Normally the Bitcoin client will download the transaction and network information, called the blockchain, from network by syncing with the other clients. This can be a process that can take multiple days as the [Bitcoin block chain](https://blockchain.info/charts/blocks-size) has grown to more than 15 gigabytes, and is growing almost a gigabyte every month. Luckily there is a safe and fast way to speed up this process. We’ll show you how to bootstrap your blockchain to bring your client up to speed in just a few simple steps.
Normally the Bitcoin client will download the transaction and network information, called the blockchain, from the network by syncing with the other clients. This can be a process that can take multiple days as the [Bitcoin block chain](https://blockchain.info/charts/blocks-size) has grown to more than 15 gigabytes, and is growing almost a gigabyte every month. Luckily there is a safe and fast way to speed up this process. We’ll show you how to bootstrap your blockchain to bring your client up to speed in just a few simple steps.
### Requirements
### Requirements
@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ A fresh install of the Bitcoin client software.
### Download the blockchain via Bittorent
### Download the blockchain via Bittorent
Jeff Garzik, Bitcoin core developer, offers an [torrent file](https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=145386.0) for bootstrapping purposes that is updated often. Bittorrent is a protocol that speeds up the downloading of large files by using the other clients in the network. Example free and safe open-source clients are [Deluge](http://deluge-torrent.org/) or [QBittorent](http://www.qbittorrent.org/). A guide to installing and configuring the torrent clients can be found [here](http://dev.deluge-torrent.org/wiki/UserGuide) for Deluge and [here](http://qbforums.shiki.hu/) for QBittorent. A further in-depth tutorial on Bittorent can be found [here](http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/31846/bittorrent-for-beginners-how-get-started-downloading-torrents/).
Jeff Garzik, Bitcoin core developer, offers an [torrent file](https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=145386.0) for bootstrapping purposes that is updated often. Bittorrent is a protocol that speeds up the downloading of large files by using the other clients in the network. Examples of free and safe open-source clients are [Deluge](http://deluge-torrent.org/) or [QBittorent](http://www.qbittorrent.org/). A guide to installing and configuring the torrent clients can be found [here](http://dev.deluge-torrent.org/wiki/UserGuide) for Deluge and [here](http://qbforums.shiki.hu/) for QBittorent. A further in-depth tutorial on Bittorent can be found [here](http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/31846/bittorrent-for-beginners-how-get-started-downloading-torrents/).
With the client installed we’ll proceed to download the blockchain torrent file. Use the following magnet link:
With the client installed we’ll proceed to download the blockchain torrent file. Use the following magnet link:
@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ The download page should look like this, with a countdown to the download. If it
### Importing the blockchain
### Importing the blockchain
Exit the Bitcoin Client software if you have it running. Be sure not to have an actively used wallet in use. Now we are going to copy the download of the blockchain to the Bitcoin client data directory. You should run the client software at least once so it can generate the data directory. Copy the downloaded bootstrap.dat file into the Bitcoin data folder.
Exit the Bitcoin Client software if you have it running. Be sure not to have an actively used wallet in use. We are going to copy the download of the blockchain to the Bitcoin client data directory. You should run the client software at least once so it can generate the data directory. Copy the downloaded bootstrap.dat file into the Bitcoin data folder.
**For Windows users:**
**For Windows users:**
Open explorer, and type into the address bar:
Open explorer, and type into the address bar:
@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ The directory is hidden in your User folder. Go to:
### Importing the blockchain
### Importing the blockchain
Now start the Bitcoin client software. It should show "Importing blocks from disk" like the image below.
Now start the Bitcoin client software. It should show "Importing blocks from disk" like the image below.
Wait until the import finishes. The client will download the last days not covered by the import. Congratulations you have successfully imported the blockchain!
Wait until the import finishes. The client will download the last days not covered by the import. Congratulations you have successfully imported the blockchain!
richierichrawr
11 years ago