## Transactions
### Transaction Tutorial
{% autocrossref %}
Creating transactions is something most Bitcoin applications do.
This section describes how to use Bitcoin Core's RPC interface to
create transactions with various attributes.
Your applications may use something besides Bitcoin Core to create
transactions, but in any system, you will need to provide the same kinds
of data to create transactions with the same attributes as those
described below.
You are encouraged to try the following examples on your own using the
regtest mode described below.
Note: as in other parts of the documentation, we wrap long strings with
"\\" and indicate omissions with "[...]".
{% endautocrossref %}
#### Regtest Mode
{% autocrossref %}
Bitcoin's testnet provides an excellent way to test Bitcoin
functionality without risking real satoshis. However, for situations
where interaction with random peers and blocks is unnecessary or
unwanted, Bitcoin Core's regression test (regtest) mode lets you
instantly create a brand-new private block chain with the same basic
rules as testnet---but one major difference: you choose when to create
new blocks, so you have complete control over the environment.
Many developers consider regtest mode the preferred way to develop new
applications, and this tutorial will use it exclusively.
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoind -regtest -daemon
Bitcoin server starting
{% endhighlight %}
Start `bitcoind` in regtest mode to create a private block chain.
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest getbalance
0.00000000
{% endhighlight %}
Check our starting balance with the `getbalance` RPC. Regtest wallets
and block chain state (chainstate) are saved in the `regtest`
subdirectory of the Bitcoin Core configuration directory. You can safely
delete the `regtest` subdirectory and restart Bitcoin Core to start a
new regtest. (See the [Guide Introduction][devguide] for default configuration
directory locations on various operating systems. Always back up mainnet
wallets before performing dangerous operations such as deleting.)
~~~
bitcoin-cli -regtest setgenerate true 101
~~~
Generate 101 blocks using a special version of the `setgenerate` RPC
which is only available in regtest mode. This takes about 30 seconds on
a generic PC. Because this is a new block chain using Bitcoin's default
rules, the first 210,000 blocks pay a block reward of 50 bitcoins.
However, a block must have 100 confirmations before that reward can be
spent, so we generate 101 blocks to get access to the coinbase
transaction from block #1.
{% highlight bash %}
bitcoin-cli -regtest getbalance
50.00000000
{% endhighlight %}
Verify that we now have 50 bitcoins available to spend.
{% endautocrossref %}
#### Simple Spending
{% autocrossref %}
Bitcoin Core provides several RPCs which handle all the details of
spending, including creating change outputs and paying appropriate fees.
Even advanced users should use these RPCs whenever possible to decrease
the chance that satoshis will be lost by mistake.
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest getnewaddress
mvbnrCX3bg1cDRUu8pkecrvP6vQkSLDSou
> NEW_ADDRESS=mvbnrCX3bg1cDRUu8pkecrvP6vQkSLDSou
{% endhighlight %}
Get a new Bitcoin address and save it in the shell variable `$NEW_ADDRESS`.
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest sendtoaddress $NEW_ADDRESS 10.00
263c018582731ff54dc72c7d67e858c002ae298835501d80200f05753de0edf0
{% endhighlight %}
Send 10 bitcoins to the address using the `sendtoaddress` RPC. The
returned hex string is the transaction identifier (txid).
The `sendtoaddress` RPC automatically selects an unspent transaction
output (UTXO) from which to spend the satoshis. In this case, it
withdrew the satoshis from our only available UTXO, the coinbase
transaction for block #1 which matured with the creation of block #101.
To spend a specific UTXO, you could use the `sendfrom` RPC instead.
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest listunspent
[
]
{% endhighlight %}
Use the `listunspent` RPC to display the UTXOs belonging to this wallet.
The list is empty because it defaults to only showing confirmed
UTXOs and we just spent our only confirmed UTXO.
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest listunspent 0
{% endhighlight %}
{% highlight json %}
[
{
"txid" : "263c018582731ff54dc72c7d67e858c002ae298835501d\
80200f05753de0edf0",
"vout" : 0,
"address" : "muhtvdmsnbQEPFuEmxcChX58fGvXaaUoVt",
"scriptPubKey" : "76a9149ba386253ea698158b6d34802bb9b550\
f5ce36dd88ac",
"amount" : 40.00000000,
"confirmations" : 0
},
{
"txid" : "263c018582731ff54dc72c7d67e858c002ae298835501d\
80200f05753de0edf0",
"vout" : 1,
"address" : "mvbnrCX3bg1cDRUu8pkecrvP6vQkSLDSou",
"account" : "",
"scriptPubKey" : "76a914a57414e5ffae9ef5074bacbe10a320bb\
2614e1f388ac",
"amount" : 10.00000000,
"confirmations" : 0
}
]
{% endhighlight %}
Re-running the `listunspent` RPC with the argument "0" to also display
unconfirmed transactions shows that we have two UTXOs, both with the
same txid. The first UTXO shown is a change output that `sendtoaddress`
created using a new address from the key pool. The second UTXO shown is
the spend to the address we provided. If we had spent those satoshis to
someone else, that second transaction would not be displayed in our
list of UTXOs.
~~~
> bitcoin-cli -regtest setgenerate true 1
> unset NEW_ADDRESS
~~~
Create a new block to confirm the transaction above (takes less than a
second) and clear the shell variable.
{% endautocrossref %}
#### Simple Raw Transaction
{% autocrossref %}
The raw transaction RPCs allow users to create custom transactions and
delay broadcasting those transactions. However, mistakes made in raw
transactions may not be detected by Bitcoin Core, and a number of raw
transaction users have permanently lost large numbers of satoshis, so
please be careful using raw transactions on mainnet.
This subsection covers one of the simplest possible raw transactions.
