Working with Ether & Multiple Addresses

Ether (ETH) serves as the fuel powering the Ethereum network. Any interaction requiring state changes to smart contracts necessitates paying ETH as transaction fees. However, querying blockchain data remains free.

As a cryptocurrency, ETH enables decentralized transactions. You only need small amounts (10-20 USD worth) for development purposes.

Key Considerations About ETH

• Volatility Warning: ETH's value fluctuates dramatically against fiat currencies like USD. Avoid using ETH as primary storage of value in financial applications.
• Stablecoin Alternative: Pegged tokens (e.g., USDC, DAI) provide price stability. Research credibility before adoption—some stablecoins carry higher risks than others.

Checking ETH Balances

Use ethAddressBalance to check any address's ETH holdings. It accepts:

• Hex addresses (e.g., 0x1144...86a2)
• ENS names (e.g., pejorative.eth)
• Address aliases (e.g., default-sender)

Example output:

sbt:eth-command-line> ethAddressBalance secondary-address
0.01 ETH (≈1.50 USD at 149.835 USD/ETH)

Current Sender System

sbt-ethereum uses a "current sender" address for transactions. Verify it with:

ethAddressSenderPrint

👉 Learn more about Ethereum wallets

Funding Your Address

1. Purchase ETH via exchanges like Coinbase
2. Send to your default-sender address (find via ethAddressSenderDefaultPrint)
3. Passphrase Verification: Always validate wallet access with ethKeystoreWalletV3Validate

Warning: New ETH purchases may take days to clear. For immediate needs, consider peer-to-peer transfers in small amounts.

Basic Transactions

Ping Test

Verify address functionality with zero-value transactions:

ethTransactionPing

• Costs minimal gas fees (≈0.0002 ETH)
• Appears on Etherscan as a 0 ETH transfer

Creating Additional Addresses

Generate new wallets with:

ethKeystoreWalletV3Create

• Set a secure passphrase
• Assign aliases for easier management (ethAddressAliasSet)
• Immediately back up your shoebox (ethShoeboxBackup)

Sending ETH Between Addresses

1. Check balances for both addresses

2. Execute transfer:

   ethTransactionEtherSend secondary-address 0.01 ether

3. Monitor on Etherscan

Transaction includes:

• Base ETH amount sent
• Gas fees (typically 21,000 units for simple transfers)

Managing Multiple Addresses

Switch active sender addresses with:

ethAddressSenderOverrideSet secondary-address

Verify changes with ethAddressSenderPrint. All subsequent transactions will originate from the new sender until changed.

FAQ

Why does my balance decrease more than the sent amount?

Gas fees are deducted separately from transfers. A 0.01 ETH send might cost 0.0100882 ETH total.

How do I recover a lost wallet passphrase?

Recovery is impossible. Always store passphrases securely and maintain backups.

What's the minimum ETH needed to start?

10-20 USD worth suffices for development. Complex contracts require more gas.

👉 Explore advanced Ethereum tools

Best Practices

1. Regularly verify wallet access
2. Use address aliases to avoid hex errors
3. Monitor gas prices (gwei) for cost optimization
4. Maintain multiple addresses for different purposes
5. Never share private keys or passphrases

Remember: Every blockchain interaction is permanent. Double-check all transaction details before confirmation.