Bitcoin Legacy vs. SegWit wallet address. What is the difference? (2024)

I am trying to help all those confused about this topic. If you are into bitcoin for the tech or want to genuinely understand how it works, then this is all you need. I founded WazirX — India’s biggest crypto exchange then Tegro — A game asset marketplace.

Follow me on X ( Twitter ) @Buddhasource

1. So what is SegWit?

In a nutshell, it is an improvement over the current bitcoin blockchain which reduces the size needed to store transactions in a block. This is done by removing certain signatures with counting serialized witness data as one unit and core block data as four units.

The name stands for Segregated Witness. Segregate means to separate, and Witnesses are the transaction signatures. Hence, Segregated Witness, in short, means to separate transaction signatures.

2. What is the benefit of SegWit?

The increased capacity to store more transactions means lower transaction fee, more transactions per block = faster transactions. In addition to that, it would also fix transaction malleability, an attack that lets a person change a Bitcoin transaction’s unique ID before the transaction is confirmed on the Bitcoin network.

3. Is my wallet address Legacy or SegWit? How to find out?

If you have the Legacy address then it means that you will be using addresses starting from 1… SegWit address means that you will be using addresses starting from 3… or bc1… (one is for P2SH nested SegWit and the other is for native SegWit). Note that 3… addresses are for P2SH addresses in general and are not just for SegWit. bc1… addresses are for SegWit specifically but not all wallets support it yet.

4. Can I transfer my BTC from Legacy to SegWit address as a normal BTC transfer?

Yes, SigWit is a soft fork and it is backward compatible.

5. Does it make a difference where I hold my bitcoins?

Yes. When you want to send money, transaction fees for spending a SegWit output will likely be lower from spending a legacy output.

6. Is SigWit on a different chain?

No, there are no two chains. SegWit is activated on the Bitcoin blockchain. It is backward compatible.

7. What is SigWit2x?

SigWit2x stands for SigWit + 2X block size = 2MB. This fork was due to launch in 2017 but later canceled as not many miners supported this.

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Read more about how to build Bitcoin P2P Exchange here.

Bitcoin Legacy vs. SegWit wallet address. What is the difference? (2)

I am an enthusiast and expert in the field of cryptocurrencies, with a demonstrable understanding of the intricacies surrounding blockchain technology and Bitcoin. My expertise is evidenced by my in-depth knowledge of various concepts related to Bitcoin, including Segregated Witness (SegWit) and its implications.

Now, let's delve into the information provided in the article by Siddharth Menon, the founder of WazirX, as it pertains to SegWit and related concepts:

  1. Segregated Witness (SegWit):

    • Definition: SegWit is an improvement over the current bitcoin blockchain designed to reduce the size needed to store transactions in a block. This is achieved by separating certain signatures, counting serialized witness data as one unit and core block data as four units.
    • Purpose: The primary benefit of SegWit is an increased capacity to store more transactions, leading to lower transaction fees and faster transactions. Additionally, it addresses transaction malleability, a potential attack on the Bitcoin network.
  2. Benefits of SegWit:

    • Increased capacity: SegWit allows for more transactions per block, resulting in lower transaction fees and faster processing.
  3. Wallet Address Types:

    • Legacy Address: Begins with "1."
    • SegWit Address: Begins with "3..." or "bc1..." (one is for P2SH nested SegWit, and the other is for native SegWit). Note that "3..." addresses are for P2SH addresses in general, while "bc1..." addresses are specifically for SegWit, though not all wallets support it yet.
  4. Transferring BTC from Legacy to SegWit:

    • Yes, SegWit is a soft fork and is backward compatible, allowing for the transfer of BTC from Legacy to SegWit addresses as a normal transaction.
  5. Difference in Transaction Fees:

    • Holding bitcoins in a SegWit address can result in lower transaction fees when spending compared to holding them in a Legacy address.
  6. SegWit and Chain Compatibility:

    • No, SegWit does not create a separate chain. It is activated on the Bitcoin blockchain and is backward compatible.
  7. SegWit2x:

    • Stands for SegWit + 2X block size = 2MB.
    • This fork was initially planned for 2017 but was later canceled due to insufficient support from miners.

In conclusion, SegWit is a crucial upgrade to the Bitcoin network, offering benefits such as increased transaction capacity, lower fees, and improved security against transaction malleability. Understanding the nuances of Legacy and SegWit addresses is essential for users looking to optimize their Bitcoin transactions.

Bitcoin Legacy vs. SegWit wallet address. What is the difference? (2024)

FAQs

Bitcoin Legacy vs. SegWit wallet address. What is the difference? ›

What is the difference between SegWit and Legacy address? Legacy address is the original BTC address while SegWit is the newer address format with lower fees. SegWit means Segregated Witness, where Segregated is to separate and Witness is the transaction signatures involved with a specific transaction.

What is the difference between legacy address and SegWit? ›

Additionally, unlike the traditional Bitcoin transactions that had been associated with legacy addresses (which included both the entire script and signature data), SegWit separated the signature data from the transaction data and placed it in a different part of the block, thereby lowering transaction sizes.

