Bitcoin TUI is a free, open-source terminal interface for monitoring and querying a Bitcoin node. It suits node operators, developers and technically minded Bitcoin users who prefer keyboard-driven tools to web dashboards. The project is released under the MIT license and received a code update in late August 2026, so it is actively maintained. Its documented platform is macOS, though the project indicates Windows builds may be available, so Windows users should confirm a build on the releases page before installing.
The program runs inside a text window and shows block height, difficulty, sync progress, network status and a mempool summary on one screen. It also lets you search for transactions by txid, inspect blocks, inputs and outputs, broadcast raw transactions and shut down the node from the same place. The latest release is v0.8.3.
What Is a Terminal Interface for a Bitcoin Node?
A terminal user interface, or TUI, is a program that draws its screens with text characters inside a command-line window rather than in a graphical window. For Bitcoin, the node itself runs separately and exposes its data to other software. A TUI such as Bitcoin TUI sits on top of that node, reads its state and presents it in a compact layout.
Bitcoin TUI is built with FTXUI, a C++ library for terminal interfaces, and the codebase is written in C and C++. The project avoids heavy external dependencies beyond FTXUI, handling JSON parsing and HTTP requests inside its own code. That keeps the program small and easier to audit, which matters for software that talks to a financial network.
The value of this approach is focus. Instead of a browser dashboard with dozens of panels, you get a handful of screens controlled from the keyboard. Many people who run nodes already work in a terminal, so a TUI fits naturally into their routine.
Who Is Bitcoin TUI For?
The most natural audience is someone who runs a Bitcoin Core node and wants to keep an eye on it. Imagine you restarted your node after an update and want to confirm it is catching up with the chain. Opening the dashboard shows sync progress and block height at a glance, so you can tell within seconds whether the node is healthy.
Developers and technically inclined users form a second group. If you are debugging a transaction, you can look it up by txid, follow it into its block and examine the inputs and outputs. The raw broadcast tool is useful when you already have a signed transaction and want your own node to send it to the network.
A third scenario is managing a node on a server you reach over a remote terminal session. A text interface works well in that setting, because it does not require a graphical desktop. If you prefer point-and-click tools or need a wallet with a full graphical interface, a different kind of program will probably suit you better.
How Mempool Lookups and Confirmed Transactions Differ
Every Bitcoin node keeps a mempool, which is a waiting area for valid transactions that have been broadcast but not yet included in a block. A transaction in the mempool is unconfirmed, and its status can change if it is replaced or dropped. The mempool summary on the dashboard tells you how much activity the node is currently holding.
Confirmed transactions are different. Once a transaction is included in a block, it becomes part of the permanent chain, and its details can be found by looking up the block that contains it. Finding a confirmed transaction by its txid normally requires an index that maps transaction identifiers to their locations. In Bitcoin Core, that index is enabled with the txindex=1 setting.
Understanding this distinction explains why a search might succeed for a fresh transaction but fail for an older one on a node without the index. The txid is a unique identifier derived from the transaction data, so it is the reliable key for lookups. Inputs reference earlier outputs, and outputs define where value is sent, which is why following them reveals how funds moved between addresses.
Key features
Live Node Dashboard
Transaction and Block Search
Raw Transaction Broadcasting
Private Broadcast Queue
Responsive Background Polling
Supported coins
The project's documentation names Bitcoin (BTC) as the network it covers. Bitcoin TUI is designed as a viewer and transaction tool for a Bitcoin node, so it does not manage other coins or networks.
How to install Bitcoin TUI on Windows
- 1
Open the Releases Page
Go to the project's GitHub Releases page at github.com/janb84/bitcoin-tui and choose the newest version, which is v0.8.3. Download only from the official website or the GitHub Releases page, and avoid mirrors or links shared in chats and forums.
- 2
Confirm a Windows Build Exists
The project lists Windows as a likely target, but its documented platform is macOS. Look through the release assets for a Windows file. If none is listed, the program cannot be installed on Windows from that release, and you should check the project's page for updates before proceeding.
- 3
Verify the Download
Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the file with the value published on the release page, or verify a signature if one is provided. In PowerShell, the Get-FileHash command computes the checksum. Do not run the file if the values do not match.
- 4
Prepare Your Node
Make sure a Bitcoin Core node is installed and synced. If you want confirmed transaction lookups to work, set txindex=1 in the node configuration and let the index build. Keep the node running whenever you use the interface.
-
Launch the Program
Place the program in a folder you control and start it from a terminal window. The interface opens and the dashboard begins polling the node. If the screen stays empty, confirm that the node is running and reachable before troubleshooting the program itself.
