Redeem Your Cryptolator Coin

A step-by-step guide to combining the two passwords, importing keys, and accessing your Bitcoin.

Overview

What You’ll Do

  • Install & synchronize Bitcoin Core.
  • Generate public/private key pairs from the two passwords using BitAddress offline.
  • Create a new multi-signature wallet in Bitcoin Core.
  • Import both private keys to access your BTC.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Install & Synchronize Bitcoin Core

  • Download and install Bitcoin Core from the official website.
  • Open Bitcoin Core and allow it to fully synchronize with the Bitcoin network.

    This can take several days, and you’ll need around 730GB of free disk space.

2. Generate Keys Offline with BitAddress.org

  1. Go to bitaddress.org while online to download the webpage as an HTML file.
  2. Move that file to an offline or air-gapped computer and open it in a web browser (with internet disconnected).
  3. Click the “Brain Wallet” tab to generate a private key from a passphrase.

2.1 Generate the First Key Pair (Your Personal Password)

  1. Enter your personal password (from the Cryptolator certificate) into the Brain Wallet field.
  2. Copy the Private Key that appears.
  3. Click “Wallet Details”. Paste the private key into the Enter Private Key field and click View Details.
  4. Copy the 130-character Public Key (hex format).

Label these as “Private Key #1” and “Public Key #1” to stay organized.

2.2 Generate the Second Key Pair (From Cryptolator Coin’s Hologram)

  1. Reveal the second password hidden under the coin’s hologram.
  2. Enter this second password in the Brain Wallet field (still offline in BitAddress).
  3. Copy the Private Key, then repeat the Wallet Details step to retrieve the 130-character Public Key.

Label these as “Private Key #2” and “Public Key #2.”

3. Create a New Wallet in Bitcoin Core

  1. After Bitcoin Core is fully synced, go to File → Create New Wallet and follow the prompts.
  2. Give it a descriptive name, e.g., “Cryptolator Multi-Sig Wallet.”
  3. Open the Console via Window → Console in Bitcoin Core.

4. Add a Multi-Signature Address in Console

In the Console, run the following command (substitute your actual 130-character public keys):

addmultisigaddress 2 '["<PublicKey1>", "<PublicKey2>"]' cryptolator

This creates a 2-of-2 multi-sig address labeled “cryptolator.”

5. Import Your Private Keys

Still in the Console:

importprivkey <PrivateKey1> false

Press Enter. Then:

importprivkey <PrivateKey2> true

The first command imports the first private key without rescanning. The second command imports the second key and starts a rescan of the blockchain.

This can take several hours, depending on your computer’s speed.

6. Confirm Your Balance

After the rescan finishes, go to the Overview or Transactions tab in your newly created wallet. You should see the BTC balance associated with the multi-signature address.

Security & Tips

Keep Your Private Keys Safe

Anyone with your private keys can spend your Bitcoin. Store them securely (e.g., on an encrypted drive or in a safe).

Backup Your Wallet

Go to File → Backup Wallet in Bitcoin Core after importing. Save this backup in a secure location.

Test with a Small Amount

If you’re new to multisig or have any doubts, practice with a small amount of BTC before transferring large sums.