Understanding Bitcoin Wallet and Ecash Token Backup Requirements
There are specific requirements to follow when it comes to backing up your cryptocurrency wallet and its associated assets. In this article, we will go into detail about backing up your Bitcoin wallet and its associated Ecash tokens.
Bitcoin Wallet: .cashu/wallet/wallet.sqlite3
backup
The .cashu/wallet/wallet.sqlite3
file is an SQLite database that the Bitcoin wallet software uses to store wallet data. This file contains various tables, including:
balance
: stores information about the wallet balance.
dbversions
: a table that contains information about the version of each wallet.
keysets
: a table that stores cryptographic key sets associated with the wallet.
proofs
: a table that contains proof-of-work records (such as transaction IDs).
seed
: stores the Bitcoin seed used to generate new keys.
balance_used
: tracks transactions that have been confirmed but not yet included in the blockchain.
invoices
: a table containing the invoices issued by the wallet.
To back up this file, you can use the SQLite command line tool or a graphical interface such as DBeaver or pgAdmin.
Ecash Token Backup
The Ecash token is an alternative cryptocurrency that uses a different consensus mechanism than Bitcoin. As such, it has its own set of tables and data structures in the wallet database.
To back up the Ecash tokens associated with your wallet, you will need to create additional tables and data in the SQLite database:
- Ecash_tokens: stores information about each Ecash token associated with your wallet.
- Ecash_token_data: a table containing metadata for individual Ecash tokens (e.g. their ID, public key).
Do I need to back up my wallet files?
It is not usually necessary to back up the .cashu/wallet/wallet.sqlite3
file itself if you are only concerned about your Ecash tokens. However, if you want to ensure that all of your Bitcoin wallet data, including your Ecash tokens, is backed up and safe in the event of loss or disaster:
- Back up your Ecash tokens: Create additional tables in an SQLite database for your Ecash tokens and store them separately.
- Include your wallet files: Include the
.cashu/wallet/wallet.sqlite3
file in your backup, as it contains critical information about your Bitcoin wallet.
Best Practices
When backing up your cryptocurrency wallet and its associated assets, consider the following best practices.
- Use a secure and reliable backup method, such as encryption or a dedicated backup tool.
- Keep backups of both your Ecash tokens and Bitcoin wallet data safe and secure.
- Regularly update and test your backup strategy to ensure its effectiveness over time.
By following these guidelines and taking the necessary precautions, you can ensure that your cryptocurrency wallet and Ecash tokens are safely backed up in the event of loss or disaster.