Understanding Bitcoin Address Prefixes: A closer look at the warranty addresses of multiple Ethereum SIGs
For those new in cryptocurrency, it can be confused when dealing with addresses of Bitcoin and Ethereum. One of the most frequently asked questions is: What prefixes do these addresses follow? The answer may seem direct, but the reality is more complex than you think.
In this article, we will delve deeper into the world of Bitcoin address prefixes and explain why they are not always as simple as «1» at first glance.
What are prefix -based addresses?
Prefix -based addresses are a way of representing an Ethereum address using a shorter character sequence. These prefixes are used in conjunction with a longer hexadecimal code, known as hash
, which makes up most of the address.
The address hash consists of 66 digits (64 for the main «1» and 2 for the suffix «.») Which are divided into eight groups of seven, separated by strokes. Each group corresponds to a specific number from 0 to 65, where:
- The first six numbers represent the check digit
- The seventh number is always 1
Prefixes
There are several prefix -based address formats in use at Ethereum:
Basic Address Format (with the leadership «1»)
This format is the most common and is represented as a single hexadecimal sequence with «1» as your main character.
`
0x01 …
`
Basic prefix (with leader «x»)
A prefix is introduced to indicate that the address must be divided into several segments. The format changes to:
`
0xx …
`
* 2 for the check digit
* x for the remaining six digits
For example, 3m8xgfbkwkf7MIBZPKU3X2DowWAVRD1MHK is an address that follows the basic prefix format.
Multi-Signature Address Format (MS)
This format involves dividing the address into various segments using prefixes. The MS format requires three different prefixes:
m ,
s and
p . Each segment begins with a specific prefix, followed by the verification digit.
`
0xms …
`
* m for the first segment
* S
for the second segment
* P for the third segment
The MS format is used in situations such as Coinjoin, where several addresses are combined to create a single wallet address. 3M8XGFBKWKF7MIBZPKU3X2DOWWAVRD1MHK follows this format.
Example:
As we saw with the example above, 3m8xgfbkwkf7mibzpku3x2dowwavrd1mhk is an MS address. The prefixes used are:
* m (for the first segment)
* S (for the second segment)
* P (for the third segment)
Understanding prefix -based addresses may seem scary at first, but it is essential to understand this concept when working with Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies.
By recognizing the different prefix formats and their meanings, you will feel more comfortable in navigation in the world of Bitcoin and Ethereum addresses.