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Topic: What happens is BTC is sent to incomplete address? (Read 1907 times)

full member
Activity: 141
Merit: 100
The validation rules are applied when taking the user's base58 input. This is done by the user's client only. After passing the checks, the client constructs the raw transaction which is finally seen by other clients, as known as the network.

In spite the final raw transaction is checked by the network, the raw output script which defines who can claim the funds was derived from the originating base58 string doesn't have a check sum anymore and thus the transaction wouldn't get rejected as long as the constructed transaction follows the rules of the protocol.

This means: As long as you use a well reviewed client sort of the known like Core, Electrum, Armory, you shouldn't fear of sending to an incomplete address.

If you use someone's else unreviewed client or you're even about to roll up your own bitcoin client, a flaw in the validation mechamism could trigger unpredictable behaviour which includes crashing and refusing to accept a valid bitcoin address - in the best case. In the worst case a heavily flawed client could technically craft a valid transaction from faulty treatment of invalid user input which renders the funds inaccessible.
hero member
Activity: 840
Merit: 1000
Once I have entered the wrong addresses, it said: "invalid address", so I couldn't send it at all.

There is a mechanism to prevent to send money to bad/incomplete addresses. Like previous said: Bitcoin addresses are base58 encoded, and they have validation rules that must be passed for a payment to work.

Therefore, you can't send out btc to the incomplete address, don't worry.  Wink
hero member
Activity: 1204
Merit: 531
Metaverse 👾 Cyberweapons
No worries. You see error from client due to invalid address. BTC addresses are encoded and there are certain rules of validation before the transaction would be made. So your transaction won't happen. That's something I tested and can confirm. These are strict rules and I think you cannot easily bypass them. If you can, remember to tell me how you did it : - ) However, even if the client sent the transaction, the network wouldn't accept it so you will not lose your BTC.
legendary
Activity: 3038
Merit: 4418
Crypto Swap Exchange
Your first character has to be either 1 or 3 so an error will occur and the transaction will not be made. The address goes through some checks before it is being sent. The odds of getting Bitcoins sent to an address typed wrongly is 1 in 4 billion. Amount will only be sent if you send it to an address you copied from elsewhere and didn't copy the one that you are sending to.
full member
Activity: 154
Merit: 100
it will surely give an error message because it has an minimum limit you can try myclium wallet to check the bitcoin address you are sending your coins are valid or not
legendary
Activity: 896
Merit: 1000
Bitcoin addresses are base58 encoded, and they have validation rules that must be passed for a payment to work. Even if you try and manually create a transaction for a bad address it will be rejected by the nodes you broadcast it to.
sr. member
Activity: 322
Merit: 250
I try this to make sure and it tell me invalid address. I even try adding extra letter on the end and it still say invalid address. I think you are safe:-)
newbie
Activity: 56
Merit: 0
Don't worrie it's impossible as far as I know as it should come back as a error invalid address hope this helped.
sr. member
Activity: 420
Merit: 250
While copy / pasting address suppose be miss first or last charactor what will happen if that BTC is sent to incomplete address?

It's not possible to send to an incomplete address.
full member
Activity: 152
Merit: 100
will be an error like Invalid address or something like that but u wont lose your BTC
sr. member
Activity: 294
Merit: 250
There are two possibilities...either the client will give you an invalid address message or reject it..or the thing will push through and the bitcoin will be lost...don't know about the latter since I havent test it out yet.
hero member
Activity: 644
Merit: 500
While copy / pasting address suppose be miss first or last charactor what will happen if that BTC is sent to incomplete address?


Your client will see that the addresses checksum fails. Or if it's sloppy, maybe not. In that case, the network would reject it.
hero member
Activity: 910
Merit: 1000
all modern wallets validate address before trying to send to network. you will get an invalid address error. don't worry.

I noticed if I scanned a QR code the bc.i wallet doesn't check immediately if it's a wallet. It will paste whatever QR string holds.
full member
Activity: 136
Merit: 100
Thanks for info  Smiley
sr. member
Activity: 476
Merit: 250
all modern wallets validate address before trying to send to network. you will get an invalid address error. don't worry.
copper member
Activity: 1498
Merit: 1528
No I dont escrow anymore.
It will give an error of "Invalid Address", probably. Smiley

Yes, it has a checksum included that prevents these sort of errors. Its very unlikely that you miss a character at the end (or anywhere else for that matter) and still have a valid address.
legendary
Activity: 2786
Merit: 1031
It will give an error of "Invalid Address", probably. Smiley
full member
Activity: 136
Merit: 100
While copy / pasting address suppose be miss first or last charactor what will happen if that BTC is sent to incomplete address?
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