<p>If you use an iPhone, give <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/breadwallet-bitcoin-wallet/id885251393?mt=8" rel="nofollow">bread wallet</a> a try, the <a href="http://blockchain.com/" rel="nofollow">Blockchain</a> app is cool, too. On Android I'd probably use <a href="https://mycelium.com/products" rel="nofollow">mycelium</a>. </p>

<p>All of those have nice and clean interfaces. Send some coins back and forth to get a feeling for it. </p>

<p>It's better for the network to run a full node (=use a client that downloads the whole 20Gig blockchain) but you don't necessarily need to, to send and receive BTC. All the apps I mentioned before dont require you to download the blockchain.</p>

<p>Technically Blockchain (the company) is an online wallet, which means they hold and secure your private keys (= the keys that allow sending money) while with bread wallet and mycelium you hold the private keys.</p>

<p>Blockchain = the company</p>

<p>the blockchain = the public ledger of Bitcoin</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-29T13:51:53.493Z
2014-11-29T13:58:31.567Z
2014-11-29T13:58:31.567Z
Michael Niemand
<p>You can certainly use <a href="http://Blockchain.info" rel="nofollow">Blockchain.info</a> or 
<a href="http://GreenAddress.it" rel="nofollow">GreenAddress.it</a> to avoid running a full node. Blockchain.info has FAQs but <a href="http://WeUseCoins.com" rel="nofollow">WeUseCoins.com</a>, <a href="http://bitcoin.it" rel="nofollow">Bitcoin Wiki</a> or <a href="http://bitcoin.org" rel="nofollow">Bitcoin.org</a> all have excellent FAQs. </p>

<p>If you've sent your Bitcoin to the address associated with the core program (ie the software you're waiting for to download the Blockchain, aka Bitcoin-QT) it's more complicated to spend your BTC until it's synced.</p>

<p>Communities like <a href="http://BitcoinTalk.org" rel="nofollow">BitcoinTalk.org</a> and <a href="http://reddit.com/r/bitcoin" rel="nofollow">/r/Bitcoin</a> are not always helpful with these basic questions so check the FAQs and you'll have a better idea. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-29T05:08:46.400Z
2014-11-29T05:08:46.400Z
Wizard Of Ozzie
<p>I purchased $50 from ExpressCoins and now it's transferred to the address, but I hadn't realized that to use your program, I have to download 20 gigs of information.  Is there a way to access my coins without doing that and transfer them to the market in order to spend them?  I can't use the address at another wallet that doesn't do that?</p>

<p>A clear step-by-step would be a godsend at this point, and looking for threads and faqs to read has just confused me with more vague answers and piling on new programs and terms.  </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-29T17:56:31.010Z
For future reference, please use the title to convey the gist of your question.
Nick ODell
<bitcoin-core><wallet><synchronization>
How do I spend my Bitcoins without waiting for Bitcoin-Qt to sync?
lostnoob
# How do I spend my Bitcoins without waiting for Bitcoin-Qt to sync?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-11-29)

I purchased $50 from ExpressCoins and now it's transferred to the address, but I hadn't realized that to use your program, I have to download 20 gigs of information. Is there a way to access my coins without doing that and transfer them to the market in order to spend them? I can't use the address at another wallet that doesn't do that?

A clear step-by-step would be a godsend at this point, and looking for threads and faqs to read has just confused me with more vague answers and piling on new programs and terms.

**Tags:** bitcoin-core, wallet, synchronization

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: For future reference, please use the title to convey the gist of your question.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-11-29. Score: 2

If you use an iPhone, give [bread wallet](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/breadwallet-bitcoin-wallet/id885251393?mt=8) a try, the [Blockchain](http://blockchain.com/) app is cool, too. On Android I'd probably use [mycelium](https://mycelium.com/products).

All of those have nice and clean interfaces. Send some coins back and forth to get a feeling for it.

It's better for the network to run a full node (=use a client that downloads the whole 20Gig blockchain) but you don't necessarily need to, to send and receive BTC. All the apps I mentioned before dont require you to download the blockchain.

Technically Blockchain (the company) is an online wallet, which means they hold and secure your private keys (= the keys that allow sending money) while with bread wallet and mycelium you hold the private keys.

Blockchain = the company

the blockchain = the public ledger of Bitcoin


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### Answer by username_3 on 2014-11-29. Score: 1

You can certainly use [Blockchain.info](http://Blockchain.info) or
[GreenAddress.it](http://GreenAddress.it) to avoid running a full node. Blockchain.info has FAQs but [WeUseCoins.com](http://WeUseCoins.com), [Bitcoin Wiki](http://bitcoin.it) or [Bitcoin.org](http://bitcoin.org) all have excellent FAQs.

If you've sent your Bitcoin to the address associated with the core program (ie the software you're waiting for to download the Blockchain, aka Bitcoin-QT) it's more complicated to spend your BTC until it's synced.

Communities like [BitcoinTalk.org](http://BitcoinTalk.org) and [/r/Bitcoin](http://reddit.com/r/bitcoin) are not always helpful with these basic questions so check the FAQs and you'll have a better idea.


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