<p>You don't need a wallet if you are mining at a pool. The coins are kept at your account in their website and you can use them from there. If you want to transfer them to your computer, then yes, you need to download the bitcoin client which automatically creates a wallet for you.</p>

<p>If you are solo mining (which is not recommended unless you have lots of GPUs) you need to have the bitcoin client running, therefore you will also have a wallet.</p>

<p>You can mine, use and trade bitcoins without ever installing the bitcoin client because there are lots of websites/exchanges where you can keep your coins. If you don't want to trust your money to a third party, then make sure that the computer where you store your wallet is clean from virus/spyware.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-10-09T19:53:04.223Z
2011-10-09T19:53:04.223Z
nmat
<p>A wallet is something you'll usually keep on your computer, it is not an external website.</p>

<p>A miner will generate a fresh wallet on startup (which you should backup immediately and perhaps regularilly). The location of the file on disk varies between OSes. Then, when the miner is run, this wallet will start filling up with coins (over time. If you mine Bitcoin, your throughput will be low right now).</p>

<p>If you're new to mining, make sure to read about <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Pooled_mining" rel="nofollow">Mining Pools</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-10-09T17:51:13.330Z
2011-10-09T17:51:13.330Z
ripper234
<p>The wallet doesn't have to be on the same computer. For example, you can mine in a pool and the address to receive bitcoins could be from any wallet located anywhere.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-10-09T20:08:29.437Z
In many cases this is the best solution.
DeathAndTaxes
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-10-09T18:25:36.097Z
2011-10-09T18:25:36.097Z
Serith
<p>Oh, sorry. The question is really simple:</p>

<p>Do I need a wallet to start mining and "keep" this bitcoins?</p>

<p>or</p>

<p>Can I just stay with my bitcoins in my computer?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-10-09T19:54:54.393Z
`wallet.dat` is the name of the file that stores the coins in your computer. So if you have the bitcoin client, you already have a wallet.
nmat
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-10-11T06:13:57.520Z
A wallet is how you hold Bitcoins on your computer. The 'wallet' holds the keys you need to spend the Bitcoins.
David Schwartz
<mining-reward><mining-setup>
Do I need a wallet to start mining?
H_7
# Do I need a wallet to start mining?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2011-10-09)

Oh, sorry. The question is really simple:

Do I need a wallet to start mining and "keep" this bitcoins?

or

Can I just stay with my bitcoins in my computer?

**Tags:** mining-reward, mining-setup

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: `wallet.dat` is the name of the file that stores the coins in your computer. So if you have the bitcoin client, you already have a wallet.  
> **username_2**: A wallet is how you hold Bitcoins on your computer. The 'wallet' holds the keys you need to spend the Bitcoins.  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2011-10-09. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

The wallet doesn't have to be on the same computer. For example, you can mine in a pool and the address to receive bitcoins could be from any wallet located anywhere.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: In many cases this is the best solution.  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2011-10-09. Score: 4

You don't need a wallet if you are mining at a pool. The coins are kept at your account in their website and you can use them from there. If you want to transfer them to your computer, then yes, you need to download the bitcoin client which automatically creates a wallet for you.

If you are solo mining (which is not recommended unless you have lots of GPUs) you need to have the bitcoin client running, therefore you will also have a wallet.

You can mine, use and trade bitcoins without ever installing the bitcoin client because there are lots of websites/exchanges where you can keep your coins. If you don't want to trust your money to a third party, then make sure that the computer where you store your wallet is clean from virus/spyware.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2011-10-09. Score: 1

A wallet is something you'll usually keep on your computer, it is not an external website.

A miner will generate a fresh wallet on startup (which you should backup immediately and perhaps regularilly). The location of the file on disk varies between OSes. Then, when the miner is run, this wallet will start filling up with coins (over time. If you mine Bitcoin, your throughput will be low right now).

If you're new to mining, make sure to read about [Mining Pools](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Pooled_mining).


---

