Address
BASICSDEFINITION
A string of letters and numbers — like an account number you can generate infinitely — where bitcoin can be received. Modern addresses start with bc1.
An address is derived from your public key, which is derived from your private key. Sharing an address is always safe: it lets people send bitcoin to you, never take it from you. Wallets generate a fresh address for every receive automatically.
Reusing one address for everything works but ties all your payments together on the public blockchain — bad for privacy. Letting your wallet rotate addresses is free and automatic, so let it.
IN A SENTENCE
“I sent the bitcoin to the bc1 address her wallet showed me.”
Key facts
Common questions
Can someone steal funds knowing my address?
No — an address only receives. Spending requires the private key.
Do addresses expire?
No. Old addresses keep working forever, though wallets rotate them for privacy.