monero-docs/docs/en/interacting/monero-blockchain-export-reference.md

---
title: monero-blockchain-export - Reference
---
# `monero-blockchain-export` - Reference

!!! note
    Nowadays, there is little usage for raw blockchain export / import. In the past the p2p blockchain download was much slower. Back than blockchain.raw file was used to speed up the process of bootstrapping a node. 

## Overview

The tool dumps local blockchain to raw format, known as the `blockchain.raw` file.

This could be useful if you want to process blockchain efficiently with your custom tools,
as the raw format is probably easier to work with than Monero's custom lmdb database.

The tool works on your local copy of the blockchain. It does not require `monerod` running.

## Syntax

`./monero-blockchain-export [options]`

Example:

`./monero-blockchain-export --help`

## Running

Go to directory where you unpacked Monero.

`./monero-blockchain-export --stagenet --output-file=/tmp/blockchain.raw`


## Options

### Help

| Option              | Description
|---------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| `--help`            | Enlist available options.

### Pick network

| Option              | Description
|---------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| (missing)           | By default `monero-blockchain-export` assumes [mainnet](../infrastructure/networks.md#mainnet).
| `--stagenet`        | Export [stagenet](../infrastructure/networks.md#stagenet) blockchain.
| `--testnet`         | Export [testnet](../infrastructure/networks.md#testnet) blockchain.

### Logging

Specifying the log file path is not supported.

| Option              | Description
|---------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| `--log-level`       | `0-4` with `0` being minimal logging and `4` being full tracing. Defaults to `0`. These are general presets and do not directly map to severity levels. For example, even with minimal `0`, you may see some most important `INFO` entries. Example: <br />`./monero-blockchain-export --log-level=1`

### Input

| Option                     | Description
|----------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| `--data-dir`               | Full path to data directory. This is where the blockchain, log files, and p2p network memory are stored. For defaults and details see [data directory](../interacting/overview.md#data-directory).
| `--database`, `--db-type`  | The default and only valid value is `lmdb`.

### Output

| Option              | Description
|---------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| `--output-file`     | Specify output file path. The default is `$DATA_DIR/export/blockchain.raw`. Example: <br />`./monero-blockchain-export --output-file=/tmp/blockchain.raw`
| `--blocksdat`       | Output in blocks.dat format.
| `--block-stop`      | Only export up to this block number. By default do the full export (value `0`).

## Reference

* [https://github.com/monero-project/monero/tree/master/src/blockchain_utilities](https://github.com/monero-project/monero/tree/master/src/blockchain_utilities)