An address, or bitcoin address (Bitcoin address), is an identifier used to send and receive transactions on a cryptocurrency network. Most often it is a string of letters and digits, and for convenience it can be displayed as a QR code that is scanned by a device's camera. By specifying such an address, the sender tells the network which wallet the funds should arrive at.
From a technical standpoint, an address is linked to a public key from the «public — private key» cryptographic pair. The public part serves to receive funds and can be freely shared with anyone, whereas the private key is kept secret and is used to digitally sign transactions. It is precisely the signature with the private key that confirms only the owner has the right to dispose of the funds.
What is important to know about addresses
- An address can be safely published: knowing the address does not grant access to the funds.
- The private key must not be disclosed — its loss or compromise leads to loss of control over the assets.
- A single wallet can generate many addresses, which increases privacy.
Before a transfer, it is always worth checking the address character by character or using a QR code: blockchain transactions are irreversible, and funds sent to an incorrect address generally cannot be recovered.
