Ethereum: Why does a bech32 address always start with bc1q?
Understanding Bech32 Addresses on the Ethereum Network
As you may have noticed, your Bech32 addresses on the Ethereum network start with “bc1”, followed by a letter, followed by some numbers (e.g. “bc1q”). But have you ever wondered why that is? Let’s dive into the world of Bech32 and understand what it means.
What is Bech32?
Bech32 is the standard format for encoding and representing Ethereum addresses. It was introduced in 2014 as part of Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) #15. The idea behind Bech32 is to provide a more efficient and scalable way to store and transfer data on Ethereum.
How does Bech32 work?
In traditional Bitcoin addresses, each address has a unique identifier that starts with “bc1”. However, this identifier was not designed for use on the Ethereum network, where multiple blockchains exist. To accommodate this, Bech32 uses a separate encoding system that includes additional characters to distinguish addresses.
The Magic of “q”
One of the most interesting aspects of Bech32 is the presence of the “q” character. At first glance, this may seem like an arbitrary choice, but it is actually key to understanding how Bech32 works. The “q” in Bech32 addresses represents a specific type of address called a “key pair”.
Key pairs and signatures
A key pair consists of a private key (a public-private pair) and its corresponding public key. These keys are used to sign transactions on the Ethereum network. To generate a Bech32 address, you need to combine your private key with an encrypted version of the public key.
The encrypted public key consists of several characters, including “bc1”, followed by a letter (in this case “q”) and then a few numbers. This combination is the public part of the Bech32 address.
Why does it start with “bc1”?
As mentioned earlier, your Bech32 addresses start with “bc1”. While it is true that the first three characters are still “bc1”, this is not a simple coincidence. The “q” in the encrypted public key serves as a unique identifier for each key pair.
In other words, even if you swap or change your private and public keys, the Bech32 address will remain the same thanks to the “q” character. This will ensure that your address remains consistent across different blockchain platforms (e.g. Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain) and is easily recognized as your own.
Appendix
To summarize, Bech32 addresses on Ethereum start with “bc1q” due to the encoding system used to combine private keys with public keys. The “q” character serves as a unique identifier for each key pair, ensuring that your address remains consistent across blockchain platforms. Understanding Bech32 and its components will help you navigate the world of Ethereum more effectively.
Additional Resources
To learn more about Bech32, I recommend checking out the official Ethereum documentation or online tutorials. Some recommended resources include:
- Official Ethereum website: [www.ethereum.org](
- Ethereum Developer Portal: [developer.ethereum.org](
- W3Schools Bech32 Tutorial: [w3schools.com/ethernet/bech32.php](