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest listunspent
{% endhighlight %}
{% highlight json %}
[
{
"txid" : "263c018582731ff54dc72c7d67e858c002ae298835501d\
80200f05753de0edf0",
"vout" : 0,
"address" : "muhtvdmsnbQEPFuEmxcChX58fGvXaaUoVt",
"scriptPubKey" : "76a9149ba386253ea698158b6d34802bb9b550\
f5ce36dd88ac",
"amount" : 40.00000000,
"confirmations" : 1
},
{
"txid" : "263c018582731ff54dc72c7d67e858c002ae298835501d\
80200f05753de0edf0",
"vout" : 1,
"address" : "mvbnrCX3bg1cDRUu8pkecrvP6vQkSLDSou",
"account" : "",
"scriptPubKey" : "76a914a57414e5ffae9ef5074bacbe10a320bb\
2614e1f388ac",
"amount" : 10.00000000,
"confirmations" : 1
},
{
"txid" : "3f4fa19803dec4d6a84fae3821da7ac7577080ef754512\
94e71f9b20e0ab1e7b",
"vout" : 0,
"address" : "mwJTL1dZG8BAP6X7Be3CNNcuVKi7Qqt7Gk",
"scriptPubKey" : "210260a275cccf0f4b106220725be516adba27\
52db1bec8c5b7174c89c4c07891f88ac",
"amount" : 50.00000000,
"confirmations" : 101
}
]
{% endhighlight %}
{% highlight bash %}
> UTXO_TXID=3f4fa19803dec4d6a84fae3821da7ac7577080ef75451294e71f[...]
> UTXO_VOUT=0
{% endhighlight %}
Re-rerun `listunspent`. We now have three UTXOs: the two transactions we
created before plus the coinbase transaction from block #2. We save the
txid and output index number (vout) of that coinbase UTXO to shell
variables.
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest getnewaddress
mz6KvC4aoUeo6wSxtiVQTo7FDwPnkp6URG
> NEW_ADDRESS=mz6KvC4aoUeo6wSxtiVQTo7FDwPnkp6URG
{% endhighlight %}
Get a new address to use in the raw transaction.
{% highlight bash %}
## Outputs - inputs = transaction fee, so always double-check your math!
> bitcoin-cli -regtest createrawtransaction '''
[
{
"txid": "'$UTXO_TXID'",
"vout": '$UTXO_VOUT'
}
]
''' '''
{
"'$NEW_ADDRESS'": 49.9999
}'''
01000000017b1eabe0209b1fe794124575ef807057c77ada2138ae4fa8d6c4de\
0398a14f3f0000000000ffffffff01f0ca052a010000001976a914cbc20a7664\
f2f69e5355aa427045bc15e7c6c77288ac00000000
> RAW_TX=01000000017b1eabe0209b1fe794124575ef807057c77ada2138ae4[...]
{% endhighlight %}
Using two arguments to the `createrawtransaction` RPC, we create a new
raw format transaction. The first argument (a JSON array) references
the txid of the coinbase transaction from block #2 and the index
number (0) of the output from that transaction we want to spend. The
second argument (a JSON object) creates the output with the address
(public key hash) and number of bitcoins we want to transfer.
We save the resulting raw format transaction to a shell variable.
**Warning:** `createrawtransaction` does not automatically create change
outputs, so you can easily accidentally pay a large transaction fee. In
this example, our input had 50.0000 bitcoins and our output
(`$NEW_ADDRESS`) is being paid 49.9999 bitcoins, so the transaction will
include a fee of 0.0001 bitcoins. If we had paid `$NEW_ADDRESS` only 10
bitcoins with no other changes to this transaction, the transaction fee
would be a whopping 40 bitcoins. See the Complex Raw Transaction
subsection below for how to create a transaction with multiple outputs so you
can send the change back to yourself.
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest decoderawtransaction $RAW_TX
{% endhighlight %}
{% highlight json %}
{
"txid" : "c80b343d2ce2b5d829c2de9854c7c8d423c0e33bda264c4013\
8d834aab4c0638",
"version" : 1,
"locktime" : 0,
"vin" : [
{
"txid" : "3f4fa19803dec4d6a84fae3821da7ac7577080ef75\
451294e71f9b20e0ab1e7b",
"vout" : 0,
"scriptSig" : {
"asm" : "",
"hex" : ""
},
"sequence" : 4294967295
}
],
"vout" : [
{
"value" : 49.99990000,
"n" : 0,
"scriptPubKey" : {
"asm" : "OP_DUP OP_HASH160 cbc20a7664f2f69e5355a\
a427045bc15e7c6c772 OP_EQUALVERIFY OP_CHECKSIG",
"hex" : "76a914cbc20a7664f2f69e5355aa427045bc15e\
7c6c77288ac",
"reqSigs" : 1,
"type" : "pubkeyhash",
"addresses" : [
"mz6KvC4aoUeo6wSxtiVQTo7FDwPnkp6URG"
]
}
}
]
}
{% endhighlight %}
Use the `decoderawtransaction` RPC to see exactly what the transaction
we just created does.
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest signrawtransaction $RAW_TX
{% endhighlight %}
{% highlight json %}
{
"hex" : "01000000017b1eabe0209b1fe794124575ef807057c77ada213\
8ae4fa8d6c4de0398a14f3f00000000494830450221008949f0\
cb400094ad2b5eb399d59d01c14d73d8fe6e96df1a7150deb38\
8ab8935022079656090d7f6bac4c9a94e0aad311a4268e082a7\
25f8aeae0573fb12ff866a5f01ffffffff01f0ca052a0100000\
01976a914cbc20a7664f2f69e5355aa427045bc15e7c6c77288\
ac00000000",
"complete" : true
}
{% endhighlight %}
{% highlight bash %}
> SIGNED_RAW_TX=01000000017b1eabe0209b1fe794124575ef807057c77ada[...]
{% endhighlight %}
Use the `signrawtransaction` RPC to sign the transaction created by
`createrawtransaction` and save the returned "hex" raw format signed
transaction to a shell variable.
