bitcoinj Java library for bitcoin wallets
- Regulatory status
- Not a financial service
- Custody
- Not applicable
- Open source
- Yes
- Status
- Active
Swiss angle
bitcoinj has no Swiss base. Its repository, read on 5 October 2026, sits in the bitcoinj GitHub organisation and names no company behind it; the project also keeps a site at bitcoinj.org. It is a code library; it holds no coins and serves no customers, so it is not a financial service.
We found no Swiss maintainer or office named on the project's pages, so this listing claims none. The technical deep dive chapter explains the keys and transactions the library handles.
Who it is for
Java and Android developers building a wallet. The README calls bitcoinj "a Java implementation of the Bitcoin protocol, which allows it to maintain a wallet and send/receive transactions without needing a local copy of Bitcoin Core". Its base and core modules need only the Java 8 API or the Android 8.0 API, so they run on phones with Android 8.0 or later.
Anyone curious what a known Android wallet runs on. The Schildbach wallet's build file on GitLab, read on 5 October 2026, declares bitcoinj-core version 0.17.1 as a dependency. The Schildbach wallet listing covers that app.
Developers who want to try things on testnet first. The README describes a command-line wallet-tool that creates and syncs a test network wallet, which the project calls a great way to learn about Bitcoin and bitcoinj.
Teams that track releases. The latest release on GitHub is v0.17.1, published on 4 May 2026, and GitHub lists the licence as Apache 2.0.
Who it is not for
People who want an app, not a library. bitcoinj has no wallet for end users; the JavaFX wallet template in the repository is a starting point for developers. Look at the wallet listings instead.
Projects that need a fully validating node. bitcoinj is built to work without a local copy of Bitcoin Core, so it trusts the network for more than a full node would. If you want to check every block yourself, run Bitcoin Core or btcd.
Developers outside the Java world. For JavaScript, see bitcoinjs-lib; for Rust, see rust-bitcoin.
Verified facts
| Source | Checked on |
|---|---|
| bitcoinj on GitHub |
This directory carries no paid placements and no referral codes. No provider paid to be listed or to be described in a certain way. Each fact was checked against the primary source on the date shown next to it, and facts change after that date. This page is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice.