<p>Here's the simplest way to visualise it:</p>

<ul>
<li>the Blockchain is an accounting ledger showing daily spendings</li>
<li>a wallet is like a keychain, holding the keys to unlock your BTC from the safe</li>
<li>the key can be copied ie if you share your private key or the key is stolen then it can be used to open the lock (perhaps a 3D printer analogy where anyone can make use of your key would help)</li>
<li>if you have the keys for an address holding Bitcoin AND the Blockchain shows BTC at that address, then you can spend the ฿ as long as someone else hasn't used the same key to unlock it before you</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-06T01:21:19.910Z
2014-10-06T01:21:19.910Z
Wizard Of Ozzie
<p>As stated in comments, the blockchain is a public record of <em>all</em> bitcoin transactions. If a wallet is like a bank account, the blockchain is the currency system. </p>

<p>For a new or casual user, it might be easiest to use a remote web-based wallet, rather then one on your own device. In that case, you don't really need to worry about interacting with the blockchain. For more information on remote wallets you can use, go here <a href="https://bitcoin.org/en/choose-your-wallet" rel="nofollow">https://bitcoin.org/en/choose-your-wallet</a> Click the "web" icon and you will see seven options to consider.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-05T09:40:15.153Z
Thanks, So if I use a non web base one I need to have the blockchain?
tommyip
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-05T10:32:26.167Z
@Red2awn, sort of, but I think a user-friendly offline wallet should pretty much take care of that for you. If you really want to get an offline wallet working, edit your original question to be more specific. What software are you trying to use, and exactly what problem are you running into with it?
Brian Z
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-05T10:33:34.263Z
Multibit and Electrum seem like two options to try, see: http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/8953/wallet-software-that-doesnt-require-downloading-the-entire-blockchain?rq=1
Brian Z
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-05T06:17:43.680Z
2014-10-05T06:17:43.680Z
Brian Z
<p>As the title said, what is the difference between the bitcoin wallet and the bitcoin core, do i have to install both of them to work? Can I just have a bitcoin wallet?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-04T17:41:42.103Z
The blockchain is the history of ALL transactions, and a wallet just keeps/unlocks your own personal bitcoins. So they are two totally different things, and you can have a wallet (for example with Multibit) without downloading the whole blockchain
Mathias711
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-04T17:43:07.840Z
What is the point of downloading the blockchain then?
tommyip
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-04T17:44:41.127Z
You'll be a peer in the network I believe. In that way, the network becomes more reliable. But it has no real extra personal value.
Mathias711
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-04T17:50:33.710Z
The blockchain does have personal value. It allows you to independently verify the validity of the history.
Luca Matteis
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-06T01:24:40.047Z
@Red2awn for newbies there is no good reason to use Bitcoin Core since even with a bootstrap torrent download you're looking at 1-2 days before your txns sync up. This is a problem but not particular on topic
Wizard Of Ozzie
<blockchain>
Difference between a bitcoin wallet and the blockchain
tommyip
# Difference between a bitcoin wallet and the blockchain

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-10-04)

As the title said, what is the difference between the bitcoin wallet and the bitcoin core, do i have to install both of them to work? Can I just have a bitcoin wallet?

**Tags:** blockchain

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: The blockchain is the history of ALL transactions, and a wallet just keeps/unlocks your own personal bitcoins. So they are two totally different things, and you can have a wallet (for example with Multibit) without downloading the whole blockchain  
> **username_0**: What is the point of downloading the blockchain then?  
> **username_1**: You'll be a peer in the network I believe. In that way, the network becomes more reliable. But it has no real extra personal value.  
> **username_2**: The blockchain does have personal value. It allows you to independently verify the validity of the history.  
> **username_3**: @Red2awn for newbies there is no good reason to use Bitcoin Core since even with a bootstrap torrent download you're looking at 1-2 days before your txns sync up. This is a problem but not particular on topic  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2014-10-06. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

Here's the simplest way to visualise it:

* the Blockchain is an accounting ledger showing daily spendings
* a wallet is like a keychain, holding the keys to unlock your BTC from the safe
* the key can be copied ie if you share your private key or the key is stolen then it can be used to open the lock (perhaps a 3D printer analogy where anyone can make use of your key would help)
* if you have the keys for an address holding Bitcoin AND the Blockchain shows BTC at that address, then you can spend the ฿ as long as someone else hasn't used the same key to unlock it before you


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2014-10-05. Score: 1

As stated in comments, the blockchain is a public record of *all* bitcoin transactions. If a wallet is like a bank account, the blockchain is the currency system.

For a new or casual user, it might be easiest to use a remote web-based wallet, rather then one on your own device. In that case, you don't really need to worry about interacting with the blockchain. For more information on remote wallets you can use, go here <https://bitcoin.org/en/choose-your-wallet> Click the "web" icon and you will see seven options to consider.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks, So if I use a non web base one I need to have the blockchain?  
> **username_4**: @Red2awn, sort of, but I think a user-friendly offline wallet should pretty much take care of that for you. If you really want to get an offline wallet working, edit your original question to be more specific. What software are you trying to use, and exactly what problem are you running into with it?  
> **username_4**: Multibit and Electrum seem like two options to try, see: http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/8953/wallet-software-that-doesnt-require-downloading-the-entire-blockchain?rq=1  

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