Even though the transaction is now complete, the Bitcoin Core node we're
connected to doesn't know anything about the transaction, nor does any
other part of the network. We've created a spend, but we haven't
actually spent anything because we could simply unset the
`$SIGNED_RAW_TX` variable to eliminate the transaction.
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest sendrawtransaction $SIGNED_RAW_TX
c7736a0a0046d5a8cc61c8c3c2821d4d7517f5de2bc66a966011aaa79965ffba
{% endhighlight %}
Send the signed transaction to the connected node using the
`sendrawtransaction` RPC. After accepting the transaction, the node
would usually then broadcast it to other peers, but we're not currently
connected to other peers because we started in regtest mode.
~~~
> bitcoin-cli -regtest setgenerate true 1
> unset UTXO_TXID UTXO_VOUT NEW_ADDRESS RAW_TX SIGNED_RAW_TX
~~~
Generate a block to confirm the transaction and clear our shell
variables.
{% endautocrossref %}
#### Complex Raw Transaction
{% autocrossref %}
In this example, we'll create a transaction with two inputs and two
outputs. We'll sign each of the inputs separately, as might happen if
the two inputs belonged to different people who agreed to create a
transaction together (such as a CoinJoin transaction).
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest listunspent
{% endhighlight %}
{% highlight json %}
[
{
"txid" : "263c018582731ff54dc72c7d67e858c002ae298835501d\
80200f05753de0edf0",
"vout" : 0,
"address" : "muhtvdmsnbQEPFuEmxcChX58fGvXaaUoVt",
"scriptPubKey" : "76a9149ba386253ea698158b6d34802bb9b550\
f5ce36dd88ac",
"amount" : 40.00000000,
"confirmations" : 2
},
{
"txid" : "263c018582731ff54dc72c7d67e858c002ae298835501d\
80200f05753de0edf0",
"vout" : 1,
"address" : "mvbnrCX3bg1cDRUu8pkecrvP6vQkSLDSou",
"account" : "",
"scriptPubKey" : "76a914a57414e5ffae9ef5074bacbe10a320bb\
2614e1f388ac",
"amount" : 10.00000000,
"confirmations" : 2
},
{
"txid" : "78203a8f6b529693759e1917a1b9f05670d036fbb12911\
0ed26be6a36de827f3",
"vout" : 0,
"address" : "n2KprMQm4z2vmZnPMENfbp2P1LLdAEFRjS",
"scriptPubKey" : "210229688a74abd0d5ad3b06ddff36fa9cd8ed\
d181d97b9489a6adc40431fb56e1d8ac",
"amount" : 50.00000000,
"confirmations" : 101
},
{
"txid" : "c7736a0a0046d5a8cc61c8c3c2821d4d7517f5de2bc66a\
966011aaa79965ffba",
"vout" : 0,
"address" : "mz6KvC4aoUeo6wSxtiVQTo7FDwPnkp6URG",
"account" : "",
"scriptPubKey" : "76a914cbc20a7664f2f69e5355aa427045bc15\
e7c6c77288ac",
"amount" : 49.99990000,
"confirmations" : 1
}
]
{% endhighlight %}
{% highlight bash %}
> UTXO1_TXID=78203a8f6b529693759e1917a1b9f05670d036fbb129110ed26[...]
> UTXO1_VOUT=0
> UTXO1_ADDRESS=n2KprMQm4z2vmZnPMENfbp2P1LLdAEFRjS
> UTXO2_TXID=263c018582731ff54dc72c7d67e858c002ae298835501d80200[...]
> UTXO2_VOUT=0
> UTXO2_ADDRESS=muhtvdmsnbQEPFuEmxcChX58fGvXaaUoVt
{% endhighlight %}
For our two inputs, we select two UTXOs by placing the txid and output
index numbers (vouts) in shell variables. We also save the addresses
corresponding to the public keys (hashed or unhashed) used in those
transactions. We need the addresses so we can get the corresponding
private keys from our wallet.
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest dumpprivkey $UTXO1_ADDRESS
cSp57iWuu5APuzrPGyGc4PGUeCg23PjenZPBPoUs24HtJawccHPm
> bitcoin-cli -regtest dumpprivkey $UTXO2_ADDRESS
cT26DX6Ctco7pxaUptJujRfbMS2PJvdqiSMaGaoSktHyon8kQUSg
> UTXO1_PRIVATE_KEY=cSp57iWuu5APuzrPGyGc4PGUeCg23PjenZPBPoUs24Ht[...]
> UTXO2_PRIVATE_KEY=cT26DX6Ctco7pxaUptJujRfbMS2PJvdqiSMaGaoSktHy[...]
{% endhighlight %}
Use the `dumpprivkey` RPC to get the private keys corresponding to the
public keys used in the two UTXOs out inputs we will be spending. We need
the private keys so we can sign each of the inputs separately.
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest getnewaddress
n4puhBEeEWD2VvjdRC9kQuX2abKxSCMNqN
> bitcoin-cli -regtest getnewaddress
n4LWXU59yM5MzQev7Jx7VNeq1BqZ85ZbLj
> NEW_ADDRESS1=n4puhBEeEWD2VvjdRC9kQuX2abKxSCMNqN
> NEW_ADDRESS2=n4LWXU59yM5MzQev7Jx7VNeq1BqZ85ZbLj
{% endhighlight %}
For our two outputs, get two new addresses.
{% highlight bash %}
## Outputs - inputs = transaction fee, so always double-check your math!
> bitcoin-cli -regtest createrawtransaction '''
[
{
"txid": "'$UTXO1_TXID'",
"vout": '$UTXO1_VOUT'
},
{
"txid": "'$UTXO2_TXID'",
"vout": '$UTXO2_VOUT'
}
]
''' '''
{
"'$NEW_ADDRESS1'": 79.9999,
"'$NEW_ADDRESS2'": 10
}'''
0100000002f327e86da3e66bd20e1129b1fb36d07056f0b9a117199e75939652\
6b8f3a20780000000000fffffffff0ede03d75050f20801d50358829ae02c058\
e8677d2cc74df51f738285013c260000000000ffffffff02f028d6dc01000000\
1976a914ffb035781c3c69e076d48b60c3d38592e7ce06a788ac00ca9a3b0000\
00001976a914fa5139067622fd7e1e722a05c17c2bb7d5fd6df088ac00000000
> RAW_TX=0100000002f327e86da3e66bd20e1129b1fb36d07056f0b9a117199[...]
