Address tools

Bitcoin Address Validator

Check whether a Bitcoin address is valid and detect its type. Everything runs locally in your browser - the address never leaves your device.

Why validate an address?

Before sending Bitcoin, a quick validity check pays off. Every Bitcoin address carries a built-in checksum - if you mistype, the tool spots it immediately. That helps you avoid sending to a broken or wrong address. It is no substitute for care, though: a formally valid address can still be the wrong one.

The address types

  • 1… Legacy (P2PKH) - the oldest format.
  • 3… P2SH - script addresses, often nested SegWit or multisig.
  • bc1q… Native SegWit (bech32) - lower fees.
  • bc1p… Taproot (bech32m) - the newest format.
Privacy: this check is purely computational and runs entirely in your browser. No address is sent to any server and nothing is stored.

Frequently asked questions

01What does this tool check?

It checks whether a Bitcoin address is formally valid - i.e. the checksum matches and the format is known - and determines the address type (Legacy, P2SH, SegWit, Taproot). It says nothing about whether the address is in use or holds a balance.

02Does my address leave the browser?

No. The check runs entirely locally in your browser (Base58Check and Bech32 computation). Nothing is sent to any server.

03Why is an address invalid?

Usually a typo: one wrong or swapped character breaks the checksum and the address is rejected - which is exactly what the checksum is for. Always copy addresses instead of typing them.

04Which address types are recognised?

Legacy (P2PKH, starts with 1), Script/nested SegWit (P2SH, starts with 3), native SegWit (P2WPKH/P2WSH, bc1q…) and Taproot (P2TR, bc1p…). Testnet addresses are recognised too.