Intro:Welcome to the world of bitcoin.
I have been a Newbie like you, looking for scrap, asking questions, working faucets. Faucets are a waste of time. Yes, it was a bit easier in the past. I could join a signature campaign with only 19 posts. Spammers have ruined this pretty much for Newbies though and if they continue I am afraid they will ruin it for all of us. This is not the topic though, sorry for the distraction. You dont believe me that I joined a campaign as Newbie? Well I can proof it to you and I can show you how. By signing a message.
The post quoted below was written by me. It was not edited and it contains a bitcoin address. If you click on its link you will see that it has no dotted line below the time and date. See
here for an edited post. I changed it today.
Here is a picture.
19 posts... im in
18uTXyQubfaYrkbQDdaXhzd2ALEY5YN77B
And I can sign a message with this address to prove that I still have access to the private key that belongs to this address.
-----BEGIN BITCOIN SIGNED MESSAGE-----
This is shorena from bitcointalk.org and today is 2015.03.14
or as some of you might write it 03/14/15 pi day 2015
-----BEGIN SIGNATURE-----
18uTXyQubfaYrkbQDdaXhzd2ALEY5YN77B
IFtLgDZCpvfw0DT70RCLcYXj3Dbjf68sc6pj/C+u5K6IC8PIhHE4Y/ldllt1/yhrZpVW/shFRf7rxQYdsW/CcBM=
-----END BITCOIN SIGNED MESSAGE-----
You are probably not impressed. So what, a signed message, you might think, but its very important here if you want to trade with someone. There are currently at least 3 accounts in the meta section that are contested. The main problem with all of them is: someone was unable to sign a message, someone did not request a signed message for a trade or someone has no idea how to sign a message. I will try my very best to show you how to sign a message and how to verify a signed message. For this I will use pictures as I know not everyone here speaks english. I will also update this thread over time.
If you want to get your address witnessed somewhere for the future, use this thread by Tomatocage ->
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=996318.0Someone will quote your post there to make sure a hacker that has control over your account can not change it. Make sure you only post addresses you can sign a message with. You can use this thread to test signing message, I will verify them all and Im sure other users will chime in when I am not online as well.
Index:- Intro
- Format
- Dos and Don'ts
- Creating a signature (ordered by date [oldest 1st])
- Verifying a signature (in alphabetical order)
- Translations
- License (CC BY-SA 3.0)
- Services/wallets that can (currently) not be used to sign a message
- ANX Vault v. 1.6 for iOS 7.1.2
- Bitcoin Vault for iOS 7.1.2
- Bither Hot v 1.3.9 for iOS 7.1.2
- bitWallet for iOS 7.1.2
- BitX Wallet 1.2.6 for iOS 7.1.2
- Breadwallet by Aaron Voisine for iOS 7.1.2
- Coinbase for iOS 7.1.2
- Coinbase for Android
- Coins v0.1 for iOS 7.1.2
- Coins.ph v1.31 B 84 for iOS 7.1.2
- Copay v. 1.1.3 for Windows (tested with 8.1 Pro 64 bit)
- Copay v. 1.1.3 for Linux (tested with Ubuntu 14.04. LTS Desktop 64 Bit)
- Copay v. 1.1.3 Chrome Plugin
- GreenAddress/GreenBits
- GreenAddress for iOS 7.1.2
- Hotwallet v0.5.2 for iOS 7.1.2
- mSIGNA
- Wallet by Blocktrail v 1.0.9 for iOS 7.1.2
- Xapo.com
- Yallet for iOS 7.1.2
- Services/wallets that I did not bother to or could not test.
- BitGo v1.5 - Chrome plugin, forces E-Mail verification.
- Hive Wallet for iOS 7.1.2. - did not sync, thus I could not start the wallet in a way that would allow testing it.
- Ninki v1.5 - Chrome plugin, forces security mechanisms in a way that makes testing for me impossible.
Format:Note: Always
include the date and reason when creating a message. If you sign a generic message it could be reused by someone else.
When you sign a message you want to present it to someone else and they want to verify the message. In order to make this extra easy its important to use a certain format. You can modify it as needed, but there are certain things to keep in mind.
Every symbol is important. The symbols
> and
< in my examples have to be removed. When you sign a message and somewhere have two spaces between two words, both are important for the signature. Thats the whole point of a signature. It detects whether someone changed the message or not. The board here has a "code" environment thats perfect for this. It will make sure no linebreaks are added and the other person can easily copy it. I used the same format above.
If you write a post/PM it should look like on the picture below:
![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FUZDCSad.png&t=665&c=KjUyfO4vIVu5zw)
and for everyone else reading, it looks like this:
-----BEGIN BITCOIN SIGNED MESSAGE-----
<insert message here>
-----BEGIN SIGNATURE-----
<insert address here>
<insert signature here>
-----END BITCOIN SIGNED MESSAGE-----
I added an example how to post the signed message for the blockchain.info part
here.
