How to Download and Install Bitcoin Core on Ubuntu
Bitcoin Core is the original implementation of Bitcoin, created by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008. It is a software that powers Bitcoin nodes, which are part of the Bitcoin network. It has a high level of security, confidentiality and stability, but also takes up a lot of disk space and RAM. It has an integrated Bitcoin Core wallet that can send and receive Bitcoins. It is also used to test new developments on the blockchain. The MIT Digital Currency Initiative funds some of its development. It is maintained by a series of volunteers who can be removed if they lose the trust of the community.
In this article, we will guide you through the steps required to download and install Bitcoin Core on Ubuntu, one of the most popular Linux distributions. We will also show you how to run Bitcoin Core on Ubuntu and configure its settings.
ubuntu download bitcoin core
What is Bitcoin Core and Why Use It?
Bitcoin Core is more than just a wallet. It is also a full node that validates and relays transactions on the Bitcoin network. This means that it does not rely on third-party services or intermediaries to process your transactions. Instead, it verifies them directly by downloading and storing the entire blockchain, which is the history of all Bitcoin transactions ever made.
By running Bitcoin Core, you contribute to the decentralization and security of the Bitcoin network. You also get exclusive privacy features that can make it hard for anyone to link you to your transactions. Moreover, you can access advanced functions such as coin control, watch-only addresses, and custom transaction fees.
Bitcoin Core Features
Some of the main features of Bitcoin Core are:
Full Validation: Bitcoin Core ensures every block and transaction it accepts is valid, increasing not only your security but also helping prevent miners and banks from taking control of Bitcoin.
Better Privacy: Bitcoin Core provides exclusive privacy features that can make it hard for anyone to link you to your transactions.
Better Security: Bitcoin Core uses more resources than other wallets, but its still convenient to run on most computers and Internet connections. It also supports encryption and backup of your wallet data.
A Better User Interface: Bitcoin Core wallet has features most other wallets dont have, such as fee slider, coin control, QR codes, unique invoices, proxy configuration, network monitoring, watch-only support, and notification.
Support The Network: Bitcoin Core helps support other peers by donating bandwidth and validating transactions. This helps keep the network decentralized and resilient.
Bitcoin Core Requirements
Before you download and install Bitcoin Core, you should make sure that you have enough bandwidth and storage for the blockchain size (7GB). By default, you will need to store all of that data, but if you enable pruning, you can store as little as 6GB total without sacrificing any security.
You should also check the system requirements for running Bitcoin Core on Ubuntu:
ubuntu install bitcoin core
ubuntu bitcoin core wallet
ubuntu bitcoin core node
ubuntu bitcoin core command line
ubuntu bitcoin core update
ubuntu bitcoin core sync
ubuntu bitcoin core prune
ubuntu bitcoin core rpc
ubuntu bitcoin core backup
ubuntu bitcoin core tor
ubuntu bitcoin core gui
ubuntu bitcoin core daemon
ubuntu bitcoin core testnet
ubuntu bitcoin core compile
ubuntu bitcoin core config
ubuntu download bitcoin node
ubuntu download bitcoin wallet
ubuntu download bitcoin software
ubuntu download bitcoin client
ubuntu download bitcoin blockchain
ubuntu download bitcoin source code
ubuntu download bitcoin miner
ubuntu download bitcoin electrum
ubuntu download bitcoin cash
ubuntu download bitcoin sv
ubuntu download bitcoin gold
ubuntu download bitcoin abc
ubuntu download bitcoin unlimited
ubuntu download bitcoin knots
ubuntu download bitcoin green
linux download bitcoin core
linux install bitcoin core
linux bitcoin core wallet
linux bitcoin core node
linux bitcoin core command line
linux bitcoin core update
linux bitcoin core sync
linux bitcoin core prune
linux bitcoin core rpc
linux bitcoin core backup
linux bitcoin core tor
linux bitcoin core gui
linux bitcoin core daemon
linux bitcoin core testnet
linux bitcoin core compile
linux bitcoin core config
debian download bitcoin core
debian install bitcoin core
debian bitcoin core wallet
A laptop or PC with at least 25GB of storage space.
