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Topic: When future Bitcoin is sent to an address that existed BEFORE fork what happens? (Read 506 times)

sr. member
Activity: 742
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We recommend that you wait for further developments. There may be changes and not related to the previous address. That's all I can suggest, I also do not understand this. Thanks....
yes bitcoin is moving toward the development the process of increasing in the price also make bitcoin very popular and a lot of new things are entering in the bitcoin forum it is now the era of the digital currency and it is the time of the bitcoin increasing price the future of the bitcoin is very bright and the future of bitcoin is dependent on the price of the form and the other currencies. 
sr. member
Activity: 1638
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When future Bitcoin is sent to an address that existed BEFORE the fork what happens?
Do old addresses not have an assigned chain or do they divide or what? 

I really don't know the answer here.  I am expecting many payments in the coming days and weeks some of which have staked, aged addresses.  Hmmm.  A little insight would be awesome.  Thanks !


As you can see by the post of theymos here in the forum, you need to prepare for August 1, that means transacting bitcoin before is risky.

I think if you send your bitcoin before the fork happens there are a tendency that you're bitcoins transacted will disappear, but there are just a slight probability. In case of splitting, the bitcoin you transacted will not split because the time the bitcoin "forked" your bitcoins are being confirmed.
sr. member
Activity: 373
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As far as I understand bitcoin addresses that you created before aren't in the blockchain they're just your created private keys. Coins can be sent to addresses that don't exist as well.

The answer to your question involves who is sending the coins, and which chain they are sending from.

🦋Thank you for dissecting to the question I should asked.  Nice reverse engineering, detective!🦋
What you need to be worried about is having all your coins in your wallet (controlled by your private keys), so that if there is a fork your coins will be on all the forks.

If you create an address and you're on a client using chain A, and coins are sent from (or technically on) chain B, then you won't see any coins. You'll have to install software for chain B and the import your wallet or private key in to B from A to see those coins.
sr. member
Activity: 686
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If you are going to transact with Bitcoin ABC you need to download the client and make sure it uses a different data directory to save the blockchain if you also have Bitcoin Core on the same computer. After the fork you will have two different data directories for the blockchains, one for Core and another for ABC. Since both clients listen on port 8333 you can only run one at a time if you have the port open. Just make sure after the fork if you want to receive Bitcoin Cash use an address from the ABC client and if you want to send Bitcoin Cash use the ABC client of course. If you are using a Trezor the online web wallet will do the work for you. For every bitcoin you own you will also be airdropped one bitcoin cash.


Very helpful thank you so much for your input. ✨🦋✨
legendary
Activity: 1806
Merit: 1164
If you are going to transact with Bitcoin ABC you need to download the client and make sure it uses a different data directory to save the blockchain if you also have Bitcoin Core on the same computer. After the fork you will have two different data directories for the blockchains, one for Core and another for ABC. Since both clients listen on port 8333 you can only run one at a time if you have the port open. Just make sure after the fork if you want to receive Bitcoin Cash use an address from the ABC client and if you want to send Bitcoin Cash use the ABC client of course. If you are using a Trezor the online web wallet will do the work for you. For every bitcoin you own you will also be airdropped one bitcoin cash.
sr. member
Activity: 686
Merit: 251
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When future Bitcoin is sent to an address that existed BEFORE the fork what happens?
Do old addresses not have an assigned chain or do they divide or what? 

I really don't know the answer here.  I am expecting many payments in the coming days and weeks some of which have staked, aged addresses.  Hmmm.  A little insight would be awesome.  Thanks !


If you want to get technical, it depends on the type of fork.  A conventional softfork would almost always result in one single chain, so that one is kind of a non-issue.  The SegWit softfork we're going through in the very near future, assuming all goes smoothly, won't result in you having to worry about which chain you're on, or which address you're using.  It should be a near-seamless transition and you probably won't even notice any difference.  Everything will carry on like normal.  If or when people eventually opt to use the new format SegWit addresses, they can still send payments to you even if you aren't using the new format.

A "user activated softfork" is a little more confusing, because those can potentially cause, or otherwise result in, a hardfork and a permanent contentious split if the desired outcome isn't reached (in which case see the next paragraph).  But note that we have hopefully avoided such an event now.

In the event of a hardfork, any addresses generated before the fork can still be used on either chain.  You would have the same balance on both chains to begin with.  Providing there is adequate replay protection, after the fork occurs, transactions should (in theory at least) only appear on one of the two chains.  So if you want to receive a payment, you would have to make sure the person sending you the payment is doing so on your preferred chain.  But again they can still send payments to any current address you're already using now if you wanted them to.

To sum up, in just about any fork scenario you can envision, you can still use your current addresses.  You just have to be slightly more careful with hardforks to make sure that you're getting paid on the chain you want to be paid on.  Plus, as others have pointed out, it's usually best to wait for a few extra confirmations just to be on the safe side.

Thank you! 
That is precisely the breakdown of details that I was looking for.
✨🦋✨🦋Perfect thank you so much!  🦋✨🦋✨👵🏻
legendary
Activity: 3948
Merit: 3191
Leave no FUD unchallenged
When future Bitcoin is sent to an address that existed BEFORE the fork what happens?
Do old addresses not have an assigned chain or do they divide or what? 