{% endhighlight %}
Create the raw transaction using `createrawtransaction` much the same as
before, except now we have two inputs and two outputs.
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest signrawtransaction $RAW_TX '[]' '''
[
"'$UTXO1_PRIVATE_KEY'"
]'''
{% endhighlight %}
{% highlight json %}
{
"hex" : "0100000002f327e86da3e66bd20e1129b1fb36d07056f0b9a11\
7199e759396526b8f3a20780000000049483045022100fce442\
ec52aa2792efc27fd3ad0eaf7fa69f097fdcefab017ea56d179\
9b10b2102207a6ae3eb61e11ffaba0453f173d1792f1b7bb8e7\
422ea945101d68535c4b474801fffffffff0ede03d75050f208\
01d50358829ae02c058e8677d2cc74df51f738285013c260000\
000000ffffffff02f028d6dc010000001976a914ffb035781c3\
c69e076d48b60c3d38592e7ce06a788ac00ca9a3b0000000019\
76a914fa5139067622fd7e1e722a05c17c2bb7d5fd6df088ac0\
0000000",
"complete" : false
}
{% endhighlight %}
{% highlight bash %}
> PARTLY_SIGNED_RAW_TX=0100000002f327e86da3e66bd20e1129b1fb36d07[...]
{% endhighlight %}
Signing the raw transaction with `signrawtransaction` gets more
complicated as we now have three arguments:
1. The unsigned raw transaction.
2. An empty array. We don't do anything with this argument in this
operation, but some valid JSON must be provided to get access to the
later positional arguments.
3. The private key we want to use to sign one of the inputs.
The result is a raw transaction with only one input signed; the fact
that the transaction isn't fully signed is indicated by value of the
`complete` JSON field. We save the incomplete, partly-signed raw
transaction hex to a shell variable.
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest signrawtransaction $PARTLY_SIGNED_RAW_TX '[]' '''
[
"'$UTXO2_PRIVATE_KEY'"
]'''
{% endhighlight %}
{% highlight json %}
{
"hex" : "0100000002f327e86da3e66bd20e1129b1fb36d07056f0b9a11\
7199e759396526b8f3a20780000000049483045022100fce442\
ec52aa2792efc27fd3ad0eaf7fa69f097fdcefab017ea56d179\
9b10b2102207a6ae3eb61e11ffaba0453f173d1792f1b7bb8e7\
422ea945101d68535c4b474801fffffffff0ede03d75050f208\
01d50358829ae02c058e8677d2cc74df51f738285013c260000\
00006b483045022100b77f935ff366a6f3c2fdeb83589c79026\
5d43b3d2cf5e5f0047da56c36de75f40220707ceda75d8dcf2c\
caebc506f7293c3dcb910554560763d7659fb202f8ec324b012\
102240d7d3c7aad57b68aa0178f4c56f997d1bfab2ded3c2f94\
27686017c603a6d6ffffffff02f028d6dc010000001976a914f\
fb035781c3c69e076d48b60c3d38592e7ce06a788ac00ca9a3b\
000000001976a914fa5139067622fd7e1e722a05c17c2bb7d5f\
d6df088ac00000000",
"complete" : true
}
{% endhighlight %}
To sign the second input, we repeat the process we used to sign the
first input using the second private key. Now that both inputs are
signed, the `complete` result is *true*.
{% highlight bash %}
> unset PARTLY_SIGNED_RAW_TX RAW_TX NEW_ADDRESS1 [...]
{% endhighlight %}
Clean up the shell variables used. Unlike previous subsections, we're
not going to send this transaction to the connected node with
`sendrawtransaction`. This will allow us to illustrate in the Offline
Signing subsection below how to spend a transaction which is not yet in
the block chain or memory pool.
{% endautocrossref %}
#### Offline Signing
{% autocrossref %}
We will now spend the transaction created in the Complex Raw Transaction
subsection above without sending it to the local node first. This is the
same basic process used by wallet programs for offline
signing---which generally means signing a transaction without access
to the current UTXO set.
Offline signing is safe. However, in this example we will also be
spending an output which is not part of the block chain because the
transaction containing it has never been broadcast. That can be unsafe:
**Warning:** transactions which spend outputs from unconfirmed
transactions are vulnerable to transaction malleability. Be sure to read
about transaction malleability and adopt good practices before spending
unconfirmed transactions on mainnet.
{% highlight bash %}
> OLD_SIGNED_RAW_TX=0100000002f327e86da3e66bd20e1129b1fb36d07056\
f0b9a117199e759396526b8f3a20780000000049483045022100fce442\
ec52aa2792efc27fd3ad0eaf7fa69f097fdcefab017ea56d1799b10b21\
02207a6ae3eb61e11ffaba0453f173d1792f1b7bb8e7422ea945101d68\
535c4b474801fffffffff0ede03d75050f20801d50358829ae02c058e8\
677d2cc74df51f738285013c26000000006b483045022100b77f935ff3\
66a6f3c2fdeb83589c790265d43b3d2cf5e5f0047da56c36de75f40220\
707ceda75d8dcf2ccaebc506f7293c3dcb910554560763d7659fb202f8\
ec324b012102240d7d3c7aad57b68aa0178f4c56f997d1bfab2ded3c2f\
9427686017c603a6d6ffffffff02f028d6dc010000001976a914ffb035\
781c3c69e076d48b60c3d38592e7ce06a788ac00ca9a3b000000001976\
a914fa5139067622fd7e1e722a05c17c2bb7d5fd6df088ac00000000
{% endhighlight %}
Put the previously signed (but not sent) transaction into a shell
variable.
