Bitcoin: My passphrase in Bitcoin Core is not recognised with parsing JSON error

Bitcoin Core Warning: Passphrase Parsing Error Occurs

I’m writing this article with a heavy heart as I share my frustrating experience with Bitcoin Core, a popular open-source cryptocurrency software. My account has been compromised, and I’m having trouble accessing my wallet.

The problem started when I tried to update the Bitcoin Core client to the latest version. As part of the process, the wallet passphrase was required, which I had previously chosen during setup. However, upon entering it, I encountered an error message that would stop me in my tracks: “Parsing JSON error”.

At first, I thought it might be a simple typo or misunderstanding of the wallet settings, but after some digging, I realized that this error is related to the passphrase itself. The warning message indicates that Bitcoin Core is having trouble parsing the JSON format used by the passphrase.

What does this mean?

In simpler terms, your chosen wallet passphrase isn’t recognized by the Bitcoin Core software, which means it’s not stored or validated correctly. This can lead to a range of problems, including:

• Wallet access issues: You might encounter difficulties accessing your wallet on Bitcoin Core.

• Security risks: Entering an invalid or weak passphrase could compromise your cryptocurrency security.

The solution

To resolve this issue, I recommend taking the following steps:

• Re-enter the passphrase correctly: Double-check that you’ve entered your wallet passphrase exactly as specified during setup. Make sure to use uppercase letters, special characters, and hyphens.

• Try a different JSON format: Bitcoin Core uses two different JSON formats for password storage: json and hex. Try switching between them to see if the issue resolves itself.

• Disable passphrase validation: If you’re concerned about security, consider disabling passphrase validation when initializing your wallet.

• Reinitiate wallet setup: If none of the above steps work, try reinitializing Bitcoin Core with a new wallet password and configuration.

Takeaways

I hope this article has provided valuable insights into the issue I experienced with my Bitcoin Core wallet. Remember that it’s essential to keep your wallet passphrase secure to prevent unauthorized access. By following these steps, you can resolve the parsing JSON error and continue using Bitcoin Core safely.