<p>First off: DO NOT send those exact passwords to anyone offering help. Having those passwords may allow them to access and steal your coins. </p>

<p>If you open your wallet and see a zero balance, that is probably not a good sign if you haven't moved the coins yourself. Look at the history of transactions, and see if there are any that moved the coins to a new address. You need to figure out if the bitcoin has been moved to an address that you no longer control. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-19T21:10:45.440Z
first para - good alert.
Regmi
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-19T22:04:57.810Z
I've checked the history of transactions and no other addresses are showing up. I will not send any password info to anyone I'm just not sure how to go about searching into my hardrive or anywhere else as to where the actual data is that will make my coin appear in the wallet.
Chris
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-19T22:19:16.187Z
What addresses do show up when you check transaction history? Check them on blockchain.info to confirm the balances.

Wallets do not work by 'hiding some addresses until you enter the right password'. So if your software is properly synced and displaying a balance of 0, chances are your balance is 0. What software are you using?

What is the format of the passwords? DO NOT send the actual passwords, just give a general description of them (eg: a mix of numbers, letters & symbols, or just numbers and letters, or just numbers and dashes, etc). Perhaps one of them is a seed, not a password
chytrik
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-19T22:36:04.713Z
That's interesting regarding the wallet being properly synced. It's showing up as out of sync and as I've not opened it since 2013 its showing "synchronizing with network ", and saying ive just over 168,000 blocks remaining. Software is "Bitcoin version v0.8.1-beta. Only 1 address shows up and I've checked it with blockchain but it shows no coins.
Chris
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-19T23:11:01.957Z
You see this is my whole problem. What your saying makes very little sense to me. My last straw was to appeal to someone very honest and knowledgeable out there to help me in doing the necessary to retrieve, if possible, this coin without the act of myself deciphering terms such as "full node wallet and private keys ". I have no clue where to go with that. You are obviously aware of these technical terms and how to apply them in attempting to retrieve what could possibly be or not be there and that's why I'm very willing to handsomely reward the person who can guide me in very layman terms.
Chris
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-20T05:16:59.160Z
@Chris, this stack exchange site is where you "go for that" :)  Bitcoin is NOT something that should be taken on by those who are unwilling to learn about it.  I don't mean to sound harsh, this is exactly how people have lost huge sums of money.  If you are serious about retrieving your investment, I don't see any excuse for not *learning* about that investment.  This site is a wonderful resource for learning, but you have to be willing to ask the questions...not just ask for someone to do it for you.
Jestin
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-19T21:09:24.143Z
2017-11-19T21:09:24.143Z
chytrik
<p>The information provided is quite vague so I will provide my assumption as to how to resolve it. It sounds as if you have a paper wallet. Paper wallets have a public/private key pair. In your post you mentioned a third piece of information which might be the seed of the wallet.</p>

<p>First step, search the public key on a blockchain explorer (blockchain.info or tradeblock.com are good choices). There you will see all transactions associated to the wallet.</p>

<p>If the balance is 0.5 then it is just a matter of importing the key pair into a wallet (this can be done through the mycelium wallet). You can also YouTube how to sweep a paper wallet for more information about importing the key pair.</p>

<p>If this answer doesn't help then you need to add more information about the paper that you have: how long are the "passwords", are they a combination off all characters, are they words or public/private keys.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-20T07:03:20.113Z
2017-11-20T07:03:20.113Z
YinGroen
<p>Mainly due to utter curiosity I purchased 0.5 bitcoin in 2013 and I have a piece of paper with 3 different passwords on. however, I've recently opened the wallet I had the coin in, but nothing shows up! Neither does it ask me for a password?  I've searched around for knowledgeable individuals who can guide me - in very layman terms - as to what process I need to go through in attempting to retrieve this 1/2 coin. As I'm very much in need of getting rid of the 1/2 coin I shall be more than happy to financially reward any person who can successfully retrieve it. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-20T04:34:18.500Z
Welcome to Bitcoin SE.  Just so you are aware, this is not a site that acts as a job board, where you can offer money in exchange for services.  In fact, that is likely to get your question closed.  I recommend you re-word this question to remove your offer of a "cash reward" in exchange for help.  People here are likely to point you in the right direction anyways.
Jestin
<wallet-recovery>
Cash reward for help retrieving my 0.5 bitcoin
Chris
# Cash reward for help retrieving my 0.5 bitcoin

