user114473: I have encrypted my wallet.dat outside of this computer. Now I store my wallet.dat on this computer.
If I open it in Bitcoin Core, I can view the balance but not spend it (without entering the decryption passphrase).
Doesn't this make an encrypted wallet.dat a "watch-only" wallet? Can't I simply safely keep this on my PC and use the RPC API to check on the balance to make sure that it still contains my coins?
Basically: What is the difference between an encrypted wallet and a "watch-only" wallet? Why would I make a "watch-only" wallet when the encrypted wallet apparently has the same functionality, and is as secure?

user38618: An encrypted wallet may be cracked if its password is weak with enough budget and computing power, while a watch-only wallet doesn't give any information other than the address and what can be derived from the address.

114473: <p>I have encrypted my wallet.dat outside of this computer. Now I store my wallet.dat on this computer.</p>
<p>If I open it in Bitcoin Core, I can view the balance but not spend it (without entering the decryption passphrase).</p>
<p>Doesn't this make an encrypted wallet.dat a &quot;watch-only&quot; wallet? Can't I simply safely keep this on my PC and use the RPC API to check on the balance to make sure that it still contains my coins?</p>
<p>Basically: What is the difference between an encrypted wallet and a &quot;watch-only&quot; wallet? Why would I make a &quot;watch-only&quot; wallet when the encrypted wallet apparently has the same functionality, and is as secure?</p>
 38618: <p>An encrypted wallet may be cracked if its password is weak with enough budget and computing power, while a watch-only wallet doesn't give any information other than the address and what can be derived from the address.</p>
