A wallet address is a string of letters and numbers that tells people where to send crypto. It is created from your public keyPublic keyA key calculated from your private key that others use to verify your signatures, and that is safe to share. and is safe to share. A wallet address works like an account number: people need it to pay you, but they can't take anything out with it.
What does a wallet address look like?
Every blockchain networkBlockchain networkThe blockchain a cryptocurrency or token is recorded and sent on, such as the Bitcoin network or the Ethereum network. has its own format. Bitcoin addresses usually start with bc1, 1 or 3. Ethereum addresses start with 0x and are 42 characters long.
A wallet can create many addresses, and many people use a new one for each payment. All transactionsTransactionA record of crypto moving from one wallet address to another, signed with the sender's private key and stored permanently on the blockchain. to an address are public, and anyone can look them up in a block explorerBlock explorerA website where anyone can look up transactions, wallet addresses and blocks on a blockchain..
What to watch out for
Crypto transactions can't be reversed. If you send to the wrong address, you usually won't get the crypto back. So:
- Copy and paste the address. Never type it by hand.
- Check the whole address, not just the first and last few characters. Scammers create addresses that look like yours and send tiny amounts to your wallet, hoping you'll copy the wrong address from your history. This is called address poisoning.
- Use the right network. The same address can be valid on more than one network. Sending on the wrong one can mean losing the crypto.
- Send a small test amount first when you send a large amount to a new address.
Everything in Myntkaup Learn is written and regularly reviewed by the Myntkaup editorial team. It is for education and is not investment advice. Editorial policy. Updated 18 October 2026.