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest decoderawtransaction $OLD_SIGNED_RAW_TX
{% endhighlight %}
{% highlight json %}
{
"txid" : "682cad881df69cb9df8f0c996ce96ecad758357ded2da03bad\
40cf18ffbb8e09",
"version" : 1,
"locktime" : 0,
"vin" : [
{
"txid" : "78203a8f6b529693759e1917a1b9f05670d036fbb1\
29110ed26be6a36de827f3",
"vout" : 0,
"scriptSig" : {
"asm" : "3045022100fce442ec52aa2792efc27fd3ad0ea\
f7fa69f097fdcefab017ea56d1799b10b210220\
7a6ae3eb61e11ffaba0453f173d1792f1b7bb8e\
7422ea945101d68535c4b474801",
"hex" : "483045022100FCE442ec52aa2792efc27fd3ad0\
eaf7fa69f097fdcefab017ea56d1799b10b2102\
207a6ae3eb61e11ffaba0453f173d1792f1b7bb\
8e7422ea945101d68535c4b474801"
},
"sequence" : 4294967295
},
{
"txid" : "263c018582731ff54dc72c7d67e858c002ae298835\
501d80200f05753de0edf0",
"vout" : 0,
"scriptSig" : {
"asm" : "3045022100b77f935ff366a6f3c2fdeb83589c7\
90265d43b3d2cf5e5f0047da56c36de75f40220\
707ceda75d8dcf2ccaebc506f7293c3dcb91055\
4560763d7659fb202f8ec324b01
02240d7d3c7aad57b68aa0178f4c56f997d1bfa\
b2ded3c2f9427686017c603a6d6",
"hex" : "483045022100b77f935ff366a6f3c2fdeb83589\
c790265d43b3d2cf5e5f0047da56c36de75f402\
20707ceda75d8dcf2ccaebc506f7293c3dcb910\
554560763d7659fb202f8ec324b012102240d7d\
3c7aad57b68aa0178f4c56f997d1bfab2ded3c2\
f9427686017c603a6d6"
},
"sequence" : 4294967295
}
],
"vout" : [
{
"value" : 79.99990000,
"n" : 0,
"scriptPubKey" : {
"asm" : "OP_DUP OP_HASH160 ffb035781c3c69e076d48\
b60c3d38592e7ce06a7 OP_EQUALVERIFY OP_CHECKSIG",
"hex" : "76a914ffb035781c3c69e076d48b60c3d38592e\
7ce06a788ac",
"reqSigs" : 1,
"type" : "pubkeyhash",
"addresses" : [
"n4puhBEeEWD2VvjdRC9kQuX2abKxSCMNqN"
]
}
},
{
"value" : 10.00000000,
"n" : 1,
"scriptPubKey" : {
"asm" : "OP_DUP OP_HASH160 fa5139067622fd7e1e722\
a05c17c2bb7d5fd6df0 OP_EQUALVERIFY OP_CHECKSIG",
"hex" : "76a914fa5139067622fd7e1e722a05c17c2bb7d\
5fd6df088ac",
"reqSigs" : 1,
"type" : "pubkeyhash",
"addresses" : [
"n4LWXU59yM5MzQev7Jx7VNeq1BqZ85ZbLj"
]
}
}
]
}
{% endhighlight %}
{% highlight bash %}
> UTXO_TXID=682cad881df69cb9df8f0c996ce96ecad758357ded2da03bad40[...]
> UTXO_VOUT=1
> UTXO_OUTPUT_SCRIPT=76a914fa5139067622fd7e1e722a05c17c2bb7d5fd6[...]
{% endhighlight %}
Decode the signed raw transaction so we can get its txid. Also, choose a
specific one of its UTXOs to spend and save that UTXO's output index number
(vout) and hex output script (scriptPubKey) into shell variables.
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest getnewaddress
mfdCHEFL2tW9eEUpizk7XLZJcnFM4hrp78
> NEW_ADDRESS=mfdCHEFL2tW9eEUpizk7XLZJcnFM4hrp78
{% endhighlight %}
Get a new address to spend the satoshis to.
{% highlight bash %}
## Outputs - inputs = transaction fee, so always double-check your math!
> bitcoin-cli -regtest createrawtransaction '''
[
{
"txid": "'$UTXO_TXID'",
"vout": '$UTXO_VOUT'
}
]
''' '''
{
"'$NEW_ADDRESS'": 9.9999
}'''
0100000001098ebbff18cf40ad3ba02ded7d3558d7ca6ee96c990c8fdfb99cf6\
1d88ad2c680100000000ffffffff01f0a29a3b000000001976a914012e2ba6a0\
51c033b03d712ca2ea00a35eac1e7988ac00000000
> RAW_TX=0100000001098ebbff18cf40ad3ba02ded7d3558d7ca6ee96c990c8[...]
{% endhighlight %}
Create the raw transaction the same way we've done in the previous
subsections.
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest signrawtransaction $RAW_TX
{% endhighlight %}
{% highlight json %}
{
"hex" : "0100000001098ebbff18cf40ad3ba02ded7d3558d7ca6ee\
96c990c8fdfb99cf61d88ad2c680100000000ffffffff01\
f0a29a3b000000001976a914012e2ba6a051c033b03d712\
ca2ea00a35eac1e7988ac00000000",
"complete" : false
}
{% endhighlight %}
Attempt to sign the raw transaction without any special arguments, the
way we successfully signed the the raw transaction in the Simple Raw
Transaction subsection. If you've read the [Transaction section][transaction] of
the guide, you may know why the call fails and leaves the raw
transaction hex unchanged.

As illustrated above, the data that gets signed includes the txid and
vout from the previous transaction. That information is included in the
`createrawtransaction` raw transaction. But the data that gets signed
also includes the output script from the previous transaction, even
though it doesn't appear in either the unsigned or signed transaction.
