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Watch-only wallets enable you to keep track of your cryptocurrency balances without ever exposing your private keys or your seed phrase. Vault12 has introduced a new capability, Address Explorer, for BIP39 compatible wallets that enables you to display your wallet addresses for assets locked in your Vault - without the need to unlock assets.
These addresses can then be used in Watch-only wallets. The Address Explorer handily enables you to copy addresses for easy import and also provides an xPub export to make it very simple and straightforward to create Watch-only wallets.
What is an xPub and how does it relate to a watch-only wallet?
xPub, an extended public key, is a special public key that represents a group of public keys or addresses. xPub is used to create a Watch-only wallet, a simple way to track your balances and transactions without using your seed phrase or your actual transactional wallet.
Wallets that use the BIP39 standard provide multiple addresses (often referred to as accounts) that can be used to deposit cryptocurrency. To protect your privacy even further it is advisable to use different addresses, and not just the default first address. In fact, the BIP32 standard for Hierarchical Deterministic Wallets gives you even more control over selectively revealing addresses, protecting your overall privacy.
What are the benefits of having an xPub for multiple crypto addresses?
Each BIP39 wallet provides public addresses that can be used for different assets e.g. different cryptocurrencies or NFTs. Many wallets refer to these addresses as Accounts, but as far as the blockchain is concerned these are addresses where digital assets can be deposited. Addresses give you the following benefits:
- Multiple addresses mean multiple currencies in a. single wallet, protected by a single seed phrase
- The ability to have a virtually unlimited number of crypto addresses for receiving purposes, while keeping your seed protected.
- As an added protection, you can avoid using the first several addresses to further reduce your risk of compromise.
- Using your addresses, or doing an xPub export means you can inspect your balances without ever exposing your seed.
How to use Address Explorer in Vault12?
To be able to explore your wallet addresses for assets locked in your digital vault, you first need to make sure your seed phrase asset is either generated from Vault12 or imported with the Address Explorer option.
1. Add Asset to Vault
2. Select Backup Code option
3. Type in the name of your wallet
4. Select the size of your seed phrase
5. Enter your seed phrase
6. Name your asset and save - selecting the Address Explorer option.
Click on the Address Explorer to display available addresses.
1. Select the cryptocurrency type
2. Your addresses are displayed with options to export your extended public keys (xPub)
3. Click on an address to display the QR code to receive payment.
How to use xPub to create a Watch-only Wallet?
In this example, we will import the xPub into Bluewallet.
In your digital Vault, select the asset whose addresses you wish to export.
1. Select xPub to export the address
2. Copy the xPub
What do you need to know about xPub Privacy?
Anyone who has access to your xPub can see all the addresses associated with your wallet and therefore all transactions.
3. Open your chosen Watch-only wallet
4. Select 'Import wallet'
5. Paste in your address or xPub
6. Bluewallet recognizes the xPub and sets up your Watch-only wallet.
Once your Watch-only wallet is set up, you can inspect your balances at any time.
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