<p>As long as you have the wallet dump, you will be able to access your bitcoin.</p>

<p>However, your approach doesn't line up - if you are already at the point of not trusting hardware wallets, trusting a random dedicated server is not a reasonable approach. In fact, a dedicated server may be a worse choice simply because you have no control over the storage drives - it is trivial to recover deleted files from most drives, especially when such a small amount of data is being written.</p>

<p>Additionally, you also are exposed to any compromise on your local machine. The moment you copy over the wallet dump, or even <code>cat</code> it, anyone who has reasonable access to your local machine via a remote access tool or other malware will be able to see the keys.</p>

<p>The entire point of devices like the ledger is to ensure that the private keys are never, ever placed on any computer at all. They exist solely on that device, and on the paper backup of the mnemonic words.</p>

<p>If you want to go a step further, you can use something like the <a href="https://coldcardwallet.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Cold Card</a> (this is not an endorsement, I have no relation to them, and cannot vouch for them). These aren't even connected to a computer at all, and work with PSBTs via SD cards.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-01T17:34:43.680Z
The problem i have with ledger is what happens if the device is broken? Also, I need to install a ledger software (chrome plugin). Can we trust this software ? What happens lf ledger company does not exists in 10 years ?
Bob5421
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-02T04:47:36.390Z
Ledger, and all legitimate hardware wallets, follow BIP39/BIP44 - if your device breaks, you can restore the wallet onto any compatible wallet (ledger, trezor, software wallets, whatever) as long as you kept the seed words carefully. If ledger ceases to exist, the device protocols are open source, and you would likely see a community effort to maintain existing wallets or provide migration tools (in addition to the fact that you can migrate away at any time using the seed words)
Raghav Sood
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-02T08:09:53.250Z
There is something i do not understand about seed. This seed « contrains » the private key ? So if somebody stole the seed he can reveal my private key ? Is there a way to generate a private key and addresses on my computer Without installing a node ? Thanks
Bob5421
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-02T09:11:28.587Z
All wallets today use HD Wallets, which derive all keys from a root key. Your seed words are an easy-to-note-down piece of information that leads directly to the root key. If someone has the seed words, they have full access to your wallet. You can use bitcoind to create a wallet without downloading the blockchain, but you will not be able to see your balance until it syncs unless you use an explorer.
Raghav Sood
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-02T09:28:48.213Z
Is it possible to generate an address (in order to receive btc) with bitcoind without downloading the blockchain ? And what information should i give to explorer in order to see my balance ? Public key ?
Bob5421
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-02T09:32:13.457Z
Yes, but again, you will not see the balance locally until it syncs. You will have to use an explorer.
Raghav Sood
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-02T09:48:08.107Z
I have looked this https://www.blockchain.com/fr/explorer: How can i see my balance ? Should i put my private/public key somewhere ? Thanks
Bob5421
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-02T15:35:19.683Z
NEVER enter your private key into any website - you only need to put in your address(es). They should start with 1, 3, or bc1.
Raghav Sood
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-02T15:59:59.070Z
I agree, never enter private key. But is there a simple way to see my balance on this website ? I need to enter several addresses ? Thanks
Bob5421
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-03T04:55:29.887Z
For Bitcoin core wallets, you will have to enter each address individually. If you were using a ledger or other similar wallet, you could export something known as an `xpub`, which allows you to keep track of the entire wallet. Bitcoin core does not support xpubs.
Raghav Sood
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-03T06:44:58.153Z
Thanks a lot. In fact i want to understand how it works. So this mean we always have multiple addresses. If we work with a Ledger, this adresses are stored inside the ledger ?
Bob5421
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-01T08:48:24.737Z
2020-05-01T08:48:24.737Z
Raghav Sood
<p>I have a few bitcoins on a bitcoin platform (Kraken). I do not trust any bitcoin platform. I want to own my bitcoins.</p>

<p>I do not trust Ledger devices too.</p>

<p>What i want to do is to generate my own public/private key and keep this keys on a paper in my pocket.</p>

<p>Here is what i want to do. Can you tell me if it is good:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>First, i want to build a bitcoin node on a dedicated server </p>

<p>git clone -b 0.18 <a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin.git" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin.git</a></p></li>
<li><p>Next, i will wait to download all blocks on this server.</p></li>
<li><p>Next, i will generate an address:</p>

<p>bitcoin-cli  getnewaddress</p></li>
<li><p>Next, i will send all my bitcoins to this address through kraken website</p></li>
<li><p>Next, i will export my public/private key with this command:</p>

<p>bitcoin-cli dumpwallet export.txt</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Next, i will print or save export.txt file</p></li>
<li><p>Next, i will ERASE the dedicated server.</p></li>
</ul></li>
</ul>

<p>Can you confirm me i will own my bitcoins if i only keep export.txt file ?</p>

<private-key><address-generation><trust>
Generate my own public/private key to secure my bitcoins
Bob5421
# Generate my own public/private key to secure my bitcoins

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-05-01)

I have a few bitcoins on a bitcoin platform (Kraken). I do not trust any bitcoin platform. I want to own my bitcoins.

