A web watch-only wallet lets you securely monitor your Bitcoin account balances and transaction history online using your BitBox account's extended public key (xpub). You won't need to connect your BitBox or install a dedicated app. This guide shows you how to obtain your ZPUB from the BitBoxApp, convert it to XPUB, and use it with a block explorer.
What you'll need
- Your ZPUB (account extended public key for native SegWit) from the BitBoxApp.
- An xpub converter, like jlopp.github.io/xpub-converter/.
- A block explorer, such as Blockchain.com Explorer.
Set up your web watch-only wallet
Follow these steps to create your web watch-only wallet:
01 Get your ZPUB from the BitBoxApp
- You'll need your ZPUB (account extended public key for native SegWit) from the BitBoxApp. Find instructions on how to locate this, along with a detailed explanation of extended public keys, in our article: Extended public keys explained.
02 Convert your ZPUB to XPUB
- The block explorer used in this guide, Blockchain.com, requires the XPUB format. Your ZPUB from the BitBoxApp needs conversion.
- Open an xpub converter like jlopp.github.io/xpub-converter/.
- The tool will automatically display various converted formats. Locate and copy the value from the "XPUB (P2PKH / P2SH)" field (or a similar "XPUB" designation).
- Paste your ZPUB into the "Extended Public Key" field.
- Click on “Convert”
03 View your account on a block explorer
- Go to Blockchain.com Explorer.
- Paste your converted XPUB into the search bar.
- Press Enter or click search.
What you can see in the explorer
Once the explorer processes your XPUB, you have successfully set up a web watch-only view for your Bitcoin account. You will typically be able to see:
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Balances:
- Confirmed: The total amount of Bitcoin confirmed on the blockchain for this account.
- Unconfirmed: Any Bitcoin sent to or from this account that is not yet confirmed in a block (pending transactions).
- Received: The cumulative amount of Bitcoin that has ever been received by addresses associated with this xpub.
- Addresses: The total number of unique addresses derived from your XPUB that the explorer has identified as having been used or holding a balance.
- Transactions: The total count of transactions associated with this account.
- UTXOs (Unspent Transaction Outputs): You can often see which specific addresses hold which unspent amounts of Bitcoin.
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Transactions:
- A detailed list of all incoming and outgoing transactions, including amounts, dates, and transaction IDs.
Address inspection and verification:
You can inspect individual addresses (both those with funds and those that are now empty) that have been derived from your XPUB. This is insightful for understanding your transaction flow.
This feature is also very helpful for confirming if a particular address you previously used, which is now empty, indeed belongs to this account. For instance, if you're looking for a specific address (e.g., one starting with "bc1qum...") among those displayed by the explorer for your xpub:
Note that the search needs to be done through the browser’s search function — for example, on macOS, use CMD + F. Then, enter the first 6 characters and search to retrieve the results as follows:
- You might observe that it was involved in a certain number of transactions (e.g., "2 Transactions").
- Its "Confirmed" and "Unconfirmed" balance will show 0 if it's currently empty.
- The "Received" field for that address will indicate the cumulative Bitcoin amount it ever received.
- The number of UTXOs currently at that address will also be 0.
Finding an address in this manner, along with its history, confirms its deterministic link to your account's extended public key. The explorer will also typically list several unused, empty addresses that are deterministically derived and belong to your wallet, ready for future use (but always verify them on your BitBox first!).
Important security reminder
Always verify receiving addresses on your BitBox. While a block explorer might show upcoming empty addresses derived from your xpub, you should never use these addresses to receive Bitcoin without first generating and verifying them directly through the BitBoxApp and confirming them on your BitBox device. This ensures the address is correct and securely belongs to your wallet, protecting you from potential errors or malicious interference.
Benefits of a web watch-only wallet
- Quick overview: Easily check your Bitcoin balance and recent transactions without needing to connect your BitBox or open the BitBoxApp.
- No extra software needed: You don't need to install any additional applications on your computer or phone for this type of monitoring.
- Convenience: Monitor multiple Bitcoin accounts (if you use them) by repeating the process for each account's ZPUB.
This method provides a secure and convenient way to stay informed about your Bitcoin holdings managed by your BitBox.