How to use Bitcoin TUI
Bitcoin TUI is easiest to learn when you follow its screens in order. Start with the dashboard, then move to search and tools as your task requires.
- Start the dashboard and check that block height and sync progress look reasonable for your node.
- Press / to open search, then paste a txid. Mempool results show unconfirmed transactions, while confirmed results require txindex=1.
- Select a result to move into its block, inputs and outputs, and review how value flowed between them.
- Open the Tools area when you need to broadcast a raw transaction through sendrawtransaction. Paste the hex data only after you have checked it carefully.
- Watch the private broadcast queue if it appears, and note how its contents change over time.
- Press Q only when you intend to shut down the Bitcoin Core node and exit, because this stops the node as well as the interface.
If a lookup fails, check whether the transaction is confirmed and whether txindex=1 is enabled. Most problems with this kind of tool come from node configuration rather than the interface.
Pros & cons
- Free and released under the MIT license, so the code is open for inspection
- Dashboard shows height, difficulty, sync progress, network status and mempool summary on one screen
- Search by txid covers both mempool and confirmed transactions
- Raw transaction broadcasting and a private broadcast queue are built in
- Background polling keeps the interface responsive
- Minimal dependencies beyond FTXUI keep the codebase lean
- Documented platform is macOS, and Windows support needs confirmation on the releases page
- Confirmed transaction lookups require txindex=1 on the node
- Requires a separately running Bitcoin Core node
- Documentation mentions Bitcoin (BTC) as the only network
Is Bitcoin TUI safe?
Download Bitcoin TUI only from the official website or the project's GitHub Releases page, and compare the SHA-256 checksum or signature before running the file. Never enter a seed phrase on third-party websites or in any prompt that asks for one, because a node monitoring tool has no legitimate need for it. The broadcast tool sends signed transactions to the network, so review hex data before submitting it, since broadcasts cannot be reversed. The shutdown command stops the Bitcoin Core node, so use it deliberately. The project received a code update in late August 2026, which is recent, but check the latest version on the official website before installing.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/janb84/bitcoin-tui. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Bitcoin TUI is a viewer and command-line companion for a node, not a node implementation. Gocoin, by contrast, is a full Bitcoin solution written in Go, so it is a different kind of program aimed at people who want to run the software itself. Fulcrum and Electrum Personal Server serve wallet clients over the Electrum protocol, which is useful for a different workflow: connecting a wallet rather than monitoring a node. Bitcoin TUI's strength is its focus on a compact dashboard, txid search and raw broadcasting from the keyboard. If your goal is to serve wallets or run a complete node implementation, one of those programs may fit better.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- MIT
- Latest version
- v0.8.3
- Last update
- 28 Aug 2026
- Windows support
- Likely (builds for Windows; check releases)
- Source code
- github.com/janb84/bitcoin-tui
Frequently asked questions
Bitcoin TUI is safe to use when you download it from the official GitHub Releases page and verify the SHA-256 checksum before running it. The program is open source under the MIT license, so its code can be reviewed. Treat the broadcast and shutdown functions with care, since they act on a real node and on transactions that cannot be reversed.
The project indicates that Windows builds are likely, but its documented platform is macOS. Check the GitHub Releases page for a Windows file before installing. If none is available, the program cannot be installed on Windows from that release.
Yes. Bitcoin TUI reads data from a running Bitcoin Core node and sends commands to it, so the node must be installed and reachable. The dashboard shows sync progress, which helps you confirm the node is current before relying on its data.
Yes, Bitcoin TUI is free and open source under the MIT license. You can download, use and modify it without paying a fee. The license terms are the place to check for details about reuse and redistribution.
The txindex=1 setting tells Bitcoin Core to maintain an index that maps transaction identifiers to their locations in the chain. Bitcoin TUI needs this index to find confirmed transactions by txid. Without it, mempool lookups still work, but confirmed lookups may fail.
Its documented features focus on monitoring, searching and broadcasting rather than wallet management. The dashboard shows node status, search covers transactions and blocks, and the tools area sends raw transactions. For wallet tasks, use a dedicated wallet program.
The documentation names Bitcoin (BTC) as the supported network. The program is built around a Bitcoin node, so it is not designed for other coins. If you work with another network, you need a tool built for that network's node software.
Verdict
Bitcoin TUI suits people who already run a Bitcoin Core node and prefer working in a terminal. It gives you a compact dashboard, txid search and raw broadcasting without a heavy interface, and its MIT license keeps the code open to review. If you need a wallet, a graphical interface or a node implementation rather than a monitor, look at the alternatives. Confirm Windows availability on the releases page before you commit to this program.