Human readable addresses

[topealabi]

Hello, I'm a newbie to the forum: can anyone point me to the discussion of simpler btc adresses instead of 3KrejzfHnytzf9VWyKK2vzHmwqXtjhDw1B what would it take to create a human readable version like: tope.btc ?

Thanks,

[1714116734]

1714116734

[1714116734]

1714116734

[1714116734]

1714116734

[1714116734]

1714116734

[1714116734]

1714116734

[1714116734]

1714116734

[pooya87]

first you need to understand what an address is.
an address is the "human readable" form of the hash of the public key (or script in case of P2SH) of the person you are trying to send bitcoin to. so what you really have is this (for the address you posted):

Code:

c744bdf2d269e5cd3410d4ecf62fcb8734b973f5

this 160 bit hash is what is being used under the hood, you can't change that. so if you want another form like "tope.btc" you have to find a way to connect that hash with that name and at the same time include some additional information indicating the type of the output you should create (in this case pay to script hash). and that is impossible unless you create a centralized database that takes that name and gives you the corresponding address.
in bitcoin we are trying to avoid centralization not add more.

[OmegaStarScream]

I believe you're referring to ENS Domains which we don't have an equivalent for in bitcoin. We do have Bit.co.in but It's not as good. It's also not supported by wallets, exchanges etc. so one cannot simply use the link in services, you'll have to visit and copy paste the address/QR code.

[dodgrad]

I think it's about whether instead of entering the address (ex. 3KrejzfHnytzf9VWyKK2vzHmwqXtjhDw1B) it can be changed into a "memorable" version..

It is possible that there is already created wallet with an option to identify BTC address under "readable name", for people who want to use only one address, but unfortunatelly I don't know such wallet.
The only thing that can make life easier for you, is simply to name the address in your wallet, so that you can identify it, but to make the tranfer, you will have to use the original address.

[crypture]

Hello, I'm a newbie to the forum: can anyone point me to the discussion of simpler btc adresses instead of 3KrejzfHnytzf9VWyKK2vzHmwqXtjhDw1B what would it take to create a human readable version like: tope.btc ?

Thanks,

What your looking for is called a Vanity Address where one can have a human readable address like

1VanityeNpkB3BwFXCDynrejjQYpyDTz7

You can read more about it here

[NeuroticFish]

I believe you're referring to ENS Domains which we don't have an equivalent for in bitcoin. We do have Bit.co.in but It's not as good. It's also not supported by wallets, exchanges etc. so one cannot simply use the link in services, you'll have to visit and copy paste the address/QR code.

Some years ago, a machine I've been using sometimes to buy BTC was integrated with btcaddr.es shortener. Since then the domain is gone and with the knowledge of today I am surprised that I've never lost money.
Nobody sane would integrate their business with such shorteners. You don't know who owns that domain, you don't know how safe it is and you rely that it will always redirrect correctly to the expected address. And in the moment it will go bad, who will people blame? The unknown shortener or the business?

So yeah, it's expected that there's no support for those...

[KingZee]

Without relying 3rd party, the only choice is hard-fork Bitcoin and add feature where you can make a transaction to assign an address with specific string and pay some fees (which will be taken by miner) depending on string length.

But obviously Bitcoin won't add complex feature like that as it could be abused in some ways.

Even if one were to come up with a solution it'd have to:

1. Either be stored on the blockchain, or on a side-chain. And then every name will be first come first serve, and to each address its identifier will be globally known for every node. This is probably what you want, but it's the hardest to implement because this needs either a hard fork, or you're basically going to need to convince a lot of nodes to start storing your side-chain of address names.

2. Or be from a 3rd party. Start up your own business and have people claim their names on your service. It's not difficult to achieve because only a very small % of addresses are ever being used. But you'd then also have to convince a shitload of services to start using your conveniently names addresses. The only issue here is that overnight, you could fuck people over by changing these names around, so you'd need some sort of public chain where people can see the names being claimed, for it to be immutable. Which loops back around to 1.

I'm not saying this is impossible, but for such a minor convenience, and in such a late stage of bitcoin, I don't think anyone really cares at this point.

[ABCbits]

1. Either be stored on the blockchain, or on a side-chain.

Must be on-chain, unless all bitcoin node also connected to side-chain network. Otherwise, the transaction would be invalid or can't be fully verified.

And then every name will be first come first serve, and to each address its identifier will be globally known for every node. This is probably what you want, but it's the hardest to implement because this needs either a hard fork, or you're basically going to need to convince a lot of nodes to start storing your side-chain of address names.

Yes and i already mention it needs hard-fork. It's not really best idea since it's just my random thought. It also have weakness, such as :
1. Bloating blockchain, even though transaction size is slightly slower
2. Make basic address validity check useless and more user will send to wrong address
3. Full nodes client require another DB/dataset just to store pair of bitcoin address and string
4. Grow incentives to sell linked private key for linked bitcoin address with good string

2. Or be from a 3rd party.

That would make Bitcoin decentralization useless

I'm not saying this is impossible, but for such a minor convenience, and in such a late stage of bitcoin, I don't think anyone really cares at this point.

That's what i think as well, most people even don't remember their own bank account number/id

[pooya87]

another downside to this which i forgot to mention in my comment is that it is encouraging Address Reuse (https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Address_reuse), which is not a good thing and should be avoided by design not encouraged. the design should be in a way that a bitcoin address always be treated as a single-use token. and if you start naming addresses then you would be encouraging people to reuse their addresses.

[Velkro]

Hello, I'm a newbie to the forum: can anyone point me to the discussion of simpler btc adresses instead of 3KrejzfHnytzf9VWyKK2vzHmwqXtjhDw1B what would it take to create a human readable version like: tope.btc ?

Thanks,

Hmm... no? I mean bank addresses are series of random numbers like 5555 5555 5555 4444 3333 6666 etc. is there any short simpler version? No, you copy paste it, thats it.
Oh yeah someone mentioned vanity addresses but its not shortcut, its vanity address