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A native SegWit address is a human-readable encoding of the witness version and witness program used to create a native Segregated Witness output. Wallet software decodes the address into the data needed to build the Bitcoin output script. On Bitcoin mainnet, these addresses begin with bc; on testnet, they begin with tb.
What does a native SegWit address encode?
Segregated Witness (SegWit) defines a type of Bitcoin output that uses a witness program. The address is not itself the witness program or the output script: it is an encoded representation that wallet software decodes to construct the corresponding script. BIP 141 describes SegWit outputs and witness programs, while BIP 173 specifies the address format for witness versions 0 through 16.
A Bech32-style address contains a human-readable network prefix, a separator, data encoding the witness version and witness program, and a checksum. The witness program’s bytes are converted into base32 data values for the address representation.
What do the prefixes and address forms mean?
The network prefix identifies the intended network, not a particular person or wallet. Mainnet addresses use bc; testnet addresses use tb. Within mainnet, bc1q commonly indicates a version 0 address, while bc1p is used for version 1 Taproot addresses.
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Version 0: P2WPKH and P2WSH
Version 0 addresses use Bech32 and encode a witness program that is either 20 or 32 bytes long. Common output forms are Pay-to-Witness-Public-Key-Hash (P2WPKH) and Pay-to-Witness-Script-Hash (P2WSH). BIP 173 gives these mainnet examples:
bc1qw508d6qejxtdg4y5r3zarvary0c5xw7kv8f3t4— P2WPKH.bc1qrp33g0q5c5txsp9arysrx4k6zdkfs4nce4xj0gdcccefvpysxf3qccfmv3— P2WSH.
Version 1 and Taproot
Taproot uses witness version 1. Its mainnet addresses begin with bc1p and use Bech32m, not Bech32. The prefix alone is not enough to determine which checksum variant an address must use.
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Bech32 and Bech32m: what is the difference?
Bech32 and Bech32m are related address encodings with different checksum variants. The correct variant depends on the decoded witness version, as specified by BIP 350.
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| Witness version | Required checksum encoding | Typical mainnet prefix |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Bech32 | bc1q |
| 1 through 16 | Bech32m | Version 1 commonly begins bc1p |
A decoder should check that the checksum variant matches the witness version. Treating every address that begins with bc1 as the same format can lead to incorrect validation.
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How can you recognize and validate an address?
Recognition by appearance is only a first check; a valid-looking string still needs to be decoded and validated by wallet software. BIP 173 sets a maximum Bech32 string length of 90 characters and specifies witness-program lengths of 2 to 40 bytes; version 0 has the stricter 20- or 32-byte requirement.
- Confirm that the address uses the network you intend to use, such as mainnet or testnet.
- Check the checksum and ensure the checksum variant agrees with the decoded witness version.
- Check that the witness program length and other rules are valid for that version.
- Do not accept a mixed-case Bech32 string; BIP 173 says mixed-case strings are invalid and encoders should produce lowercase strings.
Correct address-to-script conversion matters. BIP 173 warns that an incorrect conversion can create an output that is unspendable or insecure.
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Will every wallet accept a native SegWit address?
No. Support depends on the sending or receiving wallet or service, and Bitcoin.org notes that some wallets and services may not support Bech32. Before sending funds, check that the sender supports the recipient’s network and address version, and confirm the receiving service accepts that address format. Do not assume that two addresses beginning with bc1 are interchangeable.
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