Understanding Ethereum Wallet Addresses
An Ethereum wallet address is a unique 42-character hexadecimal string (starting with "0x") that functions like a bank account number for ETH transactions. These addresses are generated through cryptographic processes involving:
- Private Key: A secure password proving ownership (never share this)
- Public Key: Mathematically derived from the private key
- Address: Generated from the public key's final 20 bytes
Example address: 0x71C7656EC7ab88b098defB751B7401B5f6d8976F
How to Locate Your ETH Wallet Address
In Popular Wallets:
- MetaMask: Click the account name to copy address
- imToken: Navigate to "Assets" > Select ETH > "Receive"
- Trust Wallet: Tap ETH > "Receive" button
- Exchange Wallets: Find "Deposit ETH" section
Buying and Selling Ethereum
Step-by-Step Process:
For Beginners:
Purchase ETH on exchanges like:
- Coinbase
- Binance
- Kraken
- 👉 OKX Exchange
Transfer to Wallet:
- Copy your wallet address from your ETH wallet
- Paste in exchange's withdrawal field
- Confirm transaction
Advanced Trading:
Use decentralized exchanges (DEXs):
- Uniswap
- SushiSwap
- Match orders on 0x protocol
ETH vs ERC20 Addresses
| Feature | ETH Address | ERC20 Address |
|---|---|---|
| Format | 0x... (42 chars) | Identical to ETH |
| Compatibility | Native transactions | Requires token approvals |
| Gas Fees | Paid in ETH | Paid in ETH |
Note: Modern wallets unify these addresses - your ETH address can receive all ERC20 tokens.
Security Best Practices
- Always triple-check addresses before sending
- Use hardware wallets (Ledger/Trezor) for large holdings
- Never share private keys or seed phrases
- Bookmark legitimate exchange URLs
FAQ Section
Q: Is my ETH address the same across all wallets?
A: No, each wallet generates unique addresses, but you can import the same wallet to multiple apps using your private key.
Q: Can I recover ETH sent to wrong address?
A: Blockchain transactions are irreversible. Only send to verified addresses.
Q: Why do some addresses have mixed case letters?
A: This is checksum encoding (EIP-55) helping prevent typos - wallets automatically validate these.
Q: How long do ETH transactions take?
A: Typically 15 sec - 5 min depending on network gas fees paid.
Q: Are ETH addresses case-sensitive?
A: Yes, but most wallets automatically handle proper casing.
Advanced Topic: How Contract Addresses Are Generated
ETH contract addresses derive from:
- Creator's address (sender)
- Transaction nonce (count of sender's prior transactions)
The formula: keccak256(rlp_encode(sender, nonce))[12:]
Example JavaScript implementation:
const sender = '0x6ac7ea33f8831ea9dcc53393aaa88b25a785dbf0';
const nonce = 1;
const rlpEncoded = rlp.encode([sender, nonce]);
const contractAddress = '0x' + keccak256(rlpEncoded).slice(24);👉 Secure Your ETH Today with industry-leading wallet solutions.
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