python-bitcoinrpc

What it is and what it does

python-bitcoinrpc is a JSON-RPC client library designed to communicate with Bitcoin Core nodes over HTTP. It wraps the lower-level JSON-RPC protocol with Bitcoin-specific conveniences: HTTP Basic authentication, persistent connections for efficiency, and automatic conversion of numeric values to Python Decimal objects to preserve financial precision without floating-point rounding errors.

The library supports both single RPC calls and batch operations, allowing multiple commands to be sent in fewer round-trips to the node. It can optionally log all RPC calls and responses for debugging. The package is dormant—its last release was in 2016—which means it may require adaptation for use with modern Python versions and current Bitcoin Core releases.

Use it for:

• Query blockchain data from a local Bitcoin Core node (block hashes, transaction details, wallet balances).
• Batch-fetch multiple blocks or transactions in a single round-trip to reduce latency.
• Build a Bitcoin wallet or monitoring tool that needs precise decimal arithmetic for satoshi-level amounts.
• Automate Bitcoin node administration tasks via RPC (e.g., generate addresses, sign transactions).
• Log and audit all RPC interactions with a Bitcoin node for compliance or debugging.

Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying

Provides a JSON-RPC client library for communicating with Bitcoin Core nodes via HTTP, with persistent connections, batch request support, and Decimal precision for financial values.

Yes, with conditions. The package is suitable for Bitcoin Core RPC communication if you can verify Python version compatibility and confirm the library works with your target Bitcoin Core version. The dormant maintenance status and 2016 release date mean you should test thoroughly before relying on it in production. The LGPL license requires that any modifications or derivative works be released under compatible terms.

Install

python-bitcoinrpc on PyPI

pip install python-bitcoinrpc

uv add python-bitcoinrpc

poetry add python-bitcoinrpc

Installing python-bitcoinrpc

Before you install

High install friction: the package is dormant (last release 2016-08-24, last commit 2024-02-15) and provides no runtime dependencies, suggesting it may require manual setup or compatibility work with modern Python versions. Maintenance status is dormant.

License in practice

Licensed under LGPL (copyleft), which requires derivative works to be released under compatible terms. Use in proprietary software requires careful licensing review.

Quickstart

pip install python-bitcoinrpc

from bitcoinrpc.authproxy import AuthServiceProxy
rpc_connection = AuthServiceProxy("http://user:pass@127.0.0.1:8332")
best_block_hash = rpc_connection.getbestblockhash()

Requires a running Bitcoin Core node accessible at the specified RPC endpoint with valid credentials configured in bitcoin.conf.

Verify before relying

• Whether the package works with Python 3.x (documentation references Python 2.x setup)
• Current compatibility with modern Bitcoin Core RPC API versions
• Whether persistent HTTP connections still function correctly with current Bitcoin Core implementations

Package facts

Evidence: python-bitcoinrpc-1.0.tar.gz

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