What Is a Bitcoin Public Address?
A Bitcoin public address is a unique string of letters and numbers that identifies where Bitcoin can be received on the Bitcoin network.
You can think of it like an account number. Anyone can send Bitcoin to this address, but only the owner of the corresponding private key can spend the funds.
What Does a Bitcoin Address Look Like?
Bitcoin addresses come in several formats depending on the address type.
Modern wallets commonly generate SegWit (bc1) addresses, while older wallets may use Legacy (1...) or Nested SegWit (3...) formats.
Note: These are example formats only. Do not use them as real receiving addresses.
| Format | Example |
|---|---|
| Legacy | 1A1zP1... |
| Nested SegWit | 3J98t1... |
| Native SegWit | bc1q... |
| Taproot | bc1p... |
Public Address vs Private Key
| Public Address | Private Key |
|---|---|
| Can be shared safely | Must remain secret |
| Receives Bitcoin | Controls Bitcoin |
| Used for balance lookups | Used to authorize spending |
| Safe to paste into ECX Claim Checker | Never enter unless using the official ECX Claim Tool |
How to Find Your Bitcoin Address
Most Bitcoin wallets provide a Receive section where you can view one or more Bitcoin receiving addresses.
Choose the address that held Bitcoin at the time of the official ECX snapshot if you want to verify your eligibility.
Using Your Bitcoin Address with ECX
The ECX Claim Checker uses your public Bitcoin address to determine whether it was eligible during the relevant ECX snapshot stage.
No private key, recovery phrase, or wallet credentials are required to perform this check.
Common Mistakes
Copying the Wrong Address
Always verify that you are checking the Bitcoin address that held your BTC at the snapshot block.
Confusing an Address with a Private Key
A Bitcoin address is public. A private key is secret. Never confuse the two.
Sharing Sensitive Information
Never share your recovery phrase or private key when someone only asks for your Bitcoin address.
Using an Address from Another Network
Make sure you are using a Bitcoin (BTC) address, not an address from another blockchain.
How the ECX Claim Checker Uses Your Address
Enter Bitcoin Address
Read Public Blockchain Data
Compare with Snapshot
Calculate Eligibility
Display ECX Allocation
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Bitcoin public address secret?
No. A public address is intended to be shared so that others can send Bitcoin to you.
Can someone steal my Bitcoin if they know my address?
No. A Bitcoin address alone cannot be used to spend funds. Only the corresponding private key provides control over the Bitcoin stored at that address.
Why does the ECX Claim Checker only need my address?
The checker compares your public Bitcoin address with the relevant ECX snapshot stage. Since this information is already recorded on the blockchain, no sensitive wallet information is required.
Which Bitcoin address should I enter?
Use the Bitcoin address that held your BTC at the time of the relevant ECX snapshot stage.
Can I check multiple addresses?
Yes. You can verify each eligible Bitcoin address individually using the ECX Claim Checker.
Do I need my private key to check eligibility?
No. The eligibility check only requires your public Bitcoin address.
Check Your ECX Eligibility
Use your public Bitcoin address to verify whether you qualify for an ECX allocation after the relevant ECX snapshot stage.