Bitcoin Cash (BCH) address validator
Paste a Bitcoin Cash address to check its checksum and format and see which address type it is. Below: how BCH addresses are built, an example, and the chains it can be confused with.
BCH address format
- Legacy (P2PKH)
- Base58Check with version byte 0 (0x00); for example 1….
- Script (P2SH)
- Base58Check with version byte 5 (0x05); for example 3….
- CashAddr
- bitcoincash:q… / p…, the same hash as the legacy form. Use the CashAddr converter to switch.
- Checksum
- Double SHA-256, as in Bitcoin.
Public examples
1A1zP1eP5QGefi2DMPTfTL5SLmv7DivfNa(P2PKH)3J98t1WpEZ73CNmQviecrnyiWrnqRhWNLy(P2SH)
Good to know
BCH amounts use 8 decimal places: 1 BCH = 10^8 base units.
Its SLIP-44 coin type is 145, so BIP-44 style wallets derive it under m/44'/145'/….
Its legacy addresses share version byte 0 with Bitcoin, Terracoin, Bitcoin SV, so the same string can be valid on all of them. The detector lists every match; the right chain is the one your wallet uses.
It signs with SIGHASH_FORKID (fork id 0), which is what stops transactions replaying on Bitcoin.
The legacy form is byte-for-byte a Bitcoin address, so a Bitcoin address validates here too. Only the chain you send on decides where the coins go.
Look-alike chains: Bitcoin, Terracoin, Bitcoin SV.
This page checks address formats only. It never asks for a private key or seed phrase. Want to know if an address still holds funds? Try find money (coverage is listed there). Lost the wallet app? See the recovery guides.
FAQ
- How do I check a Bitcoin Cash address is valid?
- Paste it into the checker on this page. It verifies the checksum and the version byte or bech32 prefix for Bitcoin Cash and says which address type it is, or why it fails.
- What does a Bitcoin Cash address look like?
- Base58Check (version byte 0 / 5). Try it with the public example 1A1zP1eP5QGefi2DMPTfTL5SLmv7DivfNa.
- Is it safe to paste my Bitcoin Cash address?
- Yes. An address is public. The checker only reads the string you paste; nothing is stored, and it never asks for a private key or seed phrase.
- How many decimals does BCH have?
- 8. The smallest unit is 1/10^8 BCH.
- Why does my Bitcoin Cash address also show as Bitcoin?
- Both chains use version byte 0 for legacy addresses, so the string is valid on each. The key behind it is the same; only the network differs.