Private Keys and Addresses: Formats Explained
Every address you receive funds on comes from a private key, and on modern wallets every private key comes from a seed phrase. These guides show what each format looks like, from Base58 WIF strings and Bech32 addresses to EVM addresses and encrypted JSON keystores, and how to convert between them safely.
Start here
More in Keys & Addresses
- What Is Bitcoin Address & How It Works
A Bitcoin address is a hashed public key derived from your private key, used to receive UTXO-based funds; learn its types and how they're generated.
- JSON Wallets Explained: Structure, Security & Code Examples
JSON wallets store encrypted private keys in a structured file; this guide explains their structure and security with Ethereum and MetaMask examples.
- EVM Address Format Explained: Structure & Usage
An EVM address is 0x plus 40 hex characters: the last 20 bytes of the Keccak-256 hash of a secp256k1 public key, with an EIP-55 checksum.
Tools
PDF documents on this topic
Printable explainers from the PDF archive, newest first.
- What a Change Address Is and Why Wallets Create One · October 15, 2026
- Crypto WiFi Hack · December 24, 2025
- Addressing Self-Custody · December 22, 2025