A Bitcoin address is a short code that tells a sender how to lock coins to you. It is not an account and holds no balance by itself. Learn how it works.
Instructions, not an account
An address tells a sender's wallet how to write the output locking script, usually "only someone with the key matching this hash can spend it". Wallets encode that as text with a checksum so typos are caught.
Common formats
| Starts with | Type | Lesson |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Legacy pay-to-public-key-hash | Pay to public key hash (P2PKH) |
| 3 | Pay-to-script-hash | Pay to script hash (P2SH) |
| bc1q | Native SegWit | Segregated Witness (SegWit) |
| bc1p | Taproot | Taproot |
See Bitcoin address types compared for the full comparison.
Things an address is not
- Not a person. Nothing on-chain says who controls it.
- Not a whole wallet. A wallet usually has many addresses.
- Not proof of ownership or balance just because it's valid.
Validate an address
Our address inspector checks format and checksum and shows the locking script it encodes. A valid address can still be one nobody controls.
Before you send
- Copy the address with the copy button, never by retyping.
- Check the first and last 4 to 6 characters after pasting.
- For large amounts, send a small test first.
- Make sure the network is Bitcoin mainnet, not a token on another chain.
Look up an address
Paste any address into MyBitcoinExplorer's search to validate its format and checksum and see its type, or check it with our address inspector.
Key takeaways
- An address encodes an output's locking conditions, usually a key hash.
- Addresses include a checksum to catch typos.
- One wallet can have many addresses; reuse harms privacy.
Common questions
Can I send to any address format?
Modern wallets can send to all formats. Some very old wallets can't send to bc1 addresses.
Do addresses expire?
No. An address can receive at any time, though using fresh ones is better for privacy.
Can I reuse my Bitcoin address?
You can, but a new address for each payment keeps your history more private.
What happens if I send to a wrong address?
If the address is valid but not yours, the coins go to whoever controls it and can't be reversed. Invalid addresses are rejected by the checksum.