Bitcoin Core 0.18.0 released with hardware wallet support
The Bitcoin Core project releases version 0.18.0, which includes GUI support for hardware wallets, enhancing user experience and security for Bitcoin storage.
On May 2, 2019, Bitcoin Core version 0.18.0 was officially released, introducing a number of important upgrades for Bitcoin users and developers. Notably, the release added GUI integration for hardware wallets, allowing users to interact with Trezor, Ledger, and KeepKey devices directly within Bitcoin Core. This improvement significantly enhanced both the security and usability of storing Bitcoin offline while providing access to advanced transaction features.
Additional changes in 0.18.0 included performance optimizations for wallet scanning, transaction indexing, and network stability, as well as improvements to the RPC interface for developers. The release notes, documented on the Bitcoin Core GitHub repository, emphasized a commitment to backward compatibility, security, and decentralized protocol integrity.The update received attention from media outlets and the broader Bitcoin community, as it further enabled secure custody solutions and encouraged adoption by both individual users and institutional participants.