Bitcoin Core and avoiding address reuse

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Posts: 10 · Reputation: 109
#1Mar 18, 2022, 03:48 AM
I set up a watch-only Bitcoin Core descriptor wallet with "avoid_reuse" set to true. It has public keys from various wallets that I've imported, and I use it mainly to monitor all my balances. This wallet also helps me generate new receiving addresses and create unsigned transactions, so I really want to keep "avoid_reuse" as true. The thing is, I want to see the total balance of all addresses directly in the GUI. Right now, I can only see the balance of all the unused addresses next to "Available". If I want to check the balance of the reused addresses, I have to run "getbalances" in the console. Is there a way to keep "avoid_reuse" true but still display the total balance of both "trusted" and "used" addresses in the main GUI? Thanks a lot!
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coin_sigmaLegendary
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#2Mar 18, 2022, 06:47 AM
By default, avoid_reuse is set to true so I think it should show all balances on the GUI have you checked if the Bitcoin core is fully synced? Or I think if it does not show all balances can you import manually those addresses (reused addresses) in the GUI? You can use this command on the console Alternatively, if your purpose is just to monitor your wallet addresses why not use 3rd party tool like this link below to check all balances - https://bitcoindata.science/bitcoin-balance-check.html
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ryan_nodeSenior Member
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#3Mar 18, 2022, 07:49 AM
Currently, no. I've opened a feature request to add this: https://github.com/bitcoin-core/gui/issues/769
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#4Mar 18, 2022, 11:39 AM
I said already that I can see balances using "getbalances" so of course it is synced. "importpubkey" does not work with descriptor wallets. And why would I lose my privacy and use online third party? This is great, thank you!
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def1777Full Member
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#5Mar 19, 2022, 07:46 AM
Thanks for mentioning and glad to see this tool is useful for you. I created this tool to monitor addresses from multiple wallets, which is very useful to me as I have many wallets (hardware,  mobile, web wallets...) The data comes from mempool.space
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ape_2018Senior Member
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#6Mar 21, 2022, 04:55 PM
Is it good for privacy by using third party tools? Care about privacy, use third party tools with Tor connection. I would like to import my public addresses in a Watch-only wallet, use Tor connection and check it by myself. I don't want to access third-party websites and have risk of doing something harmful for my privacy. I am not against bitcoindata.science but it's general opinion about Block explorers too. List of Bitcoin block explorers.
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hash_bossLegendary
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#7Mar 21, 2022, 08:37 PM
The general answer is no, but it comes down to whether you can trust owner of that website and any third party they use. And depending on how much privacy you want, Bitcoin Core or lightweight wallet which use BIP 157 with Tor or VPN are your only option. If you ask details about mutiples address or master public key to single block explorer or server, they might assume those belong to same people.
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def1777Full Member
Posts: 194 · Reputation: 685
#8Mar 22, 2022, 01:18 AM
Nothing is better for privacy than running a full node and checking the data by yourself... I agree with you that using third party data is not the best. This website is exactly the same as using mempool.space block explorer. When you add, for example, 3 addresses to bitcoindata.science, the website makes a request for each address in mempool.space API. So, you have the same privacy level of checking 3 address separately in mempool.space
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ape_2018Senior Member
Posts: 412 · Reputation: 1728
#9Mar 22, 2022, 06:58 AM
Using SPV wallet (lightweight wallet) like Electrum wallet, without Tor and connect it to other servers to use and check balance is not good for privacy. It's explain why professional people are favorite to use Bitcoin Core, full node, Tor to do their Bitcoin transactions. Use Electrum wallet with Tor. Thank you to have you here and no one can disagree about risk from third-party tools but I don't imply you do something shady with your tool. Looks a great explanation that helps me to understand the Balance checking tool from Bitcoindata.science better.
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