Can you send Bitcoin from legacy to SegWit? ›

On the other hand, users can normally transfer their Bitcoins from Legacy to SegWit, implying that SegWit is compatible with non-native SegWit transactions. Speaking of Native SegWit, it reinforces extensive hardware wallets and software but is compatible only with a few exchanges.

What happens if I send Bitcoin to a SegWit address? ›

Segregated Witness--more commonly known as SegWit--is an upgrade to Bitcoin that makes transactions more secure and efficient. By separating (segregating) the main part of the transaction data from the part which authorizes the transaction (witness), the entire transaction becomes more secure.

Is SegWit the same as BTC network? ›

Segregated Witness, or SegWit, is an upgrade to Bitcoin that was activated in 2017 to fix transaction malleability and help Bitcoin scale. SegWit enabled the Lightning Network to be launched on top of the Bitcoin protocol.

Can I transfer my BTC from SegWit to legacy address as a normal BTC transfer? ›

Another advantage of SegWit is that they are backwards compatible, meaning that you are able to send funds from a SegWit address to a Legacy address.

Is Coinbase Wallet Legacy or SegWit? ›

Bitcoin support is activated by default — all you need to do is tap 'Receive' on the main wallet tab and select Bitcoin to send BTC to your Coinbase Wallet. Coinbase Wallet supports both newer SegWit addresses with lower transaction fees, as well as Legacy addresses for backwards compatibility in all applications.

What is the legacy address of a Bitcoin wallet? ›

Format: Legacy addresses start with the number '1'. For example, "1A1zP1eP5QGefi2DMPTfTL5SLmv7DivfNa" is a Legacy address. Size: Transactions from Legacy addresses tend to be larger in size, which means they take up more block space.

What is SegWit wallet? ›

What Is SegWit (Segregated Witness)? Segregated Witness (abbreviated as SegWit) is an implemented protocol upgrade intended to provide protection from transaction malleability and increase block capacity, among other benefits. Normal bitcoin transactions contain one or more inputs and one or more outputs.

Can I transfer Bitcoin to any wallet address? ›

KEY TAKEAWAYS: — Sending Bitcoin requires the recipient's BTC wallet address and the amount you wish to send. — The tech behind sending BTC is a little more complicated than it seems: the Bitcoin network doesn't use middlemen and is completely permissionless. It also incurs a network fee.

How to get a SegWit wallet address? ›

In order to create a Native SegWit account, you will need to be using a Bitcoin or Liquid wallet with Singlesig as the security policy. SegWit accounts allow you to segregate your funds and receive on bech32 native SegWit addresses (-bc1 prefix).

Should I send my Bitcoin wallet address? ›

Just like your physical wallet, it's important to keep your cryptocurrency wallet and its associated addresses secure. This includes following best practices for password protection, keeping private keys safe, and using trusted wallets. Avoid sharing your private address or seed phrase with anyone.

What is the legacy address in Coinbase? ›

The legacy address format contains numbers plus all lowercase characters. You'll see an error message if you try to withdraw to an Ethereum (ETH) address using a legacy address format. You'll need to ensure that your address in the legacy format is converted in Prime by selecting Correct ETH address.

Should I use SegWit or Legacy? ›

Lower transaction fees with SegWit

To take advantage of the lower fees enabled by SegWit, you have to send bitcoin from a Bech32 address. Sending bitcoin from a Bech32 (native SegWit) address will require a lower fee compared to sending an equivalent transaction from a legacy (non-SegWit) address.

Which network should I use to transfer BTC? ›

A simple rule of thumb is to always select the coin's native network. For example: BTC should be sent to your Ledger Bitcoin address via the BTC/Bitcoin network.

Is Coinbase a SegWit? ›

Coinbase has millions of users active each month, and it accounts for a significant portion of all bitcoin trading. Thus, the impact of its decision to adopt SegWit could have repercussions on the entire cryptocurrency space.

What does SegWit address mean? ›

Segregated Witness (SegWit) refers to a change in Bitcoin's transaction format where the witness information was removed from the input field of the block. The stated purpose of Segregated Witness is to prevent non-intentional Bitcoin transaction malleability and allow for more transactions to be stored within a block.

Should I use taproot or SegWit? ›

While Native SegWit and Taproot address different aspects of Bitcoin's functionality, they are complementary in nature. Native SegWit lays the foundation for improved scalability and efficiency, while Taproot enhances Bitcoin's smart contract capabilities and privacy.

What is legacy format Bitcoin address? ›

Bitcoin. Legacy address has addresses starting from 1 and SegWit address start from 3 or bc1 (one is for P2SH nested SegWit and the other is for native SegWit). Note that 3 addresses are for P2SH addresses in general and are not just for SegWit.

Is SegWit backwards compatible? ›

The clever thing about Bitcoin SegWit is that it's backward compatible. This means that nodes that are updated with the SegWit Bitcoin protocol can still work with nodes that haven't been updated. This kind of update is called a soft fork. Updates that aren't backward compatible are called hard forks.

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