About the Bitcoin Address Validator
Sending bitcoin to a mistyped address can lose the money for good, so it pays to check an address before you use it. This validator reads a Bitcoin address and checks its built-in checksum, the small code at the end that catches almost every typing mistake. It understands the three formats in use today: legacy Base58Check addresses that start with 1 or 3, native SegWit Bech32 addresses that start with bc1q, and Taproot Bech32m addresses that start with bc1p. It also tells you the network (mainnet or testnet) and the address type. Paste one address or a whole list. The check happens in your browser and nothing is sent anywhere. A valid result means the format is right; it does not mean anyone owns the address.
Updated October 2026
How to use the Bitcoin Address Validator
- 1Paste a Bitcoin address into the box, or several addresses with one on each line.
- 2Read the result under each address: valid or not valid, the address type and the network.
- 3If an address is not valid, read the reason, for example a wrong checksum or a mixed-case Bech32 address.
- 4Fix the address from the original source and check it again.
- 5Press Copy report to copy the results as plain text.
What the checksum protects you from
Every Bitcoin address ends with a checksum computed from the rest of the address. If you change, drop or swap even one character, the checksum no longer fits and wallets refuse the address. Base58Check addresses use the first four bytes of a double SHA-256 hash. Bech32 addresses use a stronger error-detecting code that can find up to four wrong characters in a row.
This is why a typo almost never sends coins to the wrong stranger: the address simply fails. The real risk is not a typo but a swap, where malware replaces the address you copied with its own. A swapped address is perfectly valid, so checking the format cannot catch it. Always read the first and last few characters on your wallet screen before you confirm.
The four address families
- Legacy P2PKH starts with 1 and is the oldest format. It works everywhere but costs the most in fees.
- Script P2SH starts with 3 and hides a script behind a hash. It is used for multisig wallets and for SegWit wrapped in the old format.
- Native SegWit P2WPKH starts with bc1q and is 42 characters long. P2WSH is the longer 62-character script version.
- Taproot P2TR starts with bc1p and is 62 characters long. It uses a different checksum, Bech32m, so a SegWit v0 address can never be mistaken for it.
Using the validator for lists and developers
Paste a payout list, an exchange withdrawal sheet or a donation spreadsheet column to find bad rows before you run a batch payment. The report shows the line text and the reason, so you can fix the source file. Developers can use it to compare their own validation against known results, including mixed-case and wrong-version cases.
To go from a valid address to a payment request, build a link and code with the Bitcoin Payment QR Generator. To look up the balance of a valid address, use the Bitcoin Balance Checker, and to read the encoding in detail try the Base32 and Base58 Encoder. If you want to confirm a copied text did not change, compare its fingerprint with the Hash Generator.
Features
- Checks the Base58Check checksum for 1 and 3 addresses
- Checks Bech32 and Bech32m checksums for bc1q and bc1p addresses
- Names the type: P2PKH, P2SH, P2WPKH, P2WSH or Taproot
- Tells mainnet from testnet addresses
- Validates up to 200 addresses at once
- Refuses to look at seed phrases or private keys
- Works offline in your browser
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if a Bitcoin address is valid?
A valid address has the right length and characters for its format, and a checksum that matches. Legacy and script addresses use a double SHA-256 checksum, SegWit addresses use Bech32 and Taproot addresses use Bech32m. This tool checks all of them.
Does a valid address mean the money will arrive safely?
It means the address is well formed, so a typo is very unlikely. It cannot tell you who owns the address or whether it belongs to the person you meant to pay. Always compare the first and last characters with the source, and send a small test amount for a large payment.
What is the difference between addresses starting with 1, 3, bc1q and bc1p?
1 is a legacy address, 3 is a script hash address (often multisig or wrapped SegWit), bc1q is native SegWit, which has the lowest fees for a normal wallet, and bc1p is Taproot. All four can receive bitcoin, but your wallet must support sending to the newer ones.
Why does it say the checksum does not match?
One or more characters are wrong, missing or swapped, often from a copy and paste error or reading an address aloud. Copy it again from the original source.
Can it check testnet addresses?
Yes. Addresses starting with m, n, 2 or tb1 are testnet, and bcrt1 is regtest. The result shows the network, so you do not send real bitcoin to a test address by mistake.
Is it safe to paste an address here?
An address is public information, and this tool checks it entirely in your browser with no network request. Never paste a seed phrase, private key or password into any site. This tool detects them and refuses to examine them.
Does it check Ethereum or Litecoin addresses?
No, only Bitcoin. An address from another coin can look similar but fails the version or prefix checks, and the tool will say so.