Installing Bitcoin
Bitcoin Core is the reference implementation of the Bitcoin protocol. Understanding how to install and run it is fundamental for development, running a full node, or participating in the network.
Historical Context: The Original Bitcoin Client
The original Bitcoin software released by Satoshi Nakamoto in January 2009 was a single monolithic application that bundled three distinct functions:
- Full Node - Validating and relaying transactions and blocks
- Wallet - Managing keys, addresses, and creating transactions
- Miner - Using CPU to find valid blocks
This made sense for the early network when anyone could profitably mine with a regular computer, and the software needed to be accessible to newcomers. Running the client automatically made you a miner, a node operator, and gave you a wallet to receive block rewards.
The Separation of Concerns
As Bitcoin matured, these functions became increasingly specialized:
Mining evolved from CPU → GPU → FPGA → ASIC, making the built-in miner obsolete for anything other than testnet or regtest. Dedicated mining software like cgminer and modern pool protocols emerged to handle specialized hardware.
Wallets diversified into hardware wallets, mobile wallets, and specialized desktop applications with better UX than the built-in wallet. Many users prefer lightweight wallets that don't require running a full node.
Full nodes became the focus of Bitcoin Core development, emphasizing security, validation, and network participation over end-user features.
Bitcoin Core still includes wallet functionality (optional since v0.21.0) but removed the graphical miner long ago. The
generatetoaddressRPC command remains for regtest mining.
Installation Methods
Method 1: Download Pre-built Binaries (Recommended)
Download the latest release from bitcoincore.org:
# Example for Linux x86_64 (check for latest version)
wget https://bitcoincore.org/bin/bitcoin-core-27.0/bitcoin-27.0-x86_64-linux-gnu.tar.gz
tar -xzf bitcoin-27.0-x86_64-linux-gnu.tar.gz
sudo install -m 0755 -o root -g root -t /usr/local/bin bitcoin-27.0/bin/*
Verify the download (important for security):
# Download signatures and verify
wget https://bitcoincore.org/bin/bitcoin-core-27.0/SHA256SUMS
wget https://bitcoincore.org/bin/bitcoin-core-27.0/SHA256SUMS.asc
sha256sum --ignore-missing --check SHA256SUMS
gpg --verify SHA256SUMS.asc SHA256SUMS
Method 2: Package Managers
macOS (Homebrew):
brew install bitcoin
Ubuntu/Debian (PPA):
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:bitcoin/bitcoin
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install bitcoind bitcoin-qt
Arch Linux:
sudo pacman -S bitcoin-qt
Method 3: Build from Source
For development or when you need the latest features:
# Install dependencies (Ubuntu/Debian)
sudo apt-get install build-essential libtool autotools-dev automake pkg-config bsdmainutils python3
sudo apt-get install libevent-dev libboost-dev libsqlite3-dev
# Clone and build
git clone https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin.git
cd bitcoin
./autogen.sh
./configure
make -j$(nproc)
sudo make install
Components
After installation, you have access to several executables:
| Binary | Purpose |
|---|---|
bitcoind | Headless daemon (server mode) |
bitcoin-qt | GUI application with wallet |
bitcoin-cli | Command-line RPC client |
bitcoin-tx | Transaction utility |
bitcoin-util | Utility commands |
bitcoin-wallet | Wallet utility (offline operations) |
Basic Configuration
Create a configuration file at ~/.bitcoin/bitcoin.conf (Linux/macOS) or %APPDATA%\Bitcoin\bitcoin.conf (Windows):
# Network (mainnet, testnet, signet, or regtest)
# testnet=1
# signet=1
# regtest=1
# Enable RPC server
server=1
rpcuser=yourusername
rpcpassword=yoursecurepassword
# Prune blockchain to save disk space (in MB)
# prune=1000
# Transaction index (required for some applications)
# txindex=1
Running Bitcoin Core
Start the Daemon
# Start in background
bitcoind -daemon
# Check status
bitcoin-cli getblockchaininfo
Initial Block Download (IBD)
The first sync downloads and validates the entire blockchain history:
- Size: ~600+ GB (as of 2024)
- Time: Hours to days depending on hardware
- Bandwidth: Significant download required
Pruned mode reduces storage requirements:
bitcoind -prune=1000 -daemon # Keep only 1GB of blocks
Useful Commands
# Network info
bitcoin-cli getnetworkinfo
# Blockchain status
bitcoin-cli getblockchaininfo
# Mempool status
bitcoin-cli getmempoolinfo
# Stop the node
bitcoin-cli stop
Development Setup
For Bitcoin development, use regtest mode for instant block generation:
# Start regtest node
bitcoind -regtest -daemon
# Create a wallet
bitcoin-cli -regtest createwallet "dev"
# Generate blocks (mine to your own address)
bitcoin-cli -regtest -generate 101
# Check balance
bitcoin-cli -regtest getbalance
See Test Networks for more on regtest, testnet, and signet.
Alternative Implementations
While Bitcoin Core is the reference implementation, alternatives exist:
| Implementation | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin Core | C++ | Reference implementation |
| btcd | Go | Full node (no wallet) |
| Bitcoin Knots | C++ | Bitcoin Core fork with extra features |
| libbitcoin | C++ | Modular implementation |
Running alternative implementations helps decentralize development, but ensure they maintain consensus compatibility.
System Requirements
Minimum (pruned):
- 2 GB RAM
- 10 GB disk space
- Broadband connection
Recommended (full node):
- 4+ GB RAM
- 1 TB SSD
- Unmetered broadband
For development:
- Any modern computer works with regtest
- SSD recommended for faster sync
Related Topics
- Test Networks - Development environments
- RPC Commands - Interacting with Bitcoin Core
- Libraries & SDKs - Development tools
- Hardware Evolution - How mining separated from nodes