Where does Bitcoin store empty addresses.

[Jet Cash]

I've just created a node, and it's 11 years behind in synchronisation. I've added a receive address through the console, and the blockchain recognises this, but I haven't send any coins to this wallet, and it's on a new machine. Google tells me that empty addresses aren't stored on the blockchain, so how does a blockchain explorer know that the address is in use?

[Mia Chloe]

I've just created a node, and it's 11 years behind in synchronisation. I've added a receive address through the console, and the blockchain recognises this, but I haven't send any coins to this wallet, and it's on a new machine. Google tells me that empty addresses aren't stored on the blockchain, so how does a blockchain explorer know that the address is in use?

You already added the address to your wallet what happens is that your wallet software runs a checksum to verify that the private keys are valid and hence  brings that address as one of the public keys. Google doesn't do this instead the rely on data from other nodes which will only be visible if you have at least one transaction.

If you really want to scan that address you can look it up in the mempool there the mempool will always recognise it so long it is a valid address even if there's no transaction yet.

[DireWolfM14]

Google tells me that empty addresses aren't stored on the blockchain, so how does a blockchain explorer know that the address is in use?

The blockchain explorer will look for transactions, their origin, and their destination, but it can also tell if an address is valid based on its checksum.  Most blockchain explorers won't search for an address with a bad checksum.  If the blockchain explorer returns any results, including a blank list of transactions, then the address is valid.

[Jet Cash]

Ah! I understand. That explains why it lists the address when there isn't a file of addresses.

[Cookdata]

I've just created a node, and it's 11 years behind in synchronisation. I've added a receive address through the console, and the blockchain recognises this, but I haven't send any coins to this wallet, and it's on a new machine. Google tells me that empty addresses aren't stored on the blockchain, so how does a blockchain explorer know that the address is in use?

Google doesn't run a node and doesn't have a memory pool to comfirm if an address has a balance or not. If you search any blochain Explorer with any address, it will return valid if the address is a Bitcoin standard address, by standard I mean, public key, legacy, p2sh and all Segwit addresses and will give you address history if there has been any transaction in the address.

Ah! I understand. That explains why it lists the address when there isn't a file of addresses.

Most wallet has a pregenerated address as gap limit, I'm not sure the type you are using. Each wallet has their limit, you can always increase the list of addresses. You often see receive address and change address depend on the type of wallet you are using.  

[notocactus]

I've just created a node, and it's 11 years behind in synchronisation. I've added a receive address through the console, and the blockchain recognises this, but I haven't send any coins to this wallet, and it's on a new machine. Google tells me that empty addresses aren't stored on the blockchain, so how does a blockchain explorer know that the address is in use?

There are many Bitcoin block explorers and not all of them do verify checksum so you can try with different Bitcoin block explorers with your Bitcoin address that has no transaction history.

Some blockchain explorers will recognize it while some don't.
Bitcoin block explorers list.
For example you can try with https://blockchair.com/ and https://www.blockchain.com/explorer to see diffference.

[Mia Chloe]

Some blockchain explorers will recognize it while some don't.
Bitcoin block explorers list.
For example you can try with https://blockchair.com/ and https://www.blockchain.com/explorer to see diffference.

I strongly doubt if Blockchair will pull up data for an address with no transactions. I've tried it with Blockchair many times and it only works if you have at least only one transaction. On the other hand the mempool space has always been able to tell it's a valid address but just empty every time I tried.

I'm not sure but I think Blockchair only can confirm an address exists if they can find a confirmation from a node to that address. Mempool on the other hand is a memory centre for all valid data on the Blockchain.

[Cricktor]

There are no public addresses stored in the Bitcoin blockchain, except when someone deliberately stored them in arbitrary data like OP_RETURN data. The Bitcoin blockchain doesn't need to store or know about public addresses at all.

Sounds strange but it is so. A public address is basically a recipe for a specific type of locking script to be placed on some bitcoins. (Loosely transcribed from the beginning of https://learnmeabitcoin.com/technical/keys/address/.)

The Bitcoin blockchain mostly stores transactions which spend previous transaction outputs (now inputs of a transaction) to new transaction outputs where the public address is a human friendly recipe for a locking script to lock those output coins.

...

Indeed, https://blockchair.com/bitcoin/address/1JetCashLovesNsavesoLDcarsXb67BAh doesn't give much insight, it wouldn't even show an error if you replace any character to invalidate the checksum of this vanity address (don't send coins to it, nobody has the public key or private key for it, I just fabricated it for the sake of demonstration and joy of OP).

https://mempool.space/de/address/1JetCashLovesNsavesoLDcarsXb67BAh verifies if the public address has a valid checksum and should at least display a zero balance for it as long as no coins have been sent to a valid unused public address.

I'd expect many other Bitcoin explores likely work like mempool.space. I only use blockchair.com if I want to create some fancy filters to search for something special.

[notocactus]

I strongly doubt if Blockchair will pull up data for an address with no transactions. I've tried it with Blockchair many times and it only works if you have at least only one transaction.

Yes, you are right about that but you did not read my post carefully.

For example you can try with https://blockchair.com/ and https://www.blockchain.com/explorer to see diffference.

I mean checking two Bitcoin block explorers: blockchain.com and blockchair.com to see difference. Difference between two explorers is blockchair.com does not give you any information for a Bitcoin address without transaction history while Blockchain.com does has that.

With blockchair.com, it gives you like

Code:

No results for: 1JetCashLovesNsavesoLDcars..."

With blockchain.com, it gives you like

Code:

There are 2 blockchains with result(s) to your search:
1JetCashLovesNsavesoLDcarsXb67BAh
BTC
BCH