Validate Address

A tool for checking if a Bitcoin address is valid and determining its properties.

Tool Name

validate_address

Description

Validates Bitcoin addresses by checking their format, checksum, and network compatibility. This tool helps ensure addresses are correctly formatted before sending transactions or using them in applications.

Input

• address: The Bitcoin address to validate (string)

Output

Returns validation details including:

• Whether the address is valid
• The address type (P2PKH, P2SH, etc.)
• The network (mainnet/testnet)

Example Usage

Using the tool through Claude:

Is this Bitcoin address valid: 1A1zP1eP5QGefi2DMPTfTL5SLmv7DivfNa?

Example output:

I'll check if that Bitcoin address is valid using the validate_address tool.

The address 1A1zP1eP5QGefi2DMPTfTL5SLmv7DivfNa is valid:
- Type: P2PKH (Pay to Public Key Hash)
- Network: Mainnet
- Format: Legacy (starts with '1')

This is a valid Bitcoin address that can safely be used to receive funds on the main Bitcoin network.

Another example:

Can you validate this address: 1234abcd?

Example output:

I'll check that address using the validate_address tool.

The address "1234abcd" is NOT valid:
- Incorrect length
- Invalid checksum
- Improper format

A valid Bitcoin address should be longer and follow specific format rules. For example, a legacy Bitcoin address starts with '1' and is about 34 characters long.

Common Use Cases

• Verifying addresses before sending transactions
• Validating user input in applications
• Checking address network compatibility
• Identifying address types for compatibility checks

Technical Details

The tool performs several checks:

• Base58Check decoding
• Checksum verification
• Network prefix validation
• Address format identification
• Length validation
• Character set validation

Error Handling

The tool provides clear feedback when validation fails, including:

• Format errors (invalid characters, wrong length)
• Network mismatches
• Checksum failures
• Invalid address types