Bitcoin Core

The classic old wallet.dat with a forgotten passphrase.

hashcat mode: 11300 · hash starts with $bitcoin$

  1. btcrecover extract (preferred — safest)

    python3 extract-scripts/extract-bitcoincore-mkey.py /path/to/copy/wallet.dat

    Output looks like bitcoincore:hSpFVR4...

    The whole printed line is what you send.

  2. bitcoin2john (for hashcat / John)

    python3 bitcoin2john.py /path/to/copy/wallet.dat

    Output looks like $bitcoin$96$d011a1b6...$16$...$158555$96$...

    Send the $bitcoin$... string (hashcat mode 11300).

✅ Send this

The extract line, or the $bitcoin$... hash — one or two lines of text.

❌ Never send

  • the wallet.dat file itself
  • your seed phrase
  • any private key

Watch out

  • If bitcoin2john errors on a newer descriptor wallet, use the btcrecover extract instead — it handles more wallet variants.

Learn more: btcrecover extract scripts

Next steps

Before you send it,run the safety check, thenassess the difficulty.