A flash drive (12GB or above recommended).
A DVD drive or USB port.
An Internet connection.
How to Download Bitcoin Core
Download the Installation Media
The first step is to download the installation media for Bitcoin Core. You can do this by visiting the official website of Bitcoin Core or its mirror site. You will see a list of available versions for different operating systems.. For Ubuntu, you should choose the Linux (tgz) version. You can either download it directly or use a torrent file. The file size is about 400 MB. You should also download the SHA256SUMS.asc file, which contains the cryptographic signatures of the installation media. You will need this file to verify the authenticity of the downloaded file.
Verify the Release Signatures
Before you install Bitcoin Core, you should verify that the installation media has not been tampered with or corrupted. To do this, you need to compare the SHA256 hash of the downloaded file with the one provided by the developers. You also need to check the digital signature of the SHA256SUMS.asc file using a public key.
Here are the steps to verify the release signatures :
Open a terminal window and navigate to the folder where you downloaded the files.
Run the following command to obtain the SHA256 hash of the downloaded file:sha256sum bitcoin-0.21.1-x86_64-linux-gnu.tar.gzThe output should look something like this:dbb4c3e71b2a31016f914af59e6a9a6bafcf166c6caca482551d4d18821f4c66 bitcoin-0.21.1-x86_64-linux-gnu.tar.gz
Compare the output with the corresponding line in the SHA256SUMS.asc file. They should match exactly.
Run the following command to import the public key of Wladimir J. van der Laan, one of the lead developers of Bitcoin Core:gpg --keyserver hkp://keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys 01EA5486DE18A882D4C2684590C8019E36C2E964The output should look something like this:gpg: key 90C8019E36C2E964: public key "Wladimir J. van der Laan (Bitcoin Core binary release signing key) " imported gpg: Total number processed: 1 gpg: imported: 1
Run the following command to verify the digital signature of the SHA256SUMS.asc file:gpg --verify SHA256SUMS.ascThe output should look something like this:gpg: Signature made Wed 28 Apr 2021 08:00:40 PM UTC gpg: using RSA key 90C8019E36C2E964 gpg: Good signature from "Wladimir J. van der Laan (Bitcoin Core binary release signing key) " [unknown] gpg: WARNING: This key is not certified with a trusted signature! gpg: There is no indication that the signature belongs to the owner. Primary key fingerprint: 01EA 5486 DE18 A882 D4C2 6845 90C8 019E 36C2 E964
Check that the primary key fingerprint matches the one published on the Bitcoin Core website. If everything matches, you can proceed to install Bitcoin Core on Ubuntu.
How to Install Bitcoin Core on Ubuntu
Create a Bootable USB Drive
To install Bitcoin Core on Ubuntu, you need to create a bootable USB drive that contains the installation media. You can do this by using a tool such as Rufus or Etcher. Here are the steps to create a bootable USB drive using Rufus:
Download Rufus from its official website and run it.
Insert a flash drive (12GB or above recommended) into your computer and select it as the device in Rufus.
Select "Disk or ISO image" as the boot selection and click on "SELECT" to browse for the downloaded Bitcoin Core installation media.
Select "GPT" as the partition scheme and "UEFI (non CSM)" as the target system.
Select "FAT32" as the file system and "Default" as the cluster size.
Click on "START" to begin creating the bootable USB drive.
Wait for Rufus to finish copying files and verifying them.
Eject the USB drive safely and label it as "Bitcoin Core".
Boot from the USB Drive
To install Bitcoin Core on Ubuntu, you need to boot from the USB drive that contains the installation media. You can do this by changing the boot order in your BIOS or UEFI settings. Here are the steps to boot from the USB drive:
Turn off your computer and insert the USB drive labeled "Bitcoin Core".
Turn on your computer and press the key that opens the boot menu. This key varies depending on your computer model, but it is usually one of the function keys (F1-F12), Esc, or Del.
Select the USB drive as the boot device and press Enter.
Wait for the Bitcoin Core installation media to load.
