<h2>Recovery using a private key</h2>
<p>If your private key looks like a proper Bitcoin <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Private_key" rel="nofollow noreferrer">private key</a>, you can recover control over your money.</p>
<p>A private key is just a large number. There are several different ways of representing that number.</p>
<div class="s-table-container">
<table class="s-table">
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Representation</th>
<th>Example</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Hexadecimal</td>
<td>E9873D79C6D87DC0FB6A5778633389F4453213303DA61F20BD67FC233AA33262</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Base58 WIF</td>
<td>5Kb8kLf9zgWQnogidDA76MzPL6TsZZY36hWXMssSzNydYXYB9KF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mini private key</td>
<td>SzavMBLoXU6kDrqtUVmffv</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<p><sup>(Don't use these values they are just examples)</sup></p>
<p>Note the specific lengths and the specific mixtures of characters. I think WIF normally starts with a &quot;5&quot;. Your private key needs to match these characteristics.</p>
<p><a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Wallet_import_format" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Wallet Import Format (WIF)</a> is probably the most useful.</p>
<p>You should be able to <a href="https://bitcoin.org/en/choose-your-wallet" rel="nofollow noreferrer">choose a wallet</a> and &quot;import&quot; or &quot;sweep&quot; your private key.  Sweeping is considered safer because it works better with normal backups and recovery-phrases of the new wallet.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Instawallet</h2>
<p>If you used Instawallet, it seems unlikely that you have a true private key.</p>
<p>See <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Instawallet" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Instawallet</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Instawallet's service learned that its security was compromised and on April 3rd, 2013 closed the service. Those with funds in their Instawallet can file a claim form to get their funds.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>This sort of issue is why <a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/81240/13866">custodial wallets</a> are inadvisable for long term storage.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-10T15:36:47.153Z
2021-03-10T15:51:10.693Z
2021-03-10T15:51:10.693Z
RedGrittyBrick
<p>back in 2012 I've acquired a small amount of bitcoins, which as far as I remember I saved in a wallet on instantwallet. I wasn't following what was happening with the bitcoin until I listened lately about its value. I also found out that instawallet does not exist anymore since it was hacked in 2014.</p>
<p>Apart from a URL on instawallet, I have a Bitcoin address and some kind of a private key. Could somenone please tell me for sure if there is any chance to recover my bitcoins or should I just forget it?</p>

<wallet-recovery><instawallet>
Bitcoin recovery possible from some kind of private key?
coverflower
# Bitcoin recovery possible from some kind of private key?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-03-10)

back in 2012 I've acquired a small amount of bitcoins, which as far as I remember I saved in a wallet on instantwallet. I wasn't following what was happening with the bitcoin until I listened lately about its value. I also found out that instawallet does not exist anymore since it was hacked in 2014.

Apart from a URL on instawallet, I have a Bitcoin address and some kind of a private key. Could somenone please tell me for sure if there is any chance to recover my bitcoins or should I just forget it?

**Tags:** wallet-recovery, instawallet


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-03-10. Score: 4

## Recovery using a private key

If your private key looks like a proper Bitcoin [private key](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Private_key), you can recover control over your money.

A private key is just a large number. There are several different ways of representing that number.

| Representation | Example |
| --- | --- |
| Hexadecimal | E9873D79C6D87DC0FB6A5778633389F4453213303DA61F20BD67FC233AA33262 |
| Base58 WIF | 5Kb8kLf9zgWQnogidDA76MzPL6TsZZY36hWXMssSzNydYXYB9KF |
| Mini private key | SzavMBLoXU6kDrqtUVmffv |

(Don't use these values they are just examples)

Note the specific lengths and the specific mixtures of characters. I think WIF normally starts with a "5". Your private key needs to match these characteristics.

[Wallet Import Format (WIF)](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Wallet_import_format) is probably the most useful.

You should be able to [choose a wallet](https://bitcoin.org/en/choose-your-wallet) and "import" or "sweep" your private key. Sweeping is considered safer because it works better with normal backups and recovery-phrases of the new wallet.

---

## Instawallet

If you used Instawallet, it seems unlikely that you have a true private key.

See <https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Instawallet>

> Instawallet's service learned that its security was compromised and on April 3rd, 2013 closed the service. Those with funds in their Instawallet can file a claim form to get their funds.

This sort of issue is why [custodial wallets](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/81240/13866) are inadvisable for long term storage.


---

