Receiving bitcoin with your BitBox02 and Electrum is simple, but it includes one crucial security step: you must always verify the receiving address on your BitBox02 screen. Your computer could be infected with malware that changes the address shown in the Electrum app. The screen on your BitBox02 is your trusted display, ensuring the address you share is truly yours.
This guide will walk you through the process of safely generating and verifying a receiving address.
Before you begin:
- Please ensure your BitBox02 is fully set up and updated to the latest firmware using the BitBoxApp, and have the device ready to connect and unlock when prompted for secure actions.
- The latest version of Electrum (https://electrum.org) must be installed on your computer.
- You must have already connected your BitBox02 to Electrum. If not, please follow our connection guide (How to connect your BitBox02 with Electrum) first.
The BitBoxApp must be completely closed before you open Electrum, as only one application can connect to the device at a time.
Step-by-step guide to receiving bitcoin:
- In Electrum, go to the Receive tab.
- Click Request to create a new receiving address.
- This will create new receiving requests and addresses derived from your wallet (seed).
- Click the tool icon on the right and select Show address on BitBox02.
- Crucially, verify the address on your BitBox02 screen. It must be identical to the one shown in Electrum.
- If they match, confirm on the BitBox02. You can now share this address to receive funds.
FAQ Section:
Why must I verify the address on my BitBox02?
Malware on your computer can intercept and change a bitcoin address when you copy and paste it. Verifying the address on the BitBox02's trusted screen ensures that you are sharing an address that your hardware wallet controls, protecting you from this type of attack.
Can I reuse a bitcoin address?
While you can, it is strongly discouraged for privacy reasons. Reusing addresses allows anyone to easily track your transaction history on the public blockchain. Electrum automatically generates a new address for each transaction to help protect your privacy.
What happens if I don't verify the address?
If you share an address without verifying it on your BitBox02, and your computer is compromised, you could accidentally share an attacker's address. Any funds sent to that address would be stolen and unrecoverable.