macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install bcoinlocal Homebrew formula metadata
brew / rank 6467
Install bcoin with Homebrew
Javascript bitcoin library for node.js and browsers. Version 2.2.0 via Homebrew; verified 2026-07-09.
install
Additional install commands
overview
Package summary
Javascript bitcoin library for node.js and browsers
Project links
Commands and aliases
- bcoin
- bcoin-cli
- bcoin-node
- bcoin-spvnode
- bwallet
- bwallet-cli
history
Project history and usage
bcoin is an alternative Bitcoin protocol implementation written for Node.js, with full-node, SPV-node, wallet, mining-backend, layer-2-backend, and library use cases.
Project history
The GitHub repository was created in 2014. The README describes bcoin as an alternative implementation of the Bitcoin protocol in JavaScript and C/C++ for Node.js, aware of known consensus rules and usable as a production consensus backend and wallet system.
The project reached a 1.0.0 tag after a beta series and later published 2.x releases, while retaining command-line entry points such as bcoin, bcoin-cli, bcoin-node, bwallet, and bwallet-cli.
Adoption history
bcoin's adoption is more specialized than general Bitcoin Core tooling. Its README names Purse.io as a production user and frames bcoin as a library/backend for services that want Bitcoin protocol behavior inside a Node.js stack.
In package-manager terms, Homebrew packaging made the node and wallet CLIs easy to install on developer workstations, but the supplied package facts show a narrower package-manager footprint than older Unix utilities.
How it is used
Developers use bcoin as a full node, SPV node, wallet backend, mining backend with getblocktemplate support, layer-2 backend, or general-purpose Bitcoin library.
Configuration and API credentials are commonly placed in bcoin and wallet config files under ~/.bcoin, including network-specific subdirectories.
Why package nerds care
bcoin is package-nerd interesting because it packages a cryptocurrency full-node stack as a Node.js developer tool, rather than as the canonical C++ Bitcoin Core lineage.
It represents a period when alternative protocol implementations mattered for ecosystem diversity, service integration, and testing assumptions against more than one codebase.
Timeline
- 2014: GitHub repository created.
- 2017: README copyright range includes Christopher Jeffrey through 2017 and documents production use.
- 2018: v1.0.0-era release tags established after beta tags.
- 2020s: v2.x tags published; Homebrew continues to package the CLI.
Related projects
- Bitcoin Core is the canonical Bitcoin implementation that bcoin contrasts with as an alternative implementation.
- Node.js and npm-style application stacks are the natural integration environment.
- Wallet, SPV, mining, and Lightning/layer-2 systems are listed upstream as bcoin use cases.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: green
library-like package without higher-risk signals.
Risk classifier
green risk · low confidence · appliance
Why
- library-like package without higher-risk signals
Signals
- metadata:library-like
Install behavior
- No Homebrew bottle metadata was recorded.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
local files
Configuration and credential file locations
These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.
Configuration files
Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.
- Unix
~/.bcoin/bcoin.conf~/.bcoin/wallet.conf~/.bcoin/<network>/bcoin.conf~/.bcoin/<network>/wallet.conf
Credential files
Credential-bearing paths to review before unattended agent runs.
- Unix
~/.bcoin/bcoin.conf~/.bcoin/wallet.conf~/.bcoin/<network>/bcoin.conf~/.bcoin/<network>/wallet.conf
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
bcoin | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
bcoin-cli | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
bcoin-node | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
bcoin-spvnode | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
bwallet | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
bwallet-cli | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
freshness
Version and freshness
These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.
page generated2026-08-03
manager version2.2.0
manager updated2026-07-09
local dataunknown
upstreamnot available
latest detectednot detected
- okNo freshness warnings were generated.
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:bcoin |
|---|---|
| Version | 2.2.0 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Homepage | https://github.com/bcoin-org/bcoin |
| Repository | https://github.com/bcoin-org/bcoin |
| Last updated | 2026-07-09T19:01:12+09:00 |
| Pulse | updated |
| Bottle | not recorded |
| Service | none declared |
source trail
Generated from repository data
This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- pkg.so package database
- pkgdb category and tag curation