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Bootstrap (speed up initial sync)

A bootstrap is a packaged snapshot of chain data that can dramatically reduce first-time sync, and can also help recover from certain “stuck sync / wrong chain” states.

Version-specific

Do not mix v3 and v4 data directories. Use the bootstrap that matches the wallet line you run.

The official download server provides bootstrap snapshots for multiple wallet lines:

  • Bootstrap index: https://download.reddcoin.com/bin/bootstrap/1
  • v4: https://download.reddcoin.com/bin/bootstrap/v4/2
  • v3 archive: https://download.reddcoin.com/bin/bootstrap/v3-archive/3

John Nash also posted the v4 bootstrap location publicly on Telegram.4

How to use a bootstrap safely (Core v4)

  1. Close Reddcoin Core.
  2. Backup your wallet(s):
  3. If you have a single legacy wallet: backup wallet.dat.
  4. If you have multiple wallets: backup the entire wallets/ directory (plus wallet.dat if it exists).
  5. In the Reddcoin data directory:
  6. Delete (or move aside) blocks/, chainstate/, indexes/ (if present), and peers.dat.
  7. Do not delete your wallet files.
  8. Download and extract bootstrap_v4.zip (or .tar.gz) from the official v4 directory.2
  9. Copy the extracted blocks/ and chainstate/ into your Reddcoin data directory.
  10. Start Core and let it finish syncing.

If you see errors after bootstrapping, revert to the safe-default delete-and-resync procedure in Corrupted blockchain / resync.

Legacy note: v2/v3 “bootstrap.dat” threads

Older community guides (especially pre-v4) often reference bootstrap.dat. That was a legacy mechanism and may not match v4 packaging. If you’re reading old forum threads, confirm which wallet line they reference before applying steps.

Footnotes

  1. Official directory listing: https://download.reddcoin.com/bin/bootstrap/ (shows v3-archive/ and v4/). ↩

  2. Official directory listing: https://download.reddcoin.com/bin/bootstrap/v4/ (includes bootstrap_v4.zip / bootstrap_v4.tar.gz and the block height marker file). ↩↩

  3. Official directory listing: https://download.reddcoin.com/bin/bootstrap/v3-archive/ (archived v3 snapshot). ↩

  4. Telegram export (ReddCoinOfficial), 2024-08-22, John (cryptognasher) Nash, message2001059. Note: V4 Bootstrap https://download.reddcoin.com/bin/bootstrap/v4/ Permalink: https://t.me/ReddcoinOfficial/2001059. ↩