Bitcoin wallet - How to set up and create a BTC account (2024)

It’s very important to manage your bitcoins safely. We assist in buying and selling bitcoins, but you are responsible for managing them yourself. This is the beauty of Bitcoin: you are your own bank!

With a bitcoin wallet, you store and manage your bitcoins. This can be done via your mobile, your computer or by using a separate device (a hardware wallet). On this page we’ll explain everything you need to know about wallets. First thing you'll need to buy bitcoin is an account with BTC Direct. Register a free account today!

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What's a bitcoin wallet?

A Bitcoin wallet is similar to a digital bank account. Here, you can send, receive, and manage your Bitcoin. You first purchase Bitcoin at BTC Direct, and then these are sent to your wallet. In your wallet, you manage the Bitcoin. If you want to send some Bitcoin elsewhere, you can choose the 'Send' option in your wallet and enter the recipient's receiving address. The coins are then sent from your wallet to the recipient's wallet.

How do I manage my bitcoin?

Having your own bitcoin wallet puts you in control. But with great power comes great responsibility. You are responsible for securing your wallet, more on that later.

You use a bitcoin wallet to show that you are the owner of your bitcoins. Although we are talking about a wallet, technically it works slightly differently. Because the bitcoins are not stored on your wallet. Your wallet is more like a PIN, an access card or signing device.

How does that work? All balances of bitcoin addresses and transactions are recorded on the blockchain. That is a digital ledger where you will find the entire history of bitcoin.

With your wallet, you can show that some of the bitcoins on that blockchain belong to you. Only you are allowed to manage and send your bitcoins. Just like a PIN gives you the right to withdraw money from an ATM.

Which bitcoin wallet should I choose?

There is a great number of different wallets to choose from. Which wallet you should choose depends on several factors. Have you just started trading in cryptocurrencies, or are you more experienced? Would you like to buy a small amount, or invest a large sum?

Creating a bitcoin wallet is simple. There are roughly three types of wallets: mobile wallets, software wallets, and hardware wallets. Mobile and software wallets are often free. Each type has multiple providers, and each wallet has its own characteristics with regard to things like ease of use and security.

In the overview below you can see which wallet is suitable for your situation.

How do I create a bitcoin wallet?

There are different types of bitcoin wallets. Below you will find more information about different wallets and how to create them.

Mobile wallet
Do you want to always have your cryptocurrencies at hand? Then opt for a mobile wallet. This is an app for your smartphone that stores your coins. If you want to invest small amounts of money that you can afford to lose, then a mobile wallet is an excellent choice.

The big advantage? Ease of use. Whether you're on the train or sneakily at your job, you have access to your cryptocurrencies everywhere.

More information? Click here to read more about Exodus wallet.

Software wallet
A software wallet is similar to a mobile wallet. However, now you manage the coins via a program you install on your computer. Click here for an extensive explanation.

Hardware wallet
There are also physical devices you can use to manage bitcoin. These can take the form of a USB stick, for example, or a debit card. This type is also called a hardware wallet.

A hardware wallet is by far the most secure way to store your bitcoin itself. This is because access to your cryptos remains offline, within the device. This means that you always need the device to send your coins.

Want more information? Then check out this page on hardware wallets.

What’s a bitcoin receiving address?

A receiving address is similar to your bank account number. Each bitcoin wallet has a unique bitcoin receiving address. You can share this bitcoin address with others to let them know how to send coins to your wallet.

A BTC address is alphanumeric and always starts with a 1 or a 3. This is an example of a receiving address: 3FZbgi29cpjq2GjdwV***HuJJnkLtktZc5. A common question is how to get a BTC address. Each wallet automatically generates a bitcoin address. If you’ve just created a new wallet, then you have a unique bitcoin address right away. When you enter this address on our order form, we’ll know where to send the coins to.

A new bitcoin address is not only generated once you’ve created a new wallet, but after each transaction as well. And for a good reason: when your address regularly changes, your privacy on the network is better protected.

Would you like to use your old bitcoin address again? No problem! Each address on which you’ve previously received bitcoin, can be used again. It doesn’t matter if someone sends coins to your most recent address or to your oldest address- the bitcoins will arrive in the same wallet. In most wallets all generated addresses can be found in the transaction history.

Please note!
For receiving as well as sending bitcoin, always copy and paste the receiving address. This lowers the risk of making a mistake. Don’t write or type the address. All cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible; once the coins have been sent, there’s no way of getting them back.

How do I receive or send bitcoin?

When buying or receiving bitcoin, you use the receiving address from your wallet. We can’t emphasise it enough: copy and paste this address, do not write or type it. A bitcoin receiving address is similar to your personal bank account number on which you receive your bitcoin. But where do you find your bitcoin receiving address?

The receiving address
First, log into your wallet. In most wallets, the receiving address can be found under the button ‘Receive’. There are wallets in which a bitcoin receiving address will automatically change once it has been used for a transaction. This is in consideration of your privacy. But don’t worry: ‘old’ receiving addresses will always stay valid and linked to your wallet.

Receiving
For receiving bitcoin in your wallet, copy the receiving address from your wallet, and paste it on the BTC Direct order form. This way we’ll know which wallet to send the coins to.

Sending
Sending bitcoin is just as easy! Click on ‘Send’ in your wallet. Enter the receiving address you’ve copied from the recipient. Fill in how much you would like to send, and confirm.

Creating a bitcoin wallet backup

When you create a bitcoin wallet, it’s important to make a backup as well. This way you ensure you will always have access to your wallet, and thus your bitcoin.

Most wallets show a series of 12 or 24 randomly generated words. This is called a seed phrase or a recovery seed, and it functions as a backup for your wallet. Write this seed down with pen and paper, and store it in a safe place. Do not store it digitally or online, since this makes it vulnerable to hacking.

If you should ever lose your wallet login credentials, you can use the backup to regain access to your coins.

Safety first

Just like you keep your physical wallet safe, you protect your cryptocurrency wallet. If your wallet isn’t secure enough, hackers could steal your coins. Luckily, there are a multitude of ways to secure your wallet. Take your time to go over the following tips:

Never store your backup details digitally
Write down the following details of your wallet provider on a piece of paper: login name, password, recovery seed. Store this safely. Don’t take a picture with your phone. A mobile device has a constant connection to the internet. This makes it easier for hackers to access your wallet.

When possible, choose Two Factor Authentication (2-FA)
This may sound complicated, but 2-FA simply means you log in with several devices. Why is this useful? With 2-FA hackers can’t access your wallet with just your password. In order to access your wallet, a code is also required. This code could be sent to you by SMS or through an app such as Google Authenticator. We recommend to enable both options for maximum security.

SMS
When you’ve enabled 2-FA through SMS you will receive an SMS with a unique code on your phone every time you log in. To enable 2-FA through SMS you’ll have to enter your phone number in the safety settings of your wallet. This means you’ll need both your phone and your password to access your wallet.

Google Authenticator
You can find the Google Authenticator app in the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android). To connect the app to your wallet you’ll need to scan a QR code in your wallet. You can find the code in the safety settings. Make sure to backup the QR code by printing it in case you lose your phone. Once the app is connected to your wallet it generates a new six digit code every thirty seconds. To access your wallet you’ll need to enter the code.

Let today be your first day in the world of crypto. Get started with buying your first bitcoin by clicking this button:

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