Hi there !
I would like to have my balance moved from my Z-address to my T-address.
Z-addresses
For move your balance from Z-address to your T-address, send your empty wallet.dat and T-address to separate email
[email protected] with topic "Z-Address"
I'm asking myself a couple questions (sorry if they seem stupid):
- is it safe to send this file ?
- what does it contain ?
- the
empty wallet.dat file is requested, what does that mean ? how do I empty it ?
Thank you for your kind help !
Dikyx
Good questions... that could use a bit of explanation.
Question 2:The wallet file contains a database containing private keys, their associated public addresses and some metadata about them for example, date first used, a label for the key (if you use the "account" system to put different addresses into groups known as accounts), the state if the key ( used or or reserve ).
A private key allow you to sign transactions to transfer certain coins (coins that have been sent to or mined by a corresponding addresses).
The wallet file contains many keys, which can be in use (have been perviously used in a transaction) or in reserve
- one that are currently used and may be used to transfer coins if there is a balance
- reserve keys are stored for future transactions, for which addresses have not been seen on the chain yet. normally a pool of reserve keys is generated when the wallet software is started in order to quickly have a pool of ready addresses to use. (Generating these on the fly as needed would slow things down)
Question 1:How safe it is to send this file depends on the value of what is in the wallet. (are there coins "in" the wallet)
If someone else were to get access to this file, or the privates keys, they would also have control over coins to and would be able to sign transactions to send those coins elsewhere.
If there is value in the wallet. (either now, or if you expect coins to be sent to addresses in that wallet in the future) then it is not "safe" to send.
Question 3:"Empty" the wallet by sending all coins to addresses in another "new wallet". If you expect more coins to come to addresses in that wallet, (eg another pool mining to an address in that wallet).
The New wallet should have completely different keys and addresses than the "Empty" or to be emptied wallet. The Empty wallet should not be used again (as someone else potentially has control over coins sent there). The keys from the old wallet should not be used in a new wallet.
Why do it this way??The pool maintainer asks for the wallet as proof that the address is or was under your control to you. Then he can be relatively certain that to Address you say was used in the pool actually belongs to you. He asks that the wallet is empty because it is possible that if you send it by email, or private message, in the process of being transferred the message along with the private keys may be sent in the clear over the network or may at some point be stored on in a file that someone else has access to. After someone else has potentially seen your wallet dat, it's security has been compromised. (the are of course other ways for the security to be compromised)
backups You should keep a backup of your old wallet in case coins end up there. Label the backup so it is not mixed up with others ( use a descriptive and accurate name, like zcash_to_be_emptied_november2016.dat ). Store backups safely.... (don't use a USB stick the you will allow others access to in the future)
new wallet..Maybe sending your coins to an exchange you can trust for long enough.
After backing up the old wallet... you could erase the old wallet restart zcashd which will make a new wallet...
Fiddling with wallets is error prone so it is probably safer to use a separate user account or machine for the new wallet... and keep backups of that too.
If anyone is interested in testing anonymous transactions... here is a z-address:
zc9UA9ec5C1FHU1QzKKF8mH7iwiCVBdepRQxaMyVpG2kFTZPd6QcjivrcLaTANqacuQWspbEhSSUajZ
yPnBqzpBXRwKa2w7
For tax purposes, any transaction sent there will be considered a gift.