You may have noticed that the BitBoxApp only displays a certain number of unused receive addresses at one time. This guide explains this intentional feature, known as the address gap limit, and why it is important for the security and efficiency of your wallet.

The 20 Unused Address Limit

Your BitBox02 can generate a virtually unlimited number of addresses for each account. However, to find your transactions, a wallet app needs to scan the blockchain for each address it knows about.

To do this efficiently, the BitBoxApp and other wallet software follow an industry standard: they stop scanning after finding a sequence of 20 consecutive addresses that have never been used. This sequence is the address gap limit.

Why the Gap Limit is Important

Better Wallet Compatibility and Recovery

The main purpose of the gap limit is to ensure you can reliably restore your wallet using your recovery phrase on different software.

When you restore a wallet, the new app has to scan the blockchain to find all your past transactions and calculate your balance. It stops scanning after it finds a "gap" of 20 unused addresses. If you had received funds to an address far beyond this gap (e.g., address #100, while addresses #1-20 were unused), the wallet might not find those funds, leading to an incorrect balance. Sticking to the standard limit ensures a smooth and complete recovery process.

Faster Syncing and Performance

Limiting the search to the next 20 unused addresses makes the BitBoxApp much faster. Checking an infinite number of potential addresses every time you open the app would be very slow and use a lot of resources. The gap limit ensures the app can sync with the network quickly.

Can I change this limit?

Yes, it is possible to manually change the gap limit in the BitBoxApp. However, this is an advanced feature that should only be used for specific recovery situations where you suspect funds are not being detected.

For detailed instructions, please see our guide: How to adjust the BitBoxApp gap limit.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Will I lose Bitcoin if it's sent to an address beyond the gap limit?

No, the funds are not lost. They are safely recorded on the blockchain and secured by your BitBox02. However, the BitBoxApp might not "see" them during a normal scan. You would need to temporarily increase the gap limit to allow the app to find them.

Is the gap limit the same for all cryptocurrencies?

The concept of a gap limit is primarily for UTXO-based coins like Bitcoin. Account-based coins like Ethereum typically use a single address per account, so a gap limit is not needed for them.

Does the gap limit also apply to change addresses?

Yes. Bitcoin transactions often create "change" that is sent back to a new, hidden address in your wallet. These change addresses also have a gap limit to ensure they can be found correctly during a wallet recovery.