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Python

Python is excellent for prototyping, scripting, and building backend services. Its readability makes it ideal for learning Bitcoin concepts.

python-bitcoinlib​

python-bitcoinlib provides low-level access to Bitcoin data structures and the RPC interface.

Installation​

pip install python-bitcoinlib

Connect to Bitcoin Core via RPC​

from bitcoin.rpc import RawProxy

# Connect to a running bitcoind instance
rpc = RawProxy(
    service_url="http://rpcuser:rpcpassword@127.0.0.1:18443"  # regtest
)

# Get blockchain info
info = rpc.getblockchaininfo()
print(f"Chain: {info['chain']}")
print(f"Blocks: {info['blocks']}")

# Get a new address
address = rpc.getnewaddress()
print(f"New address: {address}")

# List unspent outputs
utxos = rpc.listunspent()
for utxo in utxos:
    print(f"  {utxo['txid'][:16]}... {utxo['amount']} BTC")

Create a Transaction​

from bitcoin import SelectParams
from bitcoin.core import (
    CMutableTransaction, CMutableTxIn, CMutableTxOut,
    COutPoint, lx, COIN
)
from bitcoin.core.script import (
    CScript, OP_DUP, OP_HASH160, OP_EQUALVERIFY, OP_CHECKSIG
)
from bitcoin.wallet import CBitcoinAddress

SelectParams('regtest')

# Create a simple P2PKH transaction
txin = CMutableTxIn(COutPoint(lx('previous_txid'), 0))
txout = CMutableTxOut(
    int(0.5 * COIN),
    CBitcoinAddress('recipient_address').to_scriptPubKey()
)

tx = CMutableTransaction([txin], [txout])
print(f"Unsigned tx: {tx.serialize().hex()}")

Decode and Analyze Transactions​

from bitcoin.rpc import RawProxy

rpc = RawProxy(service_url="http://rpcuser:rpcpassword@127.0.0.1:18443")

# Get a transaction and decode it
txid = "your_txid_here"
raw_tx = rpc.getrawtransaction(txid)
decoded = rpc.decoderawtransaction(raw_tx)

print(f"Version: {decoded['version']}")
print(f"Inputs: {len(decoded['vin'])}")
print(f"Outputs: {len(decoded['vout'])}")

for i, vout in enumerate(decoded['vout']):
    print(f"  Output {i}: {vout['value']} BTC → {vout['scriptPubKey']['type']}")

BDK for Python​

BDK provides Python bindings for production-grade wallet development:

pip install bdkpython
import bdkpython as bdk

# Create a descriptor wallet
descriptor = bdk.Descriptor(
    "wpkh(tprv8ZgxMBicQKsPd7Uf69XL1XwhmjXhN7PfGPrzHVz7kAw.../*)",
    bdk.Network.REGTEST,
)

wallet = bdk.Wallet(
    descriptor=descriptor,
    change_descriptor=None,
    network=bdk.Network.REGTEST,
    database_config=bdk.DatabaseConfig.MEMORY(),
)

# Get a new address
address = wallet.get_address(bdk.AddressIndex.NEW)
print(f"Address: {address.address}")

Useful Python Tools​

PackagePurpose
python-bitcoinlibCore Bitcoin data structures and RPC
bdkpythonProduction wallet development
requestsHTTP calls to Esplora/Electrum APIs
hashlibSHA-256, RIPEMD-160 hashing
ecdsaElliptic curve operations