|
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
|
|
|
|
|
+MMGen = Multi-Mode GENerator
|
|
|
|
|
+============================
|
|
|
|
|
+##### a Bitcoin cold storage solution for the command line
|
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
|
|
|
+### Description
|
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
|
|
|
+MMGen is a Bitcoin cold-storage system implemented as a suite of Python
|
|
|
|
|
+command-line scripts requiring only a bare minimum of system resources. The
|
|
|
|
|
+scripts work in tandem with a modified Satoshi bitcoind running on an online
|
|
|
|
|
+computer and a stock bitcoind running offline to provide a robust solution for
|
|
|
|
|
+securely storing, tracking, sending and receiving Bitcoins. "Non-MMGen"
|
|
|
|
|
+addresses can be tracked and spent as well, creating an easy migration path from
|
|
|
|
|
+other wallets.
|
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
|
|
|
+To track address balances, MMGen relies on a bitcoin daemon modified by
|
|
|
|
|
+Bitcoin's core developer team to support watch-only addresses. This feature
|
|
|
|
|
+is soon to be included in the mainline Satoshi build. In the meantime,
|
|
|
|
|
+instructions are provided below for compiling the modified bitcoind. Under
|
|
|
|
|
+Linux, this is a trivial task for even a casual user. Unfortunately, the same
|
|
|
|
|
+can't be said for Windows, but the thoroughly tested, step-by-step Windows build
|
|
|
|
|
+instructions provided here should guarantee success if followed carefully and
|
|
|
|
|
+make the process as painless as possible.
|
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
|
|
|
+MMGen is designed for reliability by having the reference Satoshi daemon, rather
|
|
|
|
|
+than less-tested third-party software, do all the "heavy lifting" of tracking
|
|
|
|
|
+and signing transactions. It's also designed for privacy: unlike some other
|
|
|
|
|
+online/offline wallet solutions, the MMGen system is completely self-contained,
|
|
|
|
|
+requiring no external server to do its work, which means no third party will
|
|
|
|
|
+know which addresses you're tracking.
|
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
|
|
|
+Like all deterministic wallets, MMGen can generate a virtually unlimited number
|
|
|
|
|
+of address/key pairs from a single seed. Your wallet never changes, so you need
|
|
|
|
|
+to back it up only once. Transactions are signed offline: your seed and private
|
|
|
|
|
+keys never touch an online computer.
|
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
|
|
|
+At the heart of the MMGen system is the seed, the "master key" providing access
|
|
|
|
|
+to all your Bitcoins. The seed can be stored in four different ways:
|
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
|
|
|
+ 1. as a password-encrypted wallet. For password hashing, the crack-resistant
|
|
|
|
|
+ scrypt hash function is used. Scrypt's parameters can be customized on the
|
|
|
|
|
+ command line to make your wallet's password virtually impossible to crack
|
|
|
|
|
+ should it fall into the wrong hands. The wallet is a tiny, six-line text
|
|
|
|
|
+ file suitable for printing or even writing out by hand;
|
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
|
|
|
+ 2. as a seed file: a one-line base-58 representation of your unencrypted seed
|
|
|
|
|
+ with a checksum;
|
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
|
|
|
+ 3. as an Electrum-like mnemonic of 12, 18 or 24 words; or
|
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
|
|
|
+ 4. as a brainwallet password (this option is recommended for expert users
|
|
|
|
|
+ only).
|
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
|
|
|
+The best part is that all these methods can be combined. If you forget your
|
|
|
|
|
+mnemonic, for example, you can regenerate it and your keys from the stored
|
|
|
|
|
+wallet or seed file. Correspondingly, a lost wallet can be regenerated from the
|
|
|
|
|
+mnemonic or seed or a lost seed from the wallet or mnemonic.
|
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
|
|
|
+### Download/Install
|
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
|
|
|
+> #### [Install on Microsoft Windows](doc/MMGenInstallMSWin.md)
|
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
|
|
|
+> #### [Install on Debian/Ubuntu Linux](doc/MMGenInstallLinux.md)
|
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
|
|
|
+### Using MMGen
|
|
|
|
|
+
|
|
|
|
|
+> #### See [Getting Started with MMGen](doc/MMGenGettingStarted.md)
|
philemon