In the other raw transaction subsections above, the previous output was
part of the UTXO set known to the wallet, so the wallet was able to use
the txid and output index number to find the previous output script and
insert it automatically.
In this case, you're spending an output which is unknown to the wallet,
so it can't automatically insert the previous output script.
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest signrawtransaction $RAW_TX '''
[
{
"txid": "'$UTXO_TXID'",
"vout": '$UTXO_VOUT',
"scriptPubKey": "'$UTXO_OUTPUT_SCRIPT'"
}
]'''
{% endhighlight %}
{% highlight json %}
{
"hex" : "0100000001098ebbff18cf40ad3ba02ded7d3558d7ca6ee96c9\
90c8fdfb99cf61d88ad2c68010000006b483045022100c3f92f\
b74bfa687d76ebe75a654510bb291b8aab6f89ded4fe26777c2\
eb233ad02207f779ce2a181cc4055cb0362aba7fd7a6f72d5db\
b9bd863f4faaf47d8d6c4b500121028e4e62d25760709806131\
b014e2572f7590e70be01f0ef16bfbd51ea5f389d4dffffffff\
01f0a29a3b000000001976a914012e2ba6a051c033b03d712ca\
2ea00a35eac1e7988ac00000000",
"complete" : true
}
{% endhighlight %}
{% highlight bash %}
> SIGNED_RAW_TX=0100000001098ebbff18cf40ad3ba02ded7d3558d7ca6ee9[...]
{% endhighlight %}
Successfully sign the transaction by providing the previous output
script and other required input data.
This specific operation is typically what offline signing wallets do.
The online wallet creates the raw transaction and gets the previous
output scripts for all the inputs. The user brings this information to
the offline wallet. After displaying the transaction details to the
user, the offline wallet signs the transaction as we did above. The
user takes the signed transaction back to the online wallet, which
broadcasts it.
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest sendrawtransaction $SIGNED_RAW_TX
{% endhighlight %}
{% highlight json %}
error: {"code":-22,"message":"TX rejected"}
{% endhighlight %}
Attempt to broadcast the second transaction before we've broadcast the
first transaction. The node rejects this attempt because the second
transaction spends an output which is not a UTXO the node knows about.
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest sendrawtransaction $OLD_SIGNED_RAW_TX
682cad881df69cb9df8f0c996ce96ecad758357ded2da03bad40cf18ffbb8e09
> bitcoin-cli -regtest sendrawtransaction $SIGNED_RAW_TX
67d53afa1a8167ca093d30be7fb9dcb8a64a5fdecacec9d93396330c47052c57
{% endhighlight %}
Broadcast the first transaction, which succeeds, and then broadcast the
second transaction---which also now succeeds because the node now sees
the UTXO.
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest getrawmempool
{% endhighlight %}
{% highlight json %}
[
"67d53afa1a8167ca093d30be7fb9dcb8a64a5fdecacec9d93396330c47052c57",
"682cad881df69cb9df8f0c996ce96ecad758357ded2da03bad40cf18ffbb8e09"
]
{% endhighlight %}
We have once again not generated an additional block, so the transactions
above have not yet become part of the regtest block chain. However, they
are part of the local node's memory pool.
{% highlight bash %}
> unset OLD_SIGNED_RAW_TX SIGNED_RAW_TX RAW_TX [...]
{% endhighlight %}
Remove old shell variables.
{% endautocrossref %}
#### P2SH Multisig
{% autocrossref %}
In this subsection, we will create a P2SH multisig address, spend
satoshis to it, and then spend those satoshis from it to another
address.
Creating a multisig address is easy. Multisig outputs have two
parameters, the *minimum* number of signatures required (*m*) and the
*number* of public keys to use to validate those signatures. This is
called m-of-n, and in this case we'll be using 2-of-3.
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest getnewaddress
mhAXF4Eq7iRyvbYk1mpDVBiGdLP3YbY6Dm
> bitcoin-cli -regtest getnewaddress
moaCrnRfP5zzyhW8k65f6Rf2z5QpvJzSKe
> bitcoin-cli -regtest getnewaddress
mk2QpYatsKicvFVuTAQLBryyccRXMUaGHP
> NEW_ADDRESS1=mhAXF4Eq7iRyvbYk1mpDVBiGdLP3YbY6Dm
> NEW_ADDRESS2=moaCrnRfP5zzyhW8k65f6Rf2z5QpvJzSKe
> NEW_ADDRESS3=mk2QpYatsKicvFVuTAQLBryyccRXMUaGHP
{% endhighlight %}
Generate three new P2PKH addresses. P2PKH addresses cannot be used with
the multisig redeemScript created below. (Hashing each public key is
unnecessary anyway---all the public keys are protected by a hash when
the redeemScript is hashed.) However, Bitcoin Core uses addresses as a
way to reference the underlying full (unhashed) public keys it knows
about, so we get the three new addresses above in order to use their
public keys.
[Recall from the Guide][address] that the hashed public keys used in addresses
obfuscate the full public key, so you cannot give an address to another
person or device as part of creating a typical multisig output or P2SH multisig
redeemScript. You must give them a full public key.
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest validateaddress $NEW_ADDRESS3
{% endhighlight %}
{% highlight json %}
{
"isvalid" : true,
"address" : "mk2QpYatsKicvFVuTAQLBryyccRXMUaGHP",
"ismine" : true,
"isscript" : false,
"pubkey" : "029e03a901b85534ff1e92c43c74431f7ce72046060fcf7a\
95c37e148f78c77255",
"iscompressed" : true,
"account" : ""
}
{% endhighlight %}
{% highlight bash %}
> NEW_ADDRESS3_PUBLIC_KEY=029e03a901b85534ff1e92c43c74431f7ce720[...]
