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Bitc

Bitc is a lightweight, open-source Bitcoin SPV client written in C11 for Linux and macOS. It combines an ncurses terminal interface, a home-grown Bitcoin peer-to-peer engine, BIP157/158 compact block filters, daemon operation and an encrypted wallet using AES-256-CBC through OpenSSL EVP.

Explore the practical guide ↓

Independent OpenViST project profile, based on linked sources.

Bitc — OpenViST project profile in Wallets.
OpenViST project illustration. See the linked sources for product details.
Understand the project

Practical overview

When it fits

Use Bitc when a source-available, terminal-based Bitcoin SPV client is more relevant than a full graphical wallet or a full-chain node. Its daemon and sync-and-exit modes also suit headless experiments and compact chain-monitoring work.

Who it is for

  • Bitcoin developers studying a compact C client implementation.
  • Linux and macOS users who prefer a terminal wallet interface.
  • Users exploring SPV synchronization, Bitcoin peer networking or Tor SOCKS5 routing.
  • Builders considering reusable SPV and wallet components for a monitoring tool.

Documented uses

  • Build and launch a lightweight Bitcoin client from source.
  • Browse wallet and transaction information through a terminal interface.
  • Synchronize headers using compact block filters.
  • Run the client without its terminal UI.
  • Encrypt wallet private keys and initiate transactions when the documented password option is supplied.
Before you choose

Requirements & limits

The repository is public and MIT-licensed. Build instructions are provided for Debian or Ubuntu and macOS. The client is launched locally from source.

  • The documented interface is ncurses-based rather than graphical.
  • The client uses BIP157/158 compact block filters and does not use BIP37.
  • The build depends on OpenSSL, LevelDB with Snappy, libcurl, ncurses, cJSON, pkg-config and a C build toolchain.
  • Wallet encryption is enabled separately with the -e option, and the repository states that the application is experimental and should not be used as a secure wallet.
  • Tor use requires a running SOCKS5 service and configuration in ~/.bitc/main.cfg.

Check current requirements in the official documentation. Source-based guidance does not mean OpenViST has run or independently tested this project.

Source-based practical guide

Build Bitc on Debian, Ubuntu or macOS

Compile and launch the Bitc client from its public source repository.

Before you start

  • Linux with the listed Debian or Ubuntu development packages, or macOS with the listed Homebrew dependencies.
  • Git, make and a C build environment.
  • The Bitc repository.

Steps

  1. Install the documented build tools and libraries for the selected operating system.

  2. Clone the Bitc repository.

  3. Change into the repository directory and run make.

  4. Launch the resulting client with ./bitc.

Expected outcome

A locally built Bitc client can be launched from the terminal.

Guide limitations

  • The project describes Bitc as experimental and says it should not be used as a secure wallet.
  • The guide documents building and launching, not a successful synchronization or transaction.
Documentation 1 ↗
Evidence and transparency

Sources & review

Official repository ↗
Source record details
Source availability
Active
Sources checked
3 October 2026
Original website title
mx4/bitc · Official homepage title · retained in its source language
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