Can a Bitcoin watch-only wallet correctly show money without having the recovery phrase?

Yes. A watch-only wallet with the right addresses, xpubs or descriptors can identify relevant on-chain coins and transaction history without holding private spending keys.

The answer

Yes. A watch-only wallet with the right addresses, xpubs or descriptors can identify relevant on-chain coins and transaction history without holding private spending keys.

What to do next

Verify watch-only software received the correct descriptor and connect it to a trusted node or provider; keep signing material offline.

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Frequently asked questions

Can a watch-only wallet send funds?

It can construct unsigned transactions, but valid spending requires the separate private key signatures.

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