select prg file and click Autostart.

[DaveF]

And this popped up in my feed today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NebvccLHutQ

Ah, the 6502 running the killing machines of the future.

This is what happens when you search for things. Fun tangentially related things pop up.

-Dave

[dkbit98]

I created c64wallet - Commodore 64 Bitcoin Wallet.

This is a fun little experiment, and maybe it makes some people turn on their old C64 to try this out, and hear the famous cassette loading noise with lines on the screen
Maybe it would be more interesting to try doing something similar with more compact devices, like Nintendo GameBoy.
I am also always looking for new ideas to use old casio digital watches as hidden bitcoin wallets, maybe some modified olleewatch.com.