<blockquote>
<p>Is the G in elliptical curve same for bitcoin and ethereum?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Yes Ethereum also uses the secp256k1 curve that is defined using the <a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/113116/how-is-the-generator-point-g-chosen-in-the-secp256k1-curve-used-in-bitcoin">generator point</a>:</p>
<pre><code>Gx = 0x79BE667EF9DCBBAC55A06295CE870B07029BFCDB2DCE28D959F2815B16F81798
Gy = 0x483ADA7726A3C4655DA4FBFC0E1108A8FD17B448A68554199C47D08FFB10D4B8
</code></pre>
<blockquote>
<p>If yes then why can't we send bitcoin and ethereum to same public address?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>For a number of reasons. Firstly, Bitcoin and Ethereum define addresses differently. Bitcoin uses the <a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/100508/can-you-break-down-what-data-is-encoded-into-a-bech32-address">bech32 format</a> starting <code>bc1</code> and Ethereum uses a hexadecimal string starting <code>0x</code>. Secondly, Bitcoin addresses contain a checksum at the end of the address (to flag incorrectly typed addresses) whilst Ethereum addresses don't. Thirdly, Ethereum only encodes the <a href="https://ethereum.stackexchange.com/questions/56057/why-are-the-last-20-bytes-of-the-public-key-used-as-the-address">last 20 bytes</a> of the public key into the address. Fourthly it is not just a raw public key that is encoded in a Bitcoin address. Bitcoin uses a scripting language &quot;Script&quot; that it uses to outline the conditions needed for the coins to move which generally includes requiring at least one signature associated with a particular public key. These conditions are baked into the address.</p>
<p>So yes don't try sending Bitcoin and Ethereum to the same address, you will lose your coins.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-26T12:14:11.837Z
The most important reason is that they are simply separate unconnected systems. Even if they used the same addresses, and the same scripting system, separate systems can't interact. They're just different currencies, protected by similar cryptography.
Pieter Wuille
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-26T12:22:03.023Z
The way I understood the question was he wanted to send Bitcoin and Ether to the same address so the Bitcoin system told him his Bitcoin "balance" on that address and the Ethereum system told him is Ether "balance" on that address. That is theoretically possible (assuming addresses were defined exactly the same on both systems) if the Bitcoin system wasn't aware of the Ethereum system and vice versa?
Michael Folkson
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-26T12:25:43.717Z
Ah, that's fair. I had interpreted the question as "why can't I send my BTC to my ETH wallet, or vice verse, if they use the same cryptography?", but your interpretation may make more sense. We'll need to wait for OP.
Pieter Wuille
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-05-22T06:42:13.323Z
Another reason why BTC/ETH transactions can't be intermingled: Bitcoin has a UTXO-based system, but Ethereum doesn't use UTXOs at all and just hardcodes the address balance into the blockchain.
Zenul_Abidin
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-05-22T20:26:39.883Z
@Zenul_Abidin The difference in accounting models does introduce interoperability challenges but is not specifically related to the Elliptic Curve Generator point relevant to this question.
Poseidon
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-26T11:51:13.747Z
2022-07-26T11:51:13.747Z
Michael Folkson
<p>According to the other answer they do share the same G, however there is a slight difference between the term address and the term public key. An address generally is derived from a public key. The public key is a pair of coordinates that we get from multiplying with the curve Generator. Because that is the case, technically it may be possible for you to use the same <strong>public key</strong> on both Bitcoin and Ethereum, but this does not imply you can use the same <strong>address</strong>. That is because an address takes a public key runs it through somewhat of a one-way function. This one-way function is fundamentally different on Bitcoin and Ethereum, because neither network should have to build software to support all the upgrades for the opposing network.</p>
<p>Since they are completely different networks and scripting systems,
simply sending Bitcoin to an ETH address will not succeed. Furthermore since interoperability between the two systems is also not a fundamental focus, there is little effort to create a wallet that would represent a valid address for both chains derived from the same public key, even though it might technically be possible.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-05-06T20:26:45.787Z
2023-05-21T17:22:55.440Z
2023-05-21T17:22:55.440Z
Poseidon
<p>Is the G of the elliptic curve the same for Bitcoin and Ethereum? If yes, then why can't we send bitcoin and ether to same public address? If no, then what's the reason behind implementing it like that? If they use the same method, then one can send both coins to same public address, right?</p>

<address><private-key><public-key><ethereum>
Is the G in Elliptic Curve same for Bitcoin and Ethereum?
Athul A
# Is the G in Elliptic Curve same for Bitcoin and Ethereum?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-07-26)

Is the G of the elliptic curve the same for Bitcoin and Ethereum? If yes, then why can't we send bitcoin and ether to same public address? If no, then what's the reason behind implementing it like that? If they use the same method, then one can send both coins to same public address, right?

