I am new to both Bitcoin and Trezor am only exploring BTC in self-custodied environments (“not your keys, not your bitcoin”). Still learning the ropes on the basics.
I have created a few receive addresses in the Trezor Suite, but have not yet actually received any live/real Bitcoin. (I have successfully received some Testnet bitcoin via faucets.)
A few questions:
Inside the Trezor Suite (25.2.2, Windows), I am trying to locate the list of “generated but not used” BTC addresses. Searching the forum here, I find a few references to those being in a list somewhere on the Receive screen, but I am not seeing such a list. Where can I find the receive addresses that I generated previously but have not yet used?
I recall reading somewhere during my setup process that there is a limit to how many BTC receiving addresses one can create but leave unused. It seems like that number was 20 addresses or so. Is this correct? (I’m just wanting to make sure I understand how the unused addresses linger, etc.)
My understanding is also that Bitcoin addresses never expire, and are also never recycled (i.e. they can’t be used by any wallet other the one they were generated in and for). Is that correct?
I am trying to get up to speed as quickly as I can.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Hi @NelsonQ,
it is so called HD wallet = Hierarchical Deterministic wallets. So if same derivation path is used, it will generate exactly same address (set of addresses). They are not reserved or stored for you on blockchain. If you close the application, they will be let’s say “forgotten” (because no amount belongs to them). Some other application may store/remember them.
Anyway, if you click on “Show full address” you will see the same address again (set of addresses).
In theory you can have “unlimited” number of addresses, but crawling and checking each address against blockchain during application startup, if there is some amount would cause hi traffic load on servers. So if 20 address were not used the “discovery” phase stops (i guess, that unused is not the same as zero balance = spent).
And yes, addresses never expires. And should not be reused - check Trezor learn portal page: Use new address for each transaction
My sincere thanks for your clarifying input — very helpful. I was not quite understanding the relationship between new addresses being generated and when/where they are stored after being generated. Your input + rereading the “Use new address for each transaction” helped me understand.
Hi @NelsonQ,
awesome . Maybe this initial phase is great opportunity for you, to level-up yourself. To avoid sleepless nights - try & practice:
Wipe you Trezor’s data in Trezor Suite and try to recover (aka test your Wallet Backup in case your Trezor is stolen or broken)
Similar to firmware upgrade, try switching firmware to Bitcoin-only (and ideally keep it there )
Careful plan disaster recovery in case of fire, thief, hurricanes, floodings - Multi-Share wallet backup (in comparison to Singe-Share) helps you here significantly (Multi-Share should be winner here - so consider secure destruction of Single-Share backup so it isn’t weakening your plan)
Passphrase on top of Multi-Share is king-level, but be sure you understand it deeply (it creates hidden wallet - just in case somebody would be able to gather minimal threshold of yours Multi-share and despite of that your BTC can be kept safe).
Keep all your PIN, Wallet Backup, Passphrase OFFLINE, i.e. special archiving paper & archival non-faint ink pen or Trezor Keep Metal (or similar). Lot of people forgot and lost access forever, despite thinking it can’t happen to them. Your brain is gonna lie here
Keep stacking you SATs for years regardless of pumps & dumps (aka DCA your saving).
. Maybe this initial phase is great opportunity for you, to level-up yourself. To avoid sleepless nights - try & practice:
)
