<p>The point is that someone obviously made up the sentence and then adapted the last few places to make it adhere to the checksum test, i.e. it is a valid Bitcoin address. On the other hand, it's certain that it's not an address someone generated randomly (because vanity addresses of that length would take way too much effort to generate). </p>

<p>Thus, it's a "safe way" to burn bitcoins.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-15T15:49:52.713Z
Yes I get that, but what's the point. *Why* would anyone do this?
Albert Renshaw
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-15T16:37:53.260Z
That was already answered by Joe: a) To have a burner address where one can be reasonably sure that it's not held by someone. b) because they can.
Murch
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-15T13:20:09.040Z
2016-11-15T13:20:09.040Z
Murch
<p><a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Vanitygen" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Vanitygen</a></p>

<p>Theres no guarantee these addresses are made up ....</p>

<p>Of course, bitcoin eater addresses are around since the early days - but why not exploit it :)</p>

<p>Back then it came up as a joke, if you mined 100 btc a day wh not dump some for fun to an eater address to make the rest more valueable, then vanity addresses became mainstream ....</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-15T19:58:07.983Z
That's an interesting tidbit about past miners. Ironically some of these addresses are still getting deposits even this week! Kinda strange
Albert Renshaw
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-15T19:59:32.163Z
Why not mine asic on such an address, may others think "omg how can anyone deposit there" oh well i sent a few cents :)
Aurigae
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-15T19:50:29.023Z
2016-11-15T19:50:29.023Z
Aurigae
<blockquote>
  <p>I'd assume it's just so people reading the docs won't try to "tip" the writer and send to a foobar address that was made up for the sake of example</p>
</blockquote>

<p>That is correct! </p>

<p>Other than that, there is no other real point at all. These bitcoins are gone forever and no one will ever be able to get them. </p>

<p>However there is some projects or new coins that does Proof-Of-Burning and by sending the bitcoin correctly to the bitcoin eater address you would get corresponding amount in the new cryptocurrency.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-08T16:49:48.137Z
There are some occasions where burning bitcoin can have a purpose.
Tom Busby
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-08T16:50:35.953Z
I remember OpenBazaar originally had some idea for bootstrapping your reputation by burning some coins. (You couldn't send your coins to someone else because the same person may be at both ends, you don't know with a permissionless system).
Tom Busby
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-09T21:17:50.927Z
Man I bet that author wishes he had used a real address right about now 
Albert Renshaw
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-11-23T05:09:41.753Z
@user253751 There are over 13 BTC on the example address I gave........
Albert Renshaw
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-11-23T23:31:03.223Z
@user253751 That was a claim you made.. I never said they were there for stupidity, no one did but you. All I said is "I bet the author wishes has had used a real address".
Albert Renshaw
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-14T09:26:59.840Z
2016-11-14T09:26:59.840Z
Joe Tannoury
<p>I see some bitcoin documentation sites reference dummy addresses like <strong>"1bitcoinEaterAddressDontSend32425663"</strong> or something made up like that. I'd assume it's just so people reading the docs won't try to "tip" the writer and send to a foobar address that was made up for the sake of example. </p>

<p>That said, I find addresses under this schema that actually have quite a <em>bit</em> of bitcoins in them. Like hundreds of transactions+ and thousands of USD worth (circa 2016 for future readers). </p>

<p>Here is an example (1BitcoinEaterAddressDontSendf59kuE): <a href="https://blockchain.info/address/1BitcoinEaterAddressDontSendf59kuE" rel="noreferrer">https://blockchain.info/address/1BitcoinEaterAddressDontSendf59kuE</a></p>

<p>Who are these people sending money here, what's the point? Can anyone shed some light, lol.</p>

<address><vanity-address><lost-bitcoins>
What's the point of Bitcoin eaters?
Albert Renshaw
# What's the point of Bitcoin eaters?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-11-14)

I see some bitcoin documentation sites reference dummy addresses like **"1bitcoinEaterAddressDontSend32425663"** or something made up like that. I'd assume it's just so people reading the docs won't try to "tip" the writer and send to a foobar address that was made up for the sake of example.

That said, I find addresses under this schema that actually have quite a *bit* of bitcoins in them. Like hundreds of transactions+ and thousands of USD worth (circa 2016 for future readers).

Here is an example (1BitcoinEaterAddressDontSendf59kuE): <https://blockchain.info/address/1BitcoinEaterAddressDontSendf59kuE>

Who are these people sending money here, what's the point? Can anyone shed some light, lol.

**Tags:** address, vanity-address, lost-bitcoins


---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-11-14. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

> I'd assume it's just so people reading the docs won't try to "tip" the writer and send to a foobar address that was made up for the sake of example

That is correct!

Other than that, there is no other real point at all. These bitcoins are gone forever and no one will ever be able to get them.

However there is some projects or new coins that does Proof-Of-Burning and by sending the bitcoin correctly to the bitcoin eater address you would get corresponding amount in the new cryptocurrency.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: There are some occasions where burning bitcoin can have a purpose.  
> **username_4**: I remember OpenBazaar originally had some idea for bootstrapping your reputation by burning some coins. (You couldn't send your coins to someone else because the same person may be at both ends, you don't know with a permissionless system).  
> **username_0**: Man I bet that author wishes he had used a real address right about now   
> **username_0**: @user253751 There are over 13 BTC on the example address I gave........  
> **username_0**: @user253751 That was a claim you made.. I never said they were there for stupidity, no one did but you. All I said is "I bet the author wishes has had used a real address".  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-11-15. Score: 4

The point is that someone obviously made up the sentence and then adapted the last few places to make it adhere to the checksum test, i.e. it is a valid Bitcoin address. On the other hand, it's certain that it's not an address someone generated randomly (because vanity addresses of that length would take way too much effort to generate).

Thus, it's a "safe way" to burn bitcoins.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Yes I get that, but what's the point. *Why* would anyone do this?  
> **username_1**: That was already answered by Joe: a) To have a burner address where one can be reasonably sure that it's not held by someone. b) because they can.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-11-15. Score: 1

<https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Vanitygen>

Theres no guarantee these addresses are made up ....

Of course, bitcoin eater addresses are around since the early days - but why not exploit it :)

Back then it came up as a joke, if you mined 100 btc a day wh not dump some for fun to an eater address to make the rest more valueable, then vanity addresses became mainstream ....

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: That's an interesting tidbit about past miners. Ironically some of these addresses are still getting deposits even this week! Kinda strange  
> **username_2**: Why not mine asic on such an address, may others think "omg how can anyone deposit there" oh well i sent a few cents :)  

---

