Bitcoin: Verifying the address and the message using the public key, address, and signature!
Verifying a Bitcoin Address and Signature: A Step-by-Step Guide
Introduction
Verifying a Bitcoin transaction address and signature is essential to ensuring that ownership of a Bitcoin address is confirmed. In this article, we will explore how to verify an address using a public key, signature, and address type (P2PKH, P2SH, P2WPKH, P2WSH, P2TR).
Public Key
A public key is used to sign transactions and verify the identity of the sender. It consists of a hash of the user’s private key.
To obtain a public key:
- Find your Bitcoin wallet and go to the “Wallet” or “Settings” menu.
- Select “Generate New Wallet” or “Get Your Public Key”.
- You will be presented with the public key, which should start with
m/0'/0'.
Signature
The signature is used to verify the identity of the sender and ensure that the transaction has not been forged.
To get a signature:
- Go to the "Wallet" or "Settings" menu.
- Select "Generate new signature".
- Select the signature type (e.g. ECDSA or RSA).
- The public key will be displayed, which should start withm/0’/0′
.
Bech32 addresses
Bech32 addresses are a standardized address format used for Bitcoin.
To check Bech32 addresses:
- Go to the "Wallet" or "Settings" menu.
- Select "Generate new address".
- Select the address type (e.g. P2PKH, P2SH, P2WPKH, P2WSH, P2TR).
- The address will be displayed in the formatm/0’/0′, which includes the Bech32 prefix.
Verifying Address and Signature
To verify your address and signature:
- Copy the public key (
m/0'/0'
) from your wallet.
- Paste or type the signature (
m/0'/0''
) into the verification window (usually found in the “Wallet” or “Settings” menu).
- Enter the Bech32 address (
m/0'/0''
) for verification.
Example
Let’s say you want to verify the address and signature for a particular Bitcoin transaction. Here are some example values:
- Public Key:
m/1'/0'
- Signature:
m/2'/0''
- Bech32 Address:
m/3'/0''
To verify ownership of this address, enter the following information into your wallet or confirmation window:
- Public Key (
m/1'/0'
)
- Signature (
m/2'/0''
)
- Bech32 Address (
m/3'/0''
)
If the transaction was successfully verified and confirmed by the network, you should see a success message indicating that ownership of the address has been confirmed.
Conclusion
Verifying Bitcoin addresses and signatures is an essential step in ensuring the authenticity and ownership of a Bitcoin transaction. By following these steps and using the correct public key, signature, and Bech32 address, you can verify the address and signature to ensure their legitimacy.