Follow the Installation Setup
Once you boot from the USB drive, you will see a welcome screen that asks you to choose your language and keyboard layout. After that, you will see a menu with several options. You can choose to try Bitcoin Core without installing it, install it alongside your existing operating system, or erase your disk and install it. We recommend choosing the second option, as it will allow you to dual-boot Ubuntu and Bitcoin Core.
Here are the steps to follow the installation setup:
Select "Install Bitcoin Core alongside Ubuntu" and click on "Continue".
Select the disk where you want to install Bitcoin Core and click on "Install Now".
Confirm the changes to your disk and click on "Continue".
Select your time zone and click on "Continue".
Select your name, username, password, and whether you want to log in automatically or require a password. Click on "Continue".
Wait for the installation to complete. This may take some time depending on your hardware and Internet speed.
When prompted, remove the USB drive and click on "Restart Now".
Select Bitcoin Core from the boot menu and press Enter.
How to Run Bitcoin Core on Ubuntu
Launch Bitcoin Core from the Menu
After you install Bitcoin Core on Ubuntu, you can launch it from the menu. You will see a Bitcoin icon in the applications list. Click on it to open Bitcoin Core. Alternatively, you can run it from the terminal by typing bitcoin-qt.
Configure Bitcoin Core Settings
The first time you run Bitcoin Core, you will see a welcome screen that asks you to choose a data directory. This is where Bitcoin Core will store its data, including the blockchain. You can use the default location or choose a custom one. Click on "OK" to continue.
Next, you will see a warning screen that informs you about some of the risks and responsibilities of running Bitcoin Core. Read it carefully and click on "OK" to continue.
Finally, you will see the main window of Bitcoin Core, which shows your balance, transactions, network activity, and other information. You can use the menu bar and toolbar to access different functions and settings of Bitcoin Core.
Some of the settings you may want to configure are:
Network: You can choose whether to connect to Bitcoin nodes through Tor or a proxy server. You can also limit your bandwidth usage and adjust your port settings.
Wallet: You can encrypt your wallet with a passphrase, back up your wallet data, create new addresses, label your transactions, and manage your coins.
Display: You can change the unit of account, language, font size, and theme of Bitcoin Core.
Window: You can resize, minimize, maximize, or close Bitcoin Core.
Help: You can access the user manual, debug log, console, network monitor, peers list, and other useful tools.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you how to download and install Bitcoin Core on Ubuntu. We have also explained what Bitcoin Core is and why you may want to use it. We have also shown you how to run Bitcoin Core on Ubuntu and configure its settings.
We hope that this article has been helpful and informative for you. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading!
FAQs
What is Ubuntu?
Ubuntu is a free and open-source operating system based on Linux. It is one of the most popular Linux distributions in the world. It is known for its user-friendly interface, security features, software availability, and community support[^6 ^6^].
What is the difference between Bitcoin and Bitcoin Core?
Bitcoin is the name of the cryptocurrency and the peer-to-peer network that enables it. Bitcoin Core is the name of the software that implements Bitcoin. It is also the name of the project that develops and maintains the software.
How long does it take to sync Bitcoin Core?
The time it takes to sync Bitcoin Core depends on several factors, such as your hardware, Internet speed, and network congestion. It can take anywhere from a few hours to several days. You can check the progress of the synchronization in the lower right corner of the Bitcoin Core window. You can also use the command getblockchaininfo in the console to see more details.
How much disk space does Bitcoin Core use?
Bitcoin Core uses a lot of disk space because it downloads and stores the entire blockchain, which is the history of all Bitcoin transactions ever made. As of June 2021, the blockchain size is about 350 GB. However, you can reduce the disk space usage by enabling pruning, which deletes old blocks that are no longer needed. You can set the prune option in the bitcoin.conf file or in the settings menu. The minimum prune value is 550 MB.
How can I update Bitcoin Core?
To update Bitcoin Core, you need to download and install the latest version from the official website or its mirror site. You should also verify the release signatures as explained above. You do not need to uninstall the previous version, as the new one will overwrite it. However, you should always back up your wallet data before updating, just in case something goes wrong. 44f88ac181
Comments