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How to Check a Wallet Address Before Sending Crypto

BITWHITE editorial team · Updated

In short. Before sending, check three things: the address format matches the coin and network, the first and last characters match the original address, and the address has not been swapped in your clipboard. Blockchain transactions are irreversible, so a mistake in the address usually cannot be fixed.

Why an address mistake is so costly

Blockchain transactions are irreversible. If coins go to someone else's address or a nonexistent one, they generally cannot be recovered: the network has no support desk that will roll back a transfer.

Mistakes come in three kinds. The first: the address was entered with a typo. The second: the address is correct but belongs to a different network. The third: the address was swapped without your knowledge. The first kind is usually caught by the wallet itself; the second and third require your attention.

Checking an address takes a minute, while a mistake in most cases cannot be corrected. That is the whole logic of this article.

What addresses on the main networks look like

The address format lets you quickly tell which network it belongs to. This is the first and simplest filter.

  • Bitcoin. Starts with 1, 3 or bc1.
  • Ethereum and networks built on it (ERC20, BEP20). Starts with 0x and has 42 characters.
  • Tron (TRC20). Starts with T, usually 34 characters long.
  • Litecoin. Starts with L, M or ltc1.
  • Solana. A string of Latin letters and digits about 32 to 44 characters long, with no prefix.

If an address does not fit the format of the selected coin, the service or wallet should show a warning. If there is no warning, check the format manually.

What the format does not show: identical addresses on different networks

The format does not tell you everything. An Ethereum address looks the same on the ERC20 and BEP20 networks, and you cannot tell them apart from the address itself. The same goes for other Ethereum-compatible networks.

That is why the "right address, wrong network" mistake remains the most insidious. The network is set not by the address but by which version of the token you chose when sending. For more on choosing a network, see the article about USDT: TRC20, ERC20 or BEP20.

A practical rule: the network in the sender's wallet must match the network specified in the order, letter for letter.

Five steps to check before sending

  1. Copy the address with the "Copy" button in your wallet or on the order page, rather than typing it by hand.
  2. Make sure the address's network matches the selected network.
  3. Compare the first 4 to 6 and last 4 to 6 characters with the original address.
  4. For coins that need a tag, enter the memo: what is a memo.
  5. When sending to a new address for the first time, send a small test amount.

For large amounts, add a sixth step: compare the whole address in blocks of four or five characters. It is slow, but reliable.

How an address checksum works

Most popular formats have a checksum built into the address. It is a few characters calculated from the rest of the address. If you get one character wrong, the wallet will, as a rule, notice the mismatch and will not let you send the transfer.

This protects against accidental typos, but not against substitution. An attacker's address is also valid in terms of format and checksum. The wallet will only confirm that the address exists, not that it is yours.

In Ethereum addresses, letter case is sometimes used as a checksum. Do not change the case manually: an address with altered case may be rejected or lose its typo protection.

Protecting against address swaps in the clipboard

Some malware watches the clipboard and replaces a copied address with an attacker's address. Outwardly the swap looks like an ordinary paste.

  • After pasting, compare the address on screen with the original: the beginning, the end and the middle.
  • Do not trust automatic pasting and autofill.
  • Keep your system updated and do not install programs from dubious sources.
  • If you use a hardware wallet, check the address on its screen, not on your computer screen.

Address poisoning: why you should not copy an address from your transaction list

There is a trick in which a scammer sends you a tiny transfer from an address similar to your usual one: the first and last characters match. They are counting on you later taking the address from your transaction history and sending money to them.

The defense is simple. Take an address only from a reliable source: from the recipient's own wallet, from the page of the current order, or from an address book that you filled in and checked yourself. Transaction history is not such a source.

For the same purpose, it helps when checking to compare not only the ends but also the middle of the address.

How to use a block explorer to check

A block explorer helps confirm that an address exists and belongs to the right network. Paste the address into the explorer for the network you selected. If the format is correct, the address page with its transaction history will open; if not, you will see an error message.

There are limits. An explorer will not tell you whether the address is yours, and it does not guarantee that the recipient controls its keys. A new address with no activity also looks empty, and that is normal. How to read transfer data: txid and blockchain explorer.

Payment address and payout address: what is the difference

Two different addresses are involved in an exchange, and you must not mix them up. The payout address is yours: the service sends the coin you receive there. The payment address belongs to the service: you send to it.

At BITWHITE the payment address is created for each order and is valid for up to 2 hours. Do not save it or reuse it in later orders. A payment with the wrong amount, on a different network or after the deadline goes to an operator for manual review: what to do about an underpayment.