Dos and Don'ts:return to index- DO include the current date. This ensures the signature can not be reused on a different day.
- DO include the reason and be specific. This ensures the signature can not be resued for a different reason.
- DO include your nickname and where you use it. This ensures the signature can not be reused, e.g. by Shorena on AcmeCorpTalk.
- DO NOT use a compromised machine (virus, keylogger, etc.) to create a signature. Signing unlocks your wallets protection the same way spending bitcoin does.
- DO NOT upload your private key somewhere in order to create a signature.
- DO NOT give your private key to someone else in order to create a signature for you.
You think something is missing here? Leave a reply below.
Creating a Signature:return to indexBitcoin Core version v0.10.0return to indexlink to picture ->
https://i.imgur.com/qx3C9zl.png![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fqx3C9zl.png&t=665&c=dyY7jjSBeVA8WQ)
Electrum v 1.9.8return to indexNote: Electrum 2.3.1 is exactly the same in this regard.
link to picture ->
https://i.imgur.com/qXbURuy.png![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FqXbURuy.png&t=665&c=0_x0POI2jbtWfQ)
MultiBit v 0.5.18return to indexlink to picture ->
https://i.imgur.com/ftumD67.png![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FftumD67.png&t=665&c=W3MuK_XgXOu5Qg)
MultiBit HD v 0.1return to indexlink to picture ->
https://i.imgur.com/MtDpQjq.png![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FMtDpQjq.png&t=665&c=Jcv2gewiYFuilA)
Blockchain.info 2015.03.17return to indexNote: Blockchain.info is an online wallet, thus their interface could change. Since there is no version number to indicate a change I added the date. I used the stock Tor browser for this (see the URL), but its identical to the regular version. The black bar masks the wallet identifier. Its a throwaway wallet, but I tend to remove stuff like this.
link to picture ->
https://i.imgur.com/cNr6wOp.png![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FcNr6wOp.png&t=665&c=0tQ1RuFb3TKwNw)
Mycelium 2.3.0 - 2.5.2 on Android Lollipopreturn to indexNote: In order to get a preformatted message select "Share Text + Signature" at the last step, open with e.g. your Mail programm and copy the complete message from there.
link to picture ->
https://i.imgur.com/lNgSoEq.png![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FlNgSoEq.png&t=665&c=aOqTRvlLdWxUpw)
Coinbasereturn to indexSee their how to for now:
https://support.coinbase.com/customer/portal/articles/1526413-how-do-i-sign-a-message-with-a-bitcoin-address-
Bither v.1.3.7.1return to indexlink to picture ->
https://i.imgur.com/7Ceew9W.png![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F7Ceew9W.png&t=665&c=sRxN4w9Os8WYUA)
Verifying a Signature:return to indexBlocktrailreturn to indexlink:
https://www.blocktrail.com/BTC?verifysignedmessage=1Note: This service requires JavaScript and might not work with all browsers.
Correct Signaturelink to picture ->
https://i.imgur.com/CSI1CeX.png
Incorrect Addresslink to picture ->
https://i.imgur.com/4aWAAau.png
Incorrect Signature & Modified Message link to picture ->
https://i.imgur.com/eA5Zl5e.png
Incorrect & Modified Signaturelink to picture ->
https://i.imgur.com/fPS8V0w.png![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FfPS8V0w.png&t=665&c=mh_ZBqSI2xYp_A)
Chain Query Alphareturn to indexlink:
http://chainquery.com/bitcoin-api/verifymessageCorrect Signaturelink to picture ->
https://i.imgur.com/Wxtg5gD.png
Incorrect Signature & Modifed Addresslink to picture ->
https://i.imgur.com/AnDpyYW.png
Incorrect Signature & Modified Message link to picture ->
https://i.imgur.com/kOLx0K8.png
Incorrect & Modified Signaturelink to picture ->
https://i.imgur.com/Nvs7wtY.png![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FNvs7wtY.png&t=665&c=Eqkp_o3uu8Q22g)
coinig.comreturn to indexWill be added ASAP Seem to be bugged when verifying messages with at least one linebreak. Will add them once its fixed.
Brainwallet.github.ioreturn to indexNote: 2015.08.08: Brainwallet is no longer operational, old pictures still linked below.
