install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install bcoin

local Homebrew formula metadata

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

https://bcoin.io/api-docs
https://bcoin.io/docs
https://github.com/bcoin-org/bcoin
https://github.com/bcoin-org/bcoin/blob/master/README.md
source_facts.package-manager

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 post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 10 platform targets.
Installs with 1 runtime dependencies.

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
`bcoin`	cli	global executable
`bcoin-cli`	cli	global executable
`bcoin-node`	cli	global executable
`bcoin-spvnode`	cli	global executable
`bwallet`	cli	global executable
`bwallet-cli`	cli	global executable

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 generated2026-07-10

manager version2.2.0

manager updated2026-07-09

local dataok

upstreamcurrent

latest detectedv2.2.0

https://github.com/bcoin-org/bcoin

okNo freshness warnings were generated.

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:bcoin
Version	2.2.0
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/bcoin
Homepage	https://github.com/bcoin-org/bcoin
Repository	https://github.com/bcoin-org/bcoin
Upstream docs	https://bcoin.io/api-docs
License	MIT
Source archive	https://github.com/bcoin-org/bcoin/archive/refs/tags/v2.2.0.tar.gz
Last updated	2026-07-09T19:01:12+09:00
Pulse	updated
Dependencies	node
Bottle	available (on arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, monterey, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux)
Homebrew post-install	not defined
Service	none declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source Database	Homebrew formula API
Tap	homebrew/core
Full Name	bcoin
Version Scheme	0
Revision	0
Head Version	HEAD
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	head stable

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

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.

combined/bcoin.yml

Used sources

Geiger risk classifier
Nucleus package database
av.db category and tag curation
cross-ecosystem install command graph
curated configuration and credential file locations
curated package history
package relationship graph
package version freshness
package-page enrichment

Install bcoin with Homebrew