A Bitcoin address is a 27-34 character alphanumeric identifier representing a potential destination for Bitcoin payments. These addresses always begin with either 1, 3, or bc1. Users can generate them freely, obtain them through exchanges or online wallets, or create them offline for secure storage.
Current Bitcoin Address Formats
Bitcoin mainnet supports three primary address formats:
- P2PKH (Pay-to-Public-Key-Hash) - Starts with
1 - P2SH (Pay-to-Script-Hash) - Starts with
3 - Bech32 - Starts with
bc1
👉 Want to explore secure Bitcoin storage options?
Complete Bitcoin Address Prefix Reference
| Use Case | Prefix | Example |
|---|---|---|
| P2PKH Address | 1 | 17VZNX1SN5NtKa8UQFxwQbFeFc3iqRYhem |
| P2SH Address | 3 | 3EktnHQD7RiAE6uzMj2ZifT9YgRrkSgzQX |
| P2WPKH Address (Mainnet) | bc1 | bc1qw508d6qejxtdg4y5r3zarvary0c5xw7kv8f3t4 |
| P2WPKH Address (Testnet) | tb1 | tb1qw508d6qejxtdg4y5r3zarvary0c5xw7kxpjzsx |
| P2WSH Address (Mainnet) | bc1 | bc1qrp33g0q5c5txsp9arysrx4k6zdkfs4nce4xj0gdcccefvpysxf3qccfmv3 |
| P2WSH Address (Testnet) | tb1 | tb1qrp33g0q5c5txsp9arysrx4k6zdkfs4nce4xj0gdcccefvpysxf3q0sl5k7 |
| WIF Private Key (Uncompressed) | 5 | 5Hwgr3u458GLafKBgxtssHSPqJnYoGrSzgQsPwLFhLNYskDPyyA |
| WIF Private Key (Compressed) | K/L | L1aW4aubDFB7yfras2S1mN3bqg9nwySY8nkoLmJebSLD5BWv3ENZ |
| BIP32 Extended Public Key | xpub | xpub661MyMwAqRbcEYS8w7XLSVeEsBXy79zSzH1J8vCdxAZningWLdN3zgtU6LBpB85b3D2yc8sfvZU521AAwdZafEz7mnzBBsz4wKY5e4cp9LB |
| BIP32 Extended Private Key | xprv | xprv9s21ZrQH143K24Mfq5zL5MhWK9hUhhGbd45hLXo2Pq2oqzMMo63oStZzF93Y5wvzdUayhgkkFoicQZcP3y52uPPxFnfoLZB21Teqt1vEHx |
| Testnet P2PKH Address | m/n | mipcBbFg9gMiCh81Kj8tqqdgoZub1ZJRfn |
| Testnet P2SH Address | 2 | 2MzQwSSnBHWHqSAqtTVQ6v47XtaisrJa1Vc |
| Testnet WIF Private Key (Uncompressed) | 9 | 92Pg46rUhgTT7romnV7iGW6W1gbGdeezqdbJCzShkCsYNzyyNcc |
| Testnet WIF Private Key (Compressed) | c | cNJFgo1driFnPcBdBX8BrJrpxchBWXwXCvNH5SoSkdcF6JXXwHMm |
| Testnet BIP32 Public Key | tpub | tpubD6NzVbkrYhZ4WLczPJWReQycCJdd6YVWXubbVUFnJ5KgU5MDQrD998ZJLNGbhd2pq7ZtDiPYTfJ7iBenLVQpYgSQqPjUsQeJXH8VQ8xA67D |
| Testnet BIP32 Private Key | tprv | tprv8ZgxMBicQKsPcsbCVeqqF1KVdH7gwDJbxbzpCxDUsoXHdb6SnTPYxdwSAKDC6KKJzv7khnNWRAJQsRA8BBQyiSfYnRt6zuu4vZQGKjeW4YF |
Understanding Address Security
Each format offers different security features and compatibility levels. Modern wallets typically generate Bech32 (bc1) addresses by default, as they support SegWit and provide lower transaction fees. However, some older services may only accept legacy (1...) addresses.
👉 Learn about advanced Bitcoin security practices
FAQ Section
Why do Bitcoin addresses have different formats?
Different formats evolved over time to introduce new features like SegWit (which reduces transaction sizes) and improve security. The Bech32 format (bc1) is the most modern and efficient.
How can I tell which address format I'm using?
Simply look at the first character(s):
- Starts with
1: Legacy P2PKH - Starts with
3: P2SH - Starts with
bc1: Modern SegWit
Are older address formats still safe to use?
Yes, all formats remain secure, but newer formats offer better efficiency. Some exchanges are phasing out support for legacy addresses to encourage SegWit adoption.
Can I convert between address formats?
No, each address is cryptographically unique. You must generate a new address in your preferred format and send funds to it.
What happens if I send Bitcoin to the wrong address format?
Funds sent to a valid address (regardless of format) will be received correctly. However, sending to an invalid/nonexistent address will result in permanent loss of funds.
Why do testnet addresses look different?
Testnet uses distinct prefixes (like tb1 instead of bc1) to clearly separate test transactions from real Bitcoin transactions on mainnet.