**Tags:** address, private-key, public-key, ethereum


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2022-07-26. Score: 2

> Is the G in elliptical curve same for bitcoin and ethereum?

Yes Ethereum also uses the secp256k1 curve that is defined using the [generator point](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/113116/how-is-the-generator-point-g-chosen-in-the-secp256k1-curve-used-in-bitcoin):

```
Gx = 0x79BE667EF9DCBBAC55A06295CE870B07029BFCDB2DCE28D959F2815B16F81798
Gy = 0x483ADA7726A3C4655DA4FBFC0E1108A8FD17B448A68554199C47D08FFB10D4B8

```

> If yes then why can't we send bitcoin and ethereum to same public address?

For a number of reasons. Firstly, Bitcoin and Ethereum define addresses differently. Bitcoin uses the [bech32 format](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/100508/can-you-break-down-what-data-is-encoded-into-a-bech32-address) starting `bc1` and Ethereum uses a hexadecimal string starting `0x`. Secondly, Bitcoin addresses contain a checksum at the end of the address (to flag incorrectly typed addresses) whilst Ethereum addresses don't. Thirdly, Ethereum only encodes the [last 20 bytes](https://ethereum.stackexchange.com/questions/56057/why-are-the-last-20-bytes-of-the-public-key-used-as-the-address) of the public key into the address. Fourthly it is not just a raw public key that is encoded in a Bitcoin address. Bitcoin uses a scripting language "Script" that it uses to outline the conditions needed for the coins to move which generally includes requiring at least one signature associated with a particular public key. These conditions are baked into the address.

So yes don't try sending Bitcoin and Ethereum to the same address, you will lose your coins.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: The most important reason is that they are simply separate unconnected systems. Even if they used the same addresses, and the same scripting system, separate systems can't interact. They're just different currencies, protected by similar cryptography.  
> **username_1**: The way I understood the question was he wanted to send Bitcoin and Ether to the same address so the Bitcoin system told him his Bitcoin "balance" on that address and the Ethereum system told him is Ether "balance" on that address. That is theoretically possible (assuming addresses were defined exactly the same on both systems) if the Bitcoin system wasn't aware of the Ethereum system and vice versa?  
> **username_2**: Ah, that's fair. I had interpreted the question as "why can't I send my BTC to my ETH wallet, or vice verse, if they use the same cryptography?", but your interpretation may make more sense. We'll need to wait for OP.  
> **username_3**: Another reason why BTC/ETH transactions can't be intermingled: Bitcoin has a UTXO-based system, but Ethereum doesn't use UTXOs at all and just hardcodes the address balance into the blockchain.  
> **username_4**: @username_3 The difference in accounting models does introduce interoperability challenges but is not specifically related to the Elliptic Curve Generator point relevant to this question.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2023-05-06. Score: 1

According to the other answer they do share the same G, however there is a slight difference between the term address and the term public key. An address generally is derived from a public key. The public key is a pair of coordinates that we get from multiplying with the curve Generator. Because that is the case, technically it may be possible for you to use the same **public key** on both Bitcoin and Ethereum, but this does not imply you can use the same **address**. That is because an address takes a public key runs it through somewhat of a one-way function. This one-way function is fundamentally different on Bitcoin and Ethereum, because neither network should have to build software to support all the upgrades for the opposing network.

Since they are completely different networks and scripting systems,
simply sending Bitcoin to an ETH address will not succeed. Furthermore since interoperability between the two systems is also not a fundamental focus, there is little effort to create a wallet that would represent a valid address for both chains derived from the same public key, even though it might technically be possible.


---

