Home / Wiki / A / Address (Crypto)

Address (Crypto)

Cryptocurrency and Digital AssetsUpdated 12 Nov 2026

A crypto address is covered in full in the entry Wallet Address, which explains address formats, how they are generated and how to avoid sending funds to the wrong one. This page gives a short definition and explains the two names.

An address is the destination for a cryptocurrency transfer: a string of letters and numbers, often shown as a QR code, that identifies where coins should go on a blockchain. It is derived from a public key, which in turn comes from the private key that actually controls the funds, so the address can be shared freely while the private key must stay secret.

Crypto sites say "address" and "wallet address" interchangeably. Strictly, one wallet can hold many addresses, all generated from the same seed phrase, and each network uses its own format, so a Bitcoin address cannot receive coins on a different chain.

Last updated 12 Nov 2026