A crypto address is a string of letters and numbers, like an account number, that identifies where coins should be sent on a specific blockchain. Crypto you buy is delivered to the wallet address you provide, so the address must match the coin and its network. A transfer to the wrong address cannot be reversed.
How does a crypto address work?
A crypto address works like an account number on one blockchain. Your wallet usually creates it from a public key, so it is safe to share. The matching private key stays secret and approves spending. Each blockchain has its own address format.
What do crypto addresses look like?
You can usually tell the format from the first characters:
| Format | Starts with | Network |
|---|---|---|
| Legacy (P2PKH) | 1 | Bitcoin |
| Script (P2SH) | 3 | Bitcoin |
| Native SegWit (Bech32) | bc1q | Bitcoin |
| Taproot (Bech32m) | bc1p | Bitcoin |
| Ethereum and ERC-20 tokens | 0x, then 40 characters | Ethereum |
| Tron and TRC-20 tokens | T | Tron |
Addresses that start with bc1 use SegWit (Segregated Witness): bc1q is version 0 and bc1p (Taproot) is version 1. Mixed capitals in an Ethereum address are a typo check. See are Ethereum addresses case-sensitive?
What is an example of an address mistake?
Say a friend gives you an Ethereum address to receive USDT. As of September 2026, Tether issues USDT on Ethereum, Tron, Solana and other blockchains: on Ethereum it is an ERC-20 token, on Tron a TRC-20 token. Sent on another network, it will not appear in your friend’s Ethereum wallet, and getting it back can be hard or impossible. Ask for the address and the network together.
Why does an address matter when you buy crypto?
Crypto is delivered to the wallet address you provide. Use an address from a wallet you control (see why to use your own wallet address), check that it fits the coin and network you are buying, and contact support first if you are unsure. How to send Bitcoin to a wallet walks through the address steps. Then you can buy crypto on Coinmama.
What are the risks and red flags?
A transfer to the wrong address cannot be reversed. Check these points before you send or buy:
- Copy and paste. Never type an address by hand.
- Check the whole address. Lookalike addresses can match at the start and the end.
- Clipboard malware. If the pasted address differs from the one you copied, stop.
- Address poisoning. Scammers send tiny amounts from lookalike addresses. Copy from the receiving wallet or a saved address book, not from your history.
- Test first. Send a small amount to a new address before the rest.
- Keep secrets secret. Share your address, never your seed phrase or private key.
Go deeper: how public and private keys work.
