Definition
Bech32 and Bech32m are related encoding formats used for native Bitcoin SegWit addresses. They combine a readable network prefix, an encoded witness version and program, and an error-detecting checksum. Bitcoin mainnet addresses in these formats begin with bc1. Bech32 is used for witness version zero, while Bech32m provides the checksum used for later witness versions, including Taproot's version one. They should not be treated as interchangeable encodings for the same output type. Their design improves the handling of transcription errors compared with relying on an unchecked character string, but checksum validity does not establish the identity or honesty of a recipient. Wallets must decode the correct network, witness version, and program length before constructing a payment. A supported address can be used without disclosing a private key. Software that does not recognize the relevant address type should not be bypassed by manually altering its prefix or checksum.
Source references
References accompanying this glossary entry:
- https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0173.mediawiki
- https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0350.mediawiki
Educational reference, not financial advice. See our financial disclaimer and editorial policy.