{% endhighlight %}
Use the `validateaddress` RPC to display the full (unhashed) public key
for one of the addresses. This is the information which will
actually be included in the multisig redeemScript. This is also the
information you would give another person or device as part of creating
a multisig output or P2SH multisig redeemScript.
We save the address returned to a shell variable.
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest createmultisig 2 '''
[
"'$NEW_ADDRESS1'",
"'$NEW_ADDRESS2'",
"'$NEW_ADDRESS3_PUBLIC_KEY'"
]'''
{% endhighlight %}
{% highlight json %}
{
"address" : "2N7NaqSKYQUeM8VNgBy8D9xQQbiA8yiJayk",
"redeemScript" : "522103310188e911026cf18c3ce274e0ebb5f95b00\
7f230d8cb7d09879d96dbeab1aff210243930746e6ed6552e03359db521b\
088134652905bd2d1541fa9124303a41e95621029e03a901b85534ff1e92\
c43c74431f7ce72046060fcf7a95c37e148f78c7725553ae"
}
{% endhighlight %}
{% highlight bash %}
> P2SH_ADDRESS=2N7NaqSKYQUeM8VNgBy8D9xQQbiA8yiJayk
> P2SH_REDEEM_SCRIPT=522103310188e911026cf18c3ce274e0ebb5f95b007[...]
{% endhighlight %}
Use the `createmultisig` RPC with two arguments, the number (*n*) of
signatures required and a list of addresses or public keys. Because
P2PKH addresses can't be used in the multisig redeemScript created by this
RPC, the only addresses which can be provided are those belonging to a
public key in the wallet. In this case, we provide two addresses and
one public key---all of which will be converted to public keys in the
redeemScript.
The P2SH address is returned along with the redeemScript which must be
provided when we spend satoshis sent to the P2SH address.
**Warning:** You must not lose the redeemScript, especially if you
don't have a record of which public keys you used to create the P2SH
multisig address. You need the redeemScript to spend any bitcoins sent
to the P2SH address. If you lose the redeemScript, you can recreate it
by running the same command above, with the public keys listed in the
same order. However, if you lose both the redeemScript and even one of
the public keys, you will never be able to spend satoshis sent to that
P2SH address.
Neither the address nor the redeemScript are stored in the wallet when
you use `createmultisig`. To store them in the wallet, use the
`addmultisigaddress` RPC instead. If you add an address to the wallet,
you should also make a new backup.
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest sendtoaddress $P2SH_ADDRESS 10.00
7278d7d030f042ebe633732b512bcb31fff14a697675a1fe1884db139876e175
> UTXO_TXID=7278d7d030f042ebe633732b512bcb31fff14a697675a1fe1884[...]
{% endhighlight %}
Paying the P2SH multisig address with Bitcoin Core is as simple as
paying a more common P2PKH address. Here we use the same command (but
different variable) we used in the Simple Spending subsection. As
before, this command automatically selects an UTXO, creates a change
output to a new one of our P2PKH addresses if necessary, and pays a
transaction fee if necessary.
We save that txid to a shell variable as the txid of the UTXO we plan to spend next.
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest getrawtransaction $UTXO_TXID 1
{% endhighlight %}
{% highlight json %}
{
"hex" : "0100000001f0ede03d75050f20801d50358829ae02c058e8677\
d2cc74df51f738285013c26010000006a47304402203c375959\
2bf608ab79c01596c4a417f3110dd6eb776270337e575cdafc6\
99af20220317ef140d596cc255a4067df8125db7f349ad94521\
2e9264a87fa8d777151937012102a92913b70f9fb15a7ea5c42\
df44637f0de26e2dad97d6d54957690b94cf2cd05ffffffff01\
00ca9a3b0000000017a9149af61346ce0aa2dffcf697352b4b7\
04c84dcbaff8700000000",
"txid" : "7278d7d030f042ebe633732b512bcb31fff14a697675a1fe18\
84db139876e175",
"version" : 1,
"locktime" : 0,
"vin" : [
{
"txid" : "263c018582731ff54dc72c7d67e858c002ae298835\
501d80200f05753de0edf0",
"vout" : 1,
"scriptSig" : {
"asm" : "304402203c3759592bf608ab79c01596c4a417f\
3110dd6eb776270337e575cdafc699af2022031\
7ef140d596cc255a4067df8125db7f349ad9452\
12e9264a87fa8d77715193701
02a92913b70f9fb15a7ea5c42df44637f0de26e\
2dad97d6d54957690b94cf2cd05",
"hex" : "47304402203c3759592bf608ab79c01596c4a41\
7f3110dd6eb776270337e575cdafc699af20220\
317ef140d596cc255a4067df8125db7f349ad94\
5212e9264a87fa8d777151937012102a92913b7\
0f9fb15a7ea5c42df44637f0de26e2dad97d6d5\
4957690b94cf2cd05"
},
"sequence" : 4294967295
}
],
"vout" : [
{
"value" : 10.00000000,
"n" : 0,
"scriptPubKey" : {
"asm" : "OP_HASH160 9af61346ce0aa2dffcf697352b4b\
704c84dcbaff OP_EQUAL",
"hex" : "a9149af61346ce0aa2dffcf697352b4b704c84d\
cbaff87",
"reqSigs" : 1,
"type" : "scripthash",
"addresses" : [
"2N7NaqSKYQUeM8VNgBy8D9xQQbiA8yiJayk"
]
}
}
]
}
{% endhighlight %}
{% highlight bash %}
> UTXO_VOUT=0
> UTXO_OUTPUT_SCRIPT=a9149af61346ce0aa2dffcf697352b4b704c84dcbaff87
{% endhighlight %}
We use the `getrawtransaction` RPC with the optional second argument
(*true*) to get the decoded transaction we just created with
`spendtoaddress`. We choose one of the outputs to be our UTXO and get
its output index number (vout) and output script (scriptPubKey).