The service's only official domain is bitwhite.net. Take the payment address from the order page on this domain, not from messages or emails. On signs of fakes: how to spot a fake exchange service.

Refund address: what to enter

If the service asks for a refund address, enter an address for the same coin and the same network you are sending from. In automatic mode, if the exchange fails, the coins are returned to exactly that address. On the differences between the modes: automatic or manual exchange.

Do not enter an exchange address unless you are sure it accepts incoming transfers from external addresses and credits them to your account. A personal wallet whose keys you hold is more reliable.

Practical examples

Example 1. The address is right, the network is wrong

Suppose the order specifies the TRC20 network, and you are sending USDT from a wallet on BEP20. A Tron address starts with T, and a sending wallet on BNB Smart Chain will most likely not accept it. This is a good case: the protection worked.

Example 2. Swap in the clipboard

You copy an address and paste it into your wallet. A different address was pasted instead of the one from the order, but it begins the same way. Comparing the last characters shows a mismatch. You clear the clipboard, copy the address again and check once more.

Example 3. A large amount to a new address

For example, if you are sending a significant amount to your own new wallet for the first time, first send a small amount, wait for it to arrive, and only then send the rest. The fee for the test is usually cheaper than a mistake.

Where to get an address and where you must not get it from

There is one reliable source for an address: an interface you control. That is your order page on bitwhite.net or the "Receive" section of your wallet.

Unreliable sources: messages in messengers from strangers, emails, screenshots, other sites, transaction history. Even if the address in a message looks right, you have no proof that the service sent it.

Can you trust a QR code?

A QR code is convenient because it eliminates typos, but it does not guarantee the address is correct. The code encodes the same address, and it is just as easy to swap as a line of text.

After scanning, compare the address your wallet shows with the address on the order page: the beginning and end must match. Make sure the wallet filled in the right network, and that the amount and tag, if there are any, have not changed. Scan only codes shown on the order page, not ones sent in messages.

Common mistakes

  • The address was typed by hand or a character was missed while copying.
  • The wrong network was selected even though the address format is right.
  • The payout address and the payment address were swapped.
  • The memo or destination tag was forgotten.
  • The address was taken from transaction history or an old message.
  • Sending from an exchange to an address on a network the exchange does not support for withdrawals.
  • A payment address from a previous order was used, or one whose deadline has expired.

Checklist before you press "Send"

  1. The coin and network in your wallet match the order.
  2. The address was copied with the button, not typed.
  3. The beginning and end of the address match the original.
  4. The memo is entered if it is needed.
  5. The amount matches the order amount, taking the network fee into account.
  6. The domain of the order page: bitwhite.net.
  7. The order is still active: the payment address deadline has not expired.

If something goes wrong after sending, write to support on Telegram and give your order number (BW-…) and txid (transaction hash). The service never asks for a seed phrase: any request for one means fraud.

Frequently asked questions

Can I check an address in a block explorer?

Yes. If the address is valid, the explorer will show its page; otherwise it will report an error. But it does not know whether the wallet is yours and will not protect you from a swap. The check is there to make sure the format and network are right, not to confirm the owner.

Why compare the beginning and end of the address?

A fake address often matches the real one in the first and last few characters. So you need to compare both parts, and for large amounts it is better to compare the whole address in blocks. This protects against both clipboard swaps and history poisoning. Two extra minutes spent checking are almost always worth more than the risk of losing a transfer.

Is a test transfer necessary?

For new addresses and large amounts it is useful: a small transfer confirms that the address and network were chosen correctly. Keep in mind that a network fee is charged on every transfer, so a test makes sense when the risk of a mistake costs more than the fee. For an order with a payment address, you should not send a test amount.

How does a Bitcoin address differ from an Ethereum address?

Bitcoin addresses start with 1, 3 or bc1 and consist of Latin letters and digits, while Ethereum addresses start with 0x and have 42 characters. They are not interchangeable and are built differently: sending a coin to an address on another network usually results in loss of funds. An Ethereum address is the same on ERC20 and BEP20, so choose the network separately.

What should I do if I sent to the wrong address?

Do not send the payment again and do not try to transfer once more "to fix it". If it is the payment address in an order, write to support on Telegram, giving the order number (BW-…) and txid. A transfer to someone else's address generally cannot be recovered, since transactions are irreversible. That is why checking before sending matters, not after.

Why can't a payment address be reused?

A payment address is created for each order and is valid for up to 2 hours. A payment after the deadline, with the wrong amount or on a different network goes to an operator for manual review, which takes longer. For a new exchange, always create a new order and take the address from it.

Ready to exchange? Pick your coins, paste the address and pay: the rate, fee and final amount are shown before you create the order.

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