I do not trust Ledger devices too.

What i want to do is to generate my own public/private key and keep this keys on a paper in my pocket.

Here is what i want to do. Can you tell me if it is good:

* First, i want to build a bitcoin node on a dedicated server

  git clone -b 0.18 <https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin.git>
* Next, i will wait to download all blocks on this server.
* Next, i will generate an address:

  bitcoin-cli getnewaddress
* Next, i will send all my bitcoins to this address through kraken website
* Next, i will export my public/private key with this command:

  bitcoin-cli dumpwallet export.txt

  + Next, i will print or save export.txt file
  + Next, i will ERASE the dedicated server.

Can you confirm me i will own my bitcoins if i only keep export.txt file ?

**Tags:** private-key, address-generation, trust


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-05-01. Score: 1

As long as you have the wallet dump, you will be able to access your bitcoin.

However, your approach doesn't line up - if you are already at the point of not trusting hardware wallets, trusting a random dedicated server is not a reasonable approach. In fact, a dedicated server may be a worse choice simply because you have no control over the storage drives - it is trivial to recover deleted files from most drives, especially when such a small amount of data is being written.

Additionally, you also are exposed to any compromise on your local machine. The moment you copy over the wallet dump, or even `cat` it, anyone who has reasonable access to your local machine via a remote access tool or other malware will be able to see the keys.

The entire point of devices like the ledger is to ensure that the private keys are never, ever placed on any computer at all. They exist solely on that device, and on the paper backup of the mnemonic words.

If you want to go a step further, you can use something like the [Cold Card](https://coldcardwallet.com/) (this is not an endorsement, I have no relation to them, and cannot vouch for them). These aren't even connected to a computer at all, and work with PSBTs via SD cards.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: The problem i have with ledger is what happens if the device is broken? Also, I need to install a ledger software (chrome plugin). Can we trust this software ? What happens lf ledger company does not exists in 10 years ?  
> **username_1**: Ledger, and all legitimate hardware wallets, follow BIP39/BIP44 - if your device breaks, you can restore the wallet onto any compatible wallet (ledger, trezor, software wallets, whatever) as long as you kept the seed words carefully. If ledger ceases to exist, the device protocols are open source, and you would likely see a community effort to maintain existing wallets or provide migration tools (in addition to the fact that you can migrate away at any time using the seed words)  
> **username_0**: There is something i do not understand about seed. This seed « contrains » the private key ? So if somebody stole the seed he can reveal my private key ? Is there a way to generate a private key and addresses on my computer Without installing a node ? Thanks  
> **username_1**: All wallets today use HD Wallets, which derive all keys from a root key. Your seed words are an easy-to-note-down piece of information that leads directly to the root key. If someone has the seed words, they have full access to your wallet. You can use bitcoind to create a wallet without downloading the blockchain, but you will not be able to see your balance until it syncs unless you use an explorer.  
> **username_0**: Is it possible to generate an address (in order to receive btc) with bitcoind without downloading the blockchain ? And what information should i give to explorer in order to see my balance ? Public key ?  
> **username_1**: Yes, but again, you will not see the balance locally until it syncs. You will have to use an explorer.  
> **username_0**: I have looked this https://www.blockchain.com/fr/explorer: How can i see my balance ? Should i put my private/public key somewhere ? Thanks  
> **username_1**: NEVER enter your private key into any website - you only need to put in your address(es). They should start with 1, 3, or bc1.  
> **username_0**: I agree, never enter private key. But is there a simple way to see my balance on this website ? I need to enter several addresses ? Thanks  
> **username_1**: For Bitcoin core wallets, you will have to enter each address individually. If you were using a ledger or other similar wallet, you could export something known as an `xpub`, which allows you to keep track of the entire wallet. Bitcoin core does not support xpubs.  
> **username_0**: Thanks a lot. In fact i want to understand how it works. So this mean we always have multiple addresses. If we work with a Ledger, this adresses are stored inside the ledger ?  

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