: A local record of all incoming and outgoing payments.
| Feature | wallet.dat (Bitcoin Core) | Modern HD Wallets (Electrum, Trezor) | |---------|-----------------------------|---------------------------------------| | Backup | File-based (requires rescan) | 12/24 word seed | | Compatibility | Low (specific to client) | High (BIP32/39/44) | | Size | Grows with transactions | Tiny (derives keys on demand) | | Privacy | Full node (best) | Light client (SPV) | wallet dat
Do you need help a specific file on a different operating system, or are you trying to recover a lost password ? : A local record of all incoming and outgoing payments
Crucially, the wallet.dat file contain the actual Bitcoins. Coins exist on the blockchain. The file merely holds the keys to unlock and spend them. wallet dat