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Bitcoin addresses are a crucial part of the cryptocurrency's ecosystem, and understanding how they work is essential for any user.
Bitcoin addresses are case-insensitive, meaning that uppercase and lowercase letters are treated the same.
However, it's still essential to be mindful of the case when receiving or sending Bitcoins, as typos can lead to lost funds.
Bitcoin Address Basics
Bitcoin addresses are not case-sensitive, which means that whether you use uppercase or lowercase letters in the address, it will still be recognized as the same address. This is a relief for those who tend to be a bit sloppy with their typing.
However, some wallets may still treat Bitcoin addresses as case-sensitive, which can cause transactions to fail if the address is entered incorrectly. So it's essential to double-check the address before sending any Bitcoin.
There are different types of Bitcoin addresses, and some are more sensitive to case than others. For example, P2PKH addresses that start with the number 1, such as 1FeexV6bAHb8ybZjqQMjJrcCrHGW9sb6uD, are not case-sensitive, but P2SH addresses that start with the number 3, like 3GUHMnx47raxdKGyAvgQGHUYH8h1xhFA1R, may be treated as case-sensitive by some wallets.
Here's a breakdown of the different types of Bitcoin addresses and their case sensitivity:
Old-style Bitcoin invoice addresses, on the other hand, are often case-sensitive and exact, which means that even a single character mistyped can cause the transaction to fail. This is why it's essential to copy and paste invoice addresses using the computer's clipboard whenever possible.
Case Sensitivity
Bitcoin addresses are not case-sensitive in general, but there are some cases where case sensitivity is important. This can be confusing, especially for new users.
Some Bitcoin addresses, like old-style public addresses, are case-sensitive. If you enter these addresses incorrectly, the transaction will fail. The probability of a mistyped address being accepted as valid is approximately 1 in 4.29 billion.
New-style public addresses, also known as bech32 addresses, are case insensitive. This means you can type them in uppercase or lowercase without affecting the transaction.
Old-style P2PKH addresses that start with a number 1 are case-sensitive. P2SH addresses that start with a number 3 are also case-sensitive.
Here are some examples of case-sensitive and case-insensitive Bitcoin addresses:
To avoid errors, it's best to copy and paste Bitcoin addresses using your computer's clipboard whenever possible. This ensures the address is written correctly, including capitalization.
Sending and Receiving
Sending Bitcoin requires attention to detail, especially when it comes to case sensitivity.
Some wallets may treat Bitcoin addresses as case-sensitive, which can cause transactions to fail if the address is entered incorrectly.
Double-checking the address before sending any Bitcoin is crucial to avoid this issue.
If you're unsure about the case sensitivity of your wallet, it's best to consult your wallet's documentation or contact their support team.
One Answer
Bitcoin addresses can be a bit tricky, but don't worry, we've got the lowdown.
Base58 encoded addresses, like those that start with a 1, are case sensitive, so be careful not to mix up the letters.
However, bech32 addresses, like the one mentioned in the example, are case insensitive, but they need to be either entirely uppercase or lowercase.
A well-designed wallet will reject a mixed case bech32 address, so you won't be able to send a transaction to an incorrectly entered address.
If you're trying to send a transaction to a bech32 address, make sure to enter it correctly, or it might not go through.
Here's a quick rundown of the differences:
So, if you're waiting on a transaction to sync, just remember that the case of the address might not matter, but it still needs to be entered correctly.
Sources
- https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/98498/are-bitcoin-addresses-case-sensitive
- https://watcher.guru/news/are-bitcoin-addresses-case-sensitive
- https://coinguides.org/bitcoin-public-address-private-keys-case-sensitive/
- https://paybis.com/blog/are-bitcoin-addresses-case-sensitive/
- https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Invoice_address
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