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest getnewaddress
mxCNLtKxzgjg8yyNHeuFSXvxCvagkWdfGU
> NEW_ADDRESS4=mxCNLtKxzgjg8yyNHeuFSXvxCvagkWdfGU
{% endhighlight %}
We generate a new P2PKH address to use in the output we're about to
create.
{% highlight bash %}
## Outputs - inputs = transaction fee, so always double-check your math!
> bitcoin-cli -regtest createrawtransaction '''
[
{
"txid": "'$UTXO_TXID'",
"vout": '$UTXO_VOUT'
}
]
''' '''
{
"'$NEW_ADDRESS4'": 9.998
}'''
010000000175e1769813db8418fea17576694af1ff31cb2b512b7333e6eb42f0\
30d0d778720000000000ffffffff01c0bc973b000000001976a914b6f64f5bf3\
e38f25ead28817df7929c06fe847ee88ac00000000
> RAW_TX=010000000175e1769813db8418fea17576694af1ff31cb2b512b733[...]
{% endhighlight %}
We generate the raw transaction the same way we did in the Simple Raw
Transaction subsection.
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest dumpprivkey $NEW_ADDRESS1
cVinshabsALz5Wg4tGDiBuqEGq4i6WCKWXRQdM8RFxLbALvNSHw7
> bitcoin-cli -regtest dumpprivkey $NEW_ADDRESS3
cNmbnwwGzEghMMe1vBwH34DFHShEj5bcXD1QpFRPHgG9Mj1xc5hq
> NEW_ADDRESS1_PRIVATE_KEY=cVinshabsALz5Wg4tGDiBuqEGq4i6WCKWXRQd[...]
> NEW_ADDRESS3_PRIVATE_KEY=cNmbnwwGzEghMMe1vBwH34DFHShEj5bcXD1Qp[...]
{% endhighlight %}
We get the private keys for two of the public keys we used to create the
transaction, the same way we got private keys in the Complex Raw
Transaction subsection. Recall that we created a 2-of-3 multisig script,
so signatures from two private keys are needed.
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest signrawtransaction $RAW_TX '''
[
{
"txid": "'$UTXO_TXID'",
"vout": '$UTXO_VOUT',
"scriptPubKey": "'$UTXO_OUTPUT_SCRIPT'",
"redeemScript": "'$P2SH_REDEEM_SCRIPT'"
}
]
''' '''
[
"'$NEW_ADDRESS1_PRIVATE_KEY'"
]'''
{% endhighlight %}
{% highlight json %}
{
"hex" : "010000000175e1769813db8418fea17576694af1ff31cb2b512\
b7333e6eb42f030d0d7787200000000b5004830450221008d5e\
c57d362ff6ef6602e4e756ef1bdeee12bd5c5c72697ef1455b3\
79c90531002202ef3ea04dfbeda043395e5bc701e4878c15baa\
b9c6ba5808eb3d04c91f641a0c014c69522103310188e911026\
cf18c3ce274e0ebb5f95b007f230d8cb7d09879d96dbeab1aff\
210243930746e6ed6552e03359db521b088134652905bd2d154\
1fa9124303a41e95621029e03a901b85534ff1e92c43c74431f\
7ce72046060fcf7a95c37e148f78c7725553aeffffffff01c0b\
c973b000000001976a914b6f64f5bf3e38f25ead28817df7929\
c06fe847ee88ac00000000",
"complete" : false
}
{% endhighlight %}
{% highlight bash %}
> PARTLY_SIGNED_RAW_TX=010000000175e1769813db8418fea17576694af1f[...]
{% endhighlight %}
We make the first signature. The input argument (JSON object) takes the
additional redeemScript parameter so that it can append the redeemScript
to the scriptSig after the two signatures.
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest signrawtransaction $PARTLY_SIGNED_RAW_TX '''
[
{
"txid": "'$UTXO_TXID'",
"vout": '$UTXO_VOUT',
"scriptPubKey": "'$UTXO_OUTPUT_SCRIPT'",
"redeemScript": "'$P2SH_REDEEM_SCRIPT'"
}
]
''' '''
[
"'$NEW_ADDRESS3_PRIVATE_KEY'"
]'''
{% endhighlight %}
{% highlight json %}
{
"hex" : "010000000175e1769813db8418fea17576694af1ff31cb2b512\
b7333e6eb42f030d0d7787200000000fdfd0000483045022100\
8d5ec57d362ff6ef6602e4e756ef1bdeee12bd5c5c72697ef14\
55b379c90531002202ef3ea04dfbeda043395e5bc701e4878c1\
5baab9c6ba5808eb3d04c91f641a0c0147304402200bd8c62b9\
38e02094021e481b149fd5e366a212cb823187149799a68cfa7\
652002203b52120c5cf25ceab5f0a6b5cdb8eca0fd2f386316c\
9721177b75ddca82a4ae8014c69522103310188e911026cf18c\
3ce274e0ebb5f95b007f230d8cb7d09879d96dbeab1aff21024\
3930746e6ed6552e03359db521b088134652905bd2d1541fa91\
24303a41e95621029e03a901b85534ff1e92c43c74431f7ce72\
046060fcf7a95c37e148f78c7725553aeffffffff01c0bc973b\
000000001976a914b6f64f5bf3e38f25ead28817df7929c06fe\
847ee88ac00000000",
"complete" : true
}
{% endhighlight %}
{% highlight bash %}
> SIGNED_RAW_TX=010000000175e1769813db8418fea17576694af1ff31cb2b[...]
{% endhighlight %}
The `signrawtransaction` call used here is nearly identical to the one
used above. The only difference is the private key used. Now that the
two required signatures have been provided, the transaction is marked as
complete.
{% highlight bash %}
> bitcoin-cli -regtest sendrawtransaction $SIGNED_RAW_TX
430a4cee3a55efb04cbb8718713cab18dea7f2521039aa660ffb5aae14ff3f50
{% endhighlight %}
We send the transaction spending the P2SH multisig output to the local
node, which accepts it.
{% endautocrossref %}