Amount
The bitcoin you want the recipient to receive.
GUIDE · BITCOIN IN SIMPLE WORDS
How to send bitcoin from BlueWallet to someone else
A practical beginner example — from the recipient’s Receive address to sending the transaction from your own wallet.
In Book 1, Maria has already created her own Bitcoin wallet, following essentially the same process we covered in Guide 2. When she gives Alex her Receive address, he does something for the first time: he sends a small amount of bitcoin directly from his own wallet to another person. In this guide, we follow that process in BlueWallet — from entering the address and amount to the final review, sending the transaction, and viewing its details in the wallet.
BlueWallet is used here as a specific example of a self-custody Bitcoin wallet. The app’s appearance, option names, and the way fees are displayed may change with future updates.
What you will do
You will follow a simple on-chain bitcoin payment from BlueWallet to someone else’s wallet.
- Get the recipient’s Bitcoin Receive address.
- Open Send in BlueWallet.
- Enter the address and amount.
- Review the network fee.
- Make a final check before sending.
- Tap Send now.
- View the transaction details after it has been sent.
Before you start
To send bitcoin, you need BTC available in your wallet and the correct Bitcoin Receive address from the recipient.
Network fee
The fee attached to the transaction so it can be included in a Bitcoin block. It does not go to the recipient and can change depending on network conditions.
Get the recipient’s Receive address
In Book 1, Maria opens her own wallet and gives Alex her Bitcoin Receive address. If the recipient uses BlueWallet, they can open their wallet, tap Receive, and send you the address or QR code shown there.
Open Send and enter the transaction details
Open the Bitcoin wallet you want to send from and tap Send. Scan the QR code or paste the recipient’s Bitcoin address, enter the amount you want to send, review the network fee shown and, when everything looks correct, tap Next.
Important
The details shown in the screenshot are an educational example. Do not copy the address or amount shown. Use the recipient’s real details for your own transaction.
Make the final check
After you tap Next, BlueWallet shows a confirmation screen before the transaction is actually sent. Here you can review the amount, the recipient’s Bitcoin address and the network fee. Do not treat this screen as a formality. It is your final opportunity to check the details before tapping Send now.
Important
Once the transaction is broadcast to the Bitcoin network, there is no central service that can simply cancel it and return the bitcoin.
The transaction has been sent
After you tap Send now, BlueWallet signs the transaction in your wallet and broadcasts it to the Bitcoin network. You can then open the transaction details and view information such as the transaction ID, the network fee, its current status and the Explorer option for viewing it in a block explorer.
The status shown can change as the transaction moves through the Bitcoin network. The screenshot represents one stage after the transaction has been sent.
What actually happened?
The important part is not only which buttons you tap. When you tap Send now, your wallet uses the private keys you control to sign the transaction. The transaction is then broadcast to the Bitcoin network so it can be verified and included in a block.
You do not need a bank to approve the transfer, and you do not need to send the bitcoin back to an exchange before sending it to another person. That is an important part of self-custody: you control the transaction, but that control also means you are responsible for checking the details carefully.
A few basic safety rules
A Receive address can be shared. Your recovery phrase and private keys cannot.
- For an important amount, a small test transaction can help you confirm that you are using the correct address before sending more.
- Do not follow instructions from someone who asks you to send bitcoin, share recovery words, or install remote-access software.
- Network fees and confirmation times are not always the same.
What you achieved
You have now completed the same basic step Alex takes with Maria in Book 1: you received another person’s Receive address, created the transaction in your own wallet, checked the details, and sent it to the Bitcoin network.
This also completes the basic practical journey we have followed through the Book 1 guides: buy bitcoin → create a self-custody wallet → withdraw from the exchange → make your first wallet-to-wallet payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the network fee?
It is the fee attached to the transaction so it can be included in a Bitcoin block. It is not a payment to the recipient and can change depending on demand for block space.
Can I cancel a transaction after tapping Send now?
Do not rely on it. For some unconfirmed transactions, BlueWallet may offer Cancel or Speed Up, depending on the transaction. This is not a general undo function, and you should never assume that a transaction can always be reversed.
Why has the transaction not been confirmed immediately?
Transactions wait to be included in a block. The time depends on factors including current Bitcoin network conditions and the transaction fee.
What is a transaction ID or TXID?
It is the unique identifier of a Bitcoin transaction. You can use it to find the transaction in a block explorer.
What is a block explorer?
It is a tool for viewing public Bitcoin blockchain data such as transactions, confirmations and blocks. It does not reveal your wallet’s recovery phrase or private keys.