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-11-19)

Mainly due to utter curiosity I purchased 0.5 bitcoin in 2013 and I have a piece of paper with 3 different passwords on. however, I've recently opened the wallet I had the coin in, but nothing shows up! Neither does it ask me for a password? I've searched around for knowledgeable individuals who can guide me - in very layman terms - as to what process I need to go through in attempting to retrieve this 1/2 coin. As I'm very much in need of getting rid of the 1/2 coin I shall be more than happy to financially reward any person who can successfully retrieve it.

**Tags:** wallet-recovery

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Welcome to Bitcoin SE.  Just so you are aware, this is not a site that acts as a job board, where you can offer money in exchange for services.  In fact, that is likely to get your question closed.  I recommend you re-word this question to remove your offer of a "cash reward" in exchange for help.  People here are likely to point you in the right direction anyways.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-11-19. Score: 1

First off: DO NOT send those exact passwords to anyone offering help. Having those passwords may allow them to access and steal your coins.

If you open your wallet and see a zero balance, that is probably not a good sign if you haven't moved the coins yourself. Look at the history of transactions, and see if there are any that moved the coins to a new address. You need to figure out if the bitcoin has been moved to an address that you no longer control.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: first para - good alert.  
> **username_0**: I've checked the history of transactions and no other addresses are showing up. I will not send any password info to anyone I'm just not sure how to go about searching into my hardrive or anywhere else as to where the actual data is that will make my coin appear in the wallet.  
> **username_2**: What addresses do show up when you check transaction history? Check them on blockchain.info to confirm the balances.  Wallets do not work by 'hiding some addresses until you enter the right password'. So if your software is properly synced and displaying a balance of 0, chances are your balance is 0. What software are you using?  What is the format of the passwords? DO NOT send the actual passwords, just give a general description of them (eg: a mix of numbers, letters & symbols, or just numbers and letters, or just numbers and dashes, etc). Perhaps one of them is a seed, not a password  
> **username_0**: That's interesting regarding the wallet being properly synced. It's showing up as out of sync and as I've not opened it since 2013 its showing "synchronizing with network ", and saying ive just over 168,000 blocks remaining. Software is "Bitcoin version v0.8.1-beta. Only 1 address shows up and I've checked it with blockchain but it shows no coins.  
> **username_0**: You see this is my whole problem. What your saying makes very little sense to me. My last straw was to appeal to someone very honest and knowledgeable out there to help me in doing the necessary to retrieve, if possible, this coin without the act of myself deciphering terms such as "full node wallet and private keys ". I have no clue where to go with that. You are obviously aware of these technical terms and how to apply them in attempting to retrieve what could possibly be or not be there and that's why I'm very willing to handsomely reward the person who can guide me in very layman terms.  
> **username_1**: @username_0, this stack exchange site is where you "go for that" :)  Bitcoin is NOT something that should be taken on by those who are unwilling to learn about it.  I don't mean to sound harsh, this is exactly how people have lost huge sums of money.  If you are serious about retrieving your investment, I don't see any excuse for not *learning* about that investment.  This site is a wonderful resource for learning, but you have to be willing to ask the questions...not just ask for someone to do it for you.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2017-11-20. Score: 1

The information provided is quite vague so I will provide my assumption as to how to resolve it. It sounds as if you have a paper wallet. Paper wallets have a public/private key pair. In your post you mentioned a third piece of information which might be the seed of the wallet.

First step, search the public key on a blockchain explorer (blockchain.info or tradeblock.com are good choices). There you will see all transactions associated to the wallet.

If the balance is 0.5 then it is just a matter of importing the key pair into a wallet (this can be done through the mycelium wallet). You can also YouTube how to sweep a paper wallet for more information about importing the key pair.

If this answer doesn't help then you need to add more information about the paper that you have: how long are the "passwords", are they a combination off all characters, are they words or public/private keys.


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