Note: 2015.04.03: I noticed the site was improved since I made the picture below. The updated version now allows to input the address, the message and the signature seperately as bitcoin-qt/core would. Since the old way is still working, I did not update the picture.link:
https://brainwallet.github.io/#verifyCorrect Signaturelink to picture ->
https://i.imgur.com/75MFIiH.pngIncorrect Signature & Missing Addresslink to picture ->
https://i.imgur.com/GD2tzVJ.pngIncorrect Signaturelink to picture ->
https://i.imgur.com/okc8Q2K.png
License (CC BY-SA 3.0):return to indexYou are free to:
- Share - copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
- Adapt - remix, transform, and build upon the material
for any purpose, even commercially. I cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.
Under the following terms:
- Attribution - You must give appropriate credit (mentioning my name [shorena] is enough), provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made.
- ShareAlike - If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license (see link).
link ->
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/Signed version:
-----BEGIN BITCOIN SIGNED MESSAGE-----
This is shorena from bitcointalk.org and today is the 24th of April 2015.
I publish my guide to sign message with bitcoin addresses and all related pictures under CC BY-SA 3.0
link to guide : https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=990345.0
link to license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
-----BEGIN SIGNATURE-----
18uTXyQubfaYrkbQDdaXhzd2ALEY5YN77B
IDYQyGOx2rG9aJ3bZH/SJSRFZJMZiMrIxiNNY1Hv9geHLlYeGdYbH+AxNbT+qXGmEzojFt//loC+sj8yGo6AV9A=
-----END BITCOIN SIGNED MESSAGE-----
todo:
Bither v 1.3.7.1 - verify
Bitcoin Core version v0.11.0 - verify
Electrum 2.4 - verify
Blockchain.info - verify
Multibit - verify
Multibit HD - verify
list more wallets/services that currently not support signing, add reference where possible
coinbase (own w/o text)
armory
(when fixed) coinig.com - verify
changelog:
2015.10.01 - problem with blocktrail was fixed, removed the warning and reinstated the pictures
2015.10.01 - added warning because blocktrail has problems verifying certain messages
2015.09.17 - added notes how each section is sorted
2015.09.17 - changed all imgur links/sources to https
2015.09.17 - added Bither v 1.3.7.1 (screenshots Ubuntu, Windows identical)
2015.09.17 - added several Copay (several version) to cant sign
2015.09.17 - added didnt bother to test section
2015.09.16 - added blocktrail.com - verify
2015.09.11 - sorted cant sign by name
2015.09.11 - added several more iOS 7.1.2 wallet to cant sign: Coins, ANX Vault, GreenAddress, BitX, Bitcoin Vault, Coins.ph
2015.09.11 - added Coinbase for Android thanks to prodigy8
2015.09.11 - updated todo list (blocktrail verify)
2015.09.10 - added several iOS 7.1.2 wallets to cant sign: bitWallet, breadwallet, Coinbase, Yallet, Wallet by Blocktrail, Bither Hot and Hotwallet
2015.08.12 - updated todo
2015.08.12 - added chain query alpha - verify - pictures
2015.08.11 - added link to chain query alpha - verify
2015.08.10 - added greenbits/-address to cant sign
2015.08.09 - temp removed coinig.com as it seems to be broken when verifying messages with linebreaks
2015.08.08 - temp added coinig.com to replace brainwallet - no pictures
2015.08.08 - brainwallet - verify no longer operational
2015.08.07 - added mSIGN and xapo to cant sign
2015.08.07 - added "cant sign" section
2015.07.27 - added first translation to romanian - thanks to Saruman
2015.07.27 - added list of translations
2015.07.20 - improved formatting - thanks to Muhammed Zakir
2015.07.09 - added link to coinbase how to - thanks to camelson
2015.06.22 - added multibit hd 0.1 - sig
2015.06.15 - did not add electrum 2.3.1 because its idential to 1.9.8, added text accordingly
2015.04.25 - added don't "compromised sys" - thanks to Muhammed Zakir
2015.04.24 - slightly changed license text (cosmetical changes)
2015.04.24 - added dos and don'ts - thanks to GreenStox
2015.04.19 - added link address stake thread - thanks to Muhammed Zakir
2015.04.12 - added license CC BY-SA 3.0
2015.04.03 - format, added note: use a date
2015.04.03 - brainwallet verify, added note: new "Bitcoin-QT"-Button
2015.04.03 - added Mycelium 2.3.0 on Android Lollipop
2015.03.17 - updated todo
2015.03.17 - added bc.i - sig
2015.03.15 - MultiBit 0.5.18 - sig
2015.03.15 - Electrum 1.9.8 - sig
2015.03.14 - Brainwallet online verify (Tor) - verify
2015.03.14 - Bitcoin Core version v0.10.0 - sig
2015.03.14 - Index
2015.03.14 - added Intro
This is helpful article, i would like to thank the OP to help many members with this interesting informations about how to sign a message.
This is often asked, and really needed to complete various trades here, so this thread can help a lot.