I really don't know the answer here.  I am expecting many payments in the coming days and weeks some of which have staked, aged addresses.  Hmmm.  A little insight would be awesome.  Thanks !


If you want to get technical, it depends on the type of fork.  A conventional softfork would almost always result in one single chain, so that one is kind of a non-issue.  The SegWit softfork we're going through in the very near future, assuming all goes smoothly, won't result in you having to worry about which chain you're on, or which address you're using.  It should be a near-seamless transition and you probably won't even notice any difference.  Everything will carry on like normal.  If or when people eventually opt to use the new format SegWit addresses, they can still send payments to you even if you aren't using the new format.

A "user activated softfork" is a little more confusing, because those can potentially cause, or otherwise result in, a hardfork and a permanent contentious split if the desired outcome isn't reached (in which case see the next paragraph).  But note that we have hopefully avoided such an event now.

In the event of a hardfork, any addresses generated before the fork can still be used on either chain.  You would have the same balance on both chains to begin with.  Providing there is adequate replay protection, after the fork occurs, transactions should (in theory at least) only appear on one of the two chains.  So if you want to receive a payment, you would have to make sure the person sending you the payment is doing so on your preferred chain.  But again they can still send payments to any current address you're already using now if you wanted them to.

To sum up, in just about any fork scenario you can envision, you can still use your current addresses.  You just have to be slightly more careful with hardforks to make sure that you're getting paid on the chain you want to be paid on.  Plus, as others have pointed out, it's usually best to wait for a few extra confirmations just to be on the safe side.
sr. member
Activity: 686
Merit: 251
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nothing will happen, you receive the payment (bitcoin) as before without any problems. SegWit is not yet activated, it is in the lock in stage, and even when it does, because it was a soft fork and because of how it works, the old addresses are still valid and working.
with the BCC altcoin fork, you still have nothing to worry about because you are receiving payment. the sender has to think about replay protection. you will receive the payment exactly like before.

in short, as someone receiving bitcoin you don't have to worry about anything. just wait a little bit longer for more confirmation if you are doing a trade and want to be more sure.

🦋I suppose the curious part of me is still just seeking the knowledge of the process, in the event of forkity-fork regarding sending/receiving.   If someone from the future (let's say 2 months from now) finally has the money they owe me and they attempt to send me the btc, to the Address used prior to the fork, does the sender need to send from a specific chain or can both surviving chains interact and send btc to old addresses? I am imagining mail going to the wrong box and a big forwarding mess.  That's probably not how it works though,right? 
🦋
There will be no bifurcation. You need to pause until the situation becomes clearer and then we will make the transaction on the proven path. Why rush things? You lived up to bitcoin and do not die of hunger. Try to remember how it was before and you will fall in love with bitcoin.
Wise words, but true love doesn't wait easily, and Bitcoin is a definite love!  Wink Actually I am more just curious about the various technical outcomes we may see. That's why I asked the question. Hope someone can break down the "boring" part for me. I love "boring" tech details. Smiley
As far as I understand bitcoin addresses that you created before aren't in the blockchain they're just your created private keys. Coins can be sent to addresses that don't exist as well.

The answer to your question involves who is sending the coins, and which chain they are sending from.

🦋Thank you for dissecting to the question I should asked.  Nice reverse engineering, detective!🦋
sr. member
Activity: 373
Merit: 262
As far as I understand bitcoin addresses that you created before aren't in the blockchain they're just your created private keys. Coins can be sent to addresses that don't exist as well.

The answer to your question involves who is sending the coins, and which chain they are sending from.
sr. member
Activity: 406
Merit: 256
There will be no bifurcation. You need to pause until the situation becomes clearer and then we will make the transaction on the proven path. Why rush things? You lived up to bitcoin and do not die of hunger. Try to remember how it was before and you will fall in love with bitcoin.
hero member
Activity: 1456
Merit: 579
HODLing is an art, not just a word...
nothing will happen, you receive the payment (bitcoin) as before without any problems. SegWit is not yet activated, it is in the lock in stage, and even when it does, because it was a soft fork and because of how it works, the old addresses are still valid and working.
with the BCC altcoin fork, you still have nothing to worry about because you are receiving payment. the sender has to think about replay protection. you will receive the payment exactly like before.

in short, as someone receiving bitcoin you don't have to worry about anything. just wait a little bit longer for more confirmation if you are doing a trade and want to be more sure.
sr. member
Activity: 686
Merit: 251
Content| Press Releases | Articles | Strategy
We recommend that you wait for further developments. There may be changes and not related to the previous address. That's all I can suggest, I also do not understand this. Thanks....
I can't find the info but I have a hunch that if it was something that would potentially mess up your incoming funds...surely someone would be warning others of the danger.  I am eager to find out the answer.
sr. member
Activity: 882
Merit: 326
We recommend that you wait for further developments. There may be changes and not related to the previous address. That's all I can suggest, I also do not understand this. Thanks....
sr. member
Activity: 686
Merit: 251
Content| Press Releases | Articles | Strategy
When future Bitcoin is sent to an address that existed BEFORE the fork what happens?
Do old addresses not have an assigned chain or do they divide or what? 

I really don't know the answer here.  I am expecting many payments in the coming days and weeks some of which have staked, aged addresses.  Hmmm.  A little insight would be awesome.  Thanks !
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