Bitcoin: btcrecover does not support the latest Bitcoin Core Wallet format
In recent days, users of the popular cryptocurrency Bitcoin have been facing an issue when trying to use the btcrecover tool against their encrypted Bitcoin Core (BTC) wallet files. Specifically, those using the latest version of Bitcoin Core, 27.0, are encountering a frustrating error message while trying to recover their wallet from a corrupted file.
Problem:
The btcrecover command is designed to analyze and potentially restore a corrupted or encrypted Bitcoin wallet. However, in this case, it appears that Bitcoin Core 27.0 has introduced changes to its wallet format that make the btcrecover tool incompatible.
Error Message:
When attempting to use btcrecover against a corrupted wallet file stored in .wallet.dat format encrypted with a short password, users encounter an error message indicating “unrecognized wallet format”. This error occurs even if the original Bitcoin Core 27.0 wallet file is still intact and contains only invalid or incomplete data.
Problem:
The problem lies in the fact that Bitcoin Core 27.0 has changed the way it stores and structures its wallet files. Specifically, the new version includes a new format for storing encrypted wallet files, which is not compatible with the older btcrecover tool.
Solutions:
To overcome this issue, users can try the following solutions:
- Try an earlier version of Bitcoin Core: Users may need to roll back their system to an earlier version of Bitcoin Core (e.g. 25.x) that does not use the new wallet format.
- Use a different
btcrecovercommand: If a user is unable to recover their wallet using the defaultbtcrecovercommand, they can try using a custom recovery tool specifically designed for older versions of Bitcoin Core (e.g.bc-rcc).
- Restore from a backup file: In some cases, users may be able to restore their wallet from a previous backup file containing the original Bitcoin Core 27.0 wallet data.
Conclusion:
The issue with btcrecover not supporting the latest Bitcoin Core wallet format is a bug in the newer version of Bitcoin Core. Users who encounter this error should explore alternative solutions, such as using an older version of Bitcoin Core or a custom recovery tool specifically designed for their specific situation.
Additional resources:
- Bitcoin Core GitHub repository: [
- Bitcoin Core documentation: [
Note: This article is intended to provide general information and may not be comprehensive or up-to-date. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, users should consult the official Bitcoin Core documentation and contact the Bitcoin community for assistance.
