--- title: "Private Keys and Addresses: Formats Explained" url: "https://bip39-phrase.com/topics/keys-and-addresses/" language: "en" --- # 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 ![Bitcoin Private Key Format: WIF, Base58 and Hex Explained](/images/blog/private-key-btc-card.webp) Keys & Addresses May 26, 2024 ## [Bitcoin Private Key Format: WIF, Base58 and Hex Explained](/private-key-btc/) ![Private Key Export: MetaMask, Trust Wallet, Ledger, Electrum](/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/convert-seed-phrase-to-private-key-guide-card.webp) Keys & Addresses Jun 29, 2024 ## [Private Key Export: MetaMask, Trust Wallet, Ledger, Electrum](/convert-seed-phrase-to-private-key-guide/) ## More in Keys & Addresses - [BIP38 Encrypted Private Keys: 6P Format and How to Decrypt](/bip38/) BIP38 encrypts one Bitcoin private key with a passphrase into a 58-character 6P string. Both modes, a decrypted test vector, wallet support and safe sweeping. - [Seed Phrase vs Private Key: What's the Difference?](/seed-phrase-vs-private-key/) A seed phrase backs up a whole HD wallet; a private key controls one address. See how words become keys, what each restores and which to back up. - [xpub, ypub and zpub: Extended Public Keys Explained](/xpub-ypub-zpub/) What xpub, ypub and zpub mean: how an extended public key works, which address type each prefix stands for, how to convert them and why to keep them private. - [What Is a Bitcoin Address and How Does It Work?](/what-is-a-bitcoin-address/) A Bitcoin address is a checksummed code for how coins get locked: to a key hash, a script hash or a Taproot key. What 1, 3, bc1q and bc1p mean and cost. - [Ethereum Keystore File (JSON Wallet): Structure and Security](/json-wallets-explained/) An Ethereum keystore file, or JSON wallet, holds one private key encrypted with a password via scrypt or PBKDF2 and AES-128-CTR. Fields, wallets, Python code. - [EVM Address Format Explained: Structure & Usage](/format-evm-addresses/) 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 - [Seed phrase to private key converter](/seed-phrase-to-private-key-converter/) - [Private key generator](/private-key-generator/) ## PDF documents on this topic All 18 printable explainers on this topic, including the [PDF archive](/list-phrase/), newest first. - [Bitcoin Private Key Structure and Security Essentials](/Private-Key-Structure.pdf) - [What a Change Address Is and Why Wallets Create One](/list-phrase/what-a-change-address-is-and-why-wallets-2026-10-15/) · October 15, 2026 A change address receives the leftover balance from a spent UTXO using an internal derivation path to preserve user privacy. - [Satoshi's Coins and the Dormant-Wallet Timeline](/list-phrase/who-is-satoshi-nakamoto-2026-03-11/) · March 11, 2026 Technical analysis of early Patoshi P2PK coinbase outputs, dormancy timelines, and their exposure to quantum cryptanalysis. - [Sui Private Keys and Recovery](/list-keys/sui%5Fprivatekeys-bip39-phrase%5F2025-11-01.pdf) · November 1, 2025 - [How Ledger Wallets Store Solana Private Keys Offline](/list-keys/solana-privatekeys-bip39-phrase-2025-10-30/) · October 30, 2025 Whenever you use a crypto wallet directly on an internet-connected device (such as any hot wallet), you are vulnerable to malware. - [Public vs Private Keys: Litecoin](/list-keys/litecoin-privatekeys-bip39-phrase-2025-10-29/) · October 29, 2025 Public and Private Keys in Cryptocurrency Well, private and public keys are integral for public blockchains to operate. - [Worldcoin and HEX Private Keys](/list-keys/worldcoin-hex-bip39-phrase-2025-10-28/) · October 28, 2025 Worldcoin, launched in 2023, uses a biometric system called World ID that verifies users through iris scans using a device called an Orb. - [The Best Bitcoin Wallets in 2025](/list-keys/best%5Fbitcoin%5Fwallets-bip39-phrase%5F2025-10-27.pdf) · October 27, 2025 - [Raw Hex Private Keys: 64 Characters and Valid Range](/list-keys/bitcoin-private-keys-bip39-phrase-2025-10-26/) · October 26, 2025 A technical reference on 64-character hex secp256k1 private keys, the curve order n, boundary constraints, and notation rules. - [Managing Private Keys](/list-keys/manage%5Fprivate%5Fkeys-bip39-phrase%5F2025-10-25.pdf) · October 25, 2025 - [Use BlueWallet with Keystone 3 Pro: Bitcoin Setup Guide](/list-keys/private-key-list-bitcoin-03-25-2025/) · March 25, 2025 How to pair a Keystone 3 Pro hardware wallet with BlueWallet, choose a Bitcoin address type and sign transactions by QR code. Example WIF-format private keys follow. - [Use SushiSwap with Keystone 3 Pro and MetaMask](/list-keys/private-key-list-ethereum-03-25-2025/) · March 25, 2025 How to connect a Keystone 3 Pro hardware wallet to MetaMask, open SushiSwap and approve its access to your assets. Example hex-format Ethereum private keys follow. - [How Bitcoin Works: Blocks, Proof-of-Work and Private Keys](/list-keys/btc-private-keys-list-24-march/) · March 24, 2025 How Bitcoin's chain of blocks, proof-of-work, capped supply and longest-chain consensus work, and how private keys and addresses fit in. Example WIF-format keys follow. - [How Ethereum Works: Proof of Stake, Gas and Private Keys](/list-keys/eth-private-keys-list-24-march/) · March 24, 2025 An overview of Ethereum: proof-of-stake validators, gas and EIP-1559 fee burning, hex private keys and addresses, ERC token standards and layer-2 rollups. Example hex-format keys follow. - [Bitcoin Private Keys: Range, WIF and Hex Formats](/list-keys/btc-private-keys-list-23-march/) · March 23, 2025 The valid range of Bitcoin private keys on secp256k1, how WIF and hex encode a 32-byte key, how a key becomes an address and how to store keys safely. Example WIF-format keys follow. - [Ethereum Private Keys: Format, Range and Representation](/list-keys/eth-private-keys-list-23-march/) · March 23, 2025 The range of Ethereum private keys, their 64-character hex form, how Keccak-256 turns a key into an EIP-55 address, keystore JSON files and HD derivation paths. Example hex-format keys follow. - [Bitcoin Private Keys in Trust Wallet: Export and Import](/list-keys/btc-private-keys-list-22-march/) · March 22, 2025 What a Bitcoin private key is, how Trust Wallet derives keys from one BIP39 phrase, how to export and import a WIF key and what to do if it is exposed. Example WIF-format keys follow. - [Ethereum Private Keys in Trust Wallet: Export and Import](/list-keys/eth-private-keys-list-22-march/) · March 22, 2025 What an Ethereum private key is, how Trust Wallet derives keys from one BIP39 phrase, how to export and import a hex key and what to do if it is exposed. Example hex-format keys follow.