<p>From the <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Address">bitcoin wiki</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Several of the characters inside a Bitcoin address are used as a
  checksum so that typographical errors can be automatically found and
  rejected. The checksum also allows Bitcoin software to confirm that a
  33-character (or shorter) address is in fact valid and isn't simply an
  address with a missing character.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>In other words, your wallet shouldn't let you sent coins to a bad address, and servers won't accept the transaction.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-16T01:29:23.960Z
`servers won't accept the transaction` Actually, they will. Checksum info is stripped off before sending out the transaction.
Nick ODell
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-16T15:18:45.543Z
Thanks for replying!   "a 33-character (or shorter) address is in fact valid" - what about more than 33 then? For example if there is a space in the beginning or ending?
Ryan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-16T23:17:02.610Z
Nick, checksum info is part of the address - how is that possible?
Ben
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-15T23:23:53.347Z
2013-05-15T23:23:53.347Z
Ben
<p>What will happen if someone does not copy and paste the "To" address properly?</p>

<p>For example:<br>
If my address is 1xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxA</p>

<p>and the person tries to send money to 1xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<br>
(note the missing last alphabet)</p>

<p>will the transaction go through and will the coins be lost?</p>

<p>Thanks!
Ryan</p>

<sending>
Bitcoin wrong address
Ryan
# Bitcoin wrong address

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-05-15)

What will happen if someone does not copy and paste the "To" address properly?

For example:  
If my address is 1xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxA

and the person tries to send money to 1xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  
(note the missing last alphabet)

will the transaction go through and will the coins be lost?

Thanks!
username_0

**Tags:** sending


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-05-15. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

From the [bitcoin wiki](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Address):

> Several of the characters inside a Bitcoin address are used as a
> checksum so that typographical errors can be automatically found and
> rejected. The checksum also allows Bitcoin software to confirm that a
> 33-character (or shorter) address is in fact valid and isn't simply an
> address with a missing character.

In other words, your wallet shouldn't let you sent coins to a bad address, and servers won't accept the transaction.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: `servers won't accept the transaction` Actually, they will. Checksum info is stripped off before sending out the transaction.  
> **username_0**: Thanks for replying!   "a 33-character (or shorter) address is in fact valid" - what about more than 33 then? For example if there is a space in the beginning or ending?  
> **username_1**: username_2, checksum info is part of the address - how is that possible?  

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