Hello,
How does these wallets work that doesn't have wallet.dat file. Jaxx for exampel.
When you make a backup you get 12 random words, these words have no numbers or special letters.
- The backup most be at Jaxx, what if jaxx gets hacked?
- Why not make the backup on the computer so you can be your own backup, like a wallet.dat?
- What if the company is a scam and just quit?
Some coins have wallets with wallet.dat, Etherum Classic doesn't seem to have that.
In my opinion it's seems pretty unsecure to have these kind of wallets.
Can anyone explain why this is so popular?.
Thanks!
Your coins are not stored on your device the are stored on the blockchain - the public ledger and everyone have an access to it. Everyone can view your balance but to be able to spend your coins and for you to spend it the private key is needed. Bitcoin COre keeps the private keys in the wallet.dat whereas jaxx keep in its own files.
Jaxx is the light wallet which means that it doesn't need to download the blockchain (transaction history) rather it connects to the computers that have access to this blockchain. Those 12 words that jaxx has are used for HD wallet.
HD wallets lets you generate PRIVATE keys (address can be generated from private key within one way function, so it doesn't work in reverse order). With those 12words Jaxx can generate multiple addresses, so every time you receive an payment jaxx will generate new one and show it to you for your next payment. Of course you can use your old addresses.
So in short it is easier to backup 12 word phrases and jaxx gives you a bit more privacy while generating new address every time. THey store private keys on your device which is great for you. From those words you can generate private keys that are associateed with you wallet.
In case of using Jaxx BACKUP THOSE WORDS AND KEEP THEM SAFE.
BE YOUR OWN BANK = ACT ACCORDINGLY = KEEP YOUR PRIVATE KEYS PRIVATE
Jaxx don't have access to your keys as they are stored on your device, if they stop to operate you can recover your bitcoin as you can generate private keys and so be able to spend your coins.