Bitcoin Cleanup Issue: Update and Solution
Starting with Bitcoin Core version 27.1.0, a recent update caused a significant break in the cleanup, or blockchain data optimization process. This issue affects users who have enabled cleanup on their wallets.
The Issue
To illustrate the problem, let’s look at what happens when you enable cleanup with a 6GB limit. Here’s what happens:
- Bitcoin Core downloads and processes your wallet.
- The process generates about 14GB of data.
- Cleanup has been enabled to optimize this data by removing unnecessary blocks.
However, instead of cleaning the entire block header, it appears that the cleanup stalled at about 6GB, leaving a significant amount of unnecessary data.
Consequences
This issue can lead to several issues:
- Resource Usage: Your computer may be using more resources (CPU and memory) than necessary, potentially slowing down your system.
- Waste of Memory Space
: If you don’t clear the entire block header, you will end up with unnecessary disk space in your wallet directory.
Resolution
To resolve this issue, follow these steps:
- Update to Bitcoin Core v27.1.0 or later
: Make sure you are using a version of Bitcoin Core that supports clearing. If you are using an older version, consider upgrading immediately.
- Disable Pruning: To bypass the pruning process entirely:
- Stop your wallet (e.g. « bitcoin-qt stop »).
- Manually delete the
.bitcoin/directory, including all subdirectories.
- Manually Prune the Block Header:
To manually prune the block header, you must separately download and process the blockchain data. You can do this by:
- Downloading a copy of the latest Bitcoin block header (from [
- Creating a new wallet in that directory.
- Editing the
bitcoin.conffile to enable prune and specify the location to download the block header.
Example:
,,minting
bitcoind -datadir ~/.bitcoin -prune=6000
« `
Important Note: Manually prune the block header can be error-prone, as it requires manual intervention. If you are unsure about the process or encounter errors, consider seeking help from a Bitcoin expert or the online community.
By following these steps and updating Bitcoin Core to a compatible version, you should be able to resolve the cleaning issue and enjoy a more efficient wallet experience.