Monero address formats explained: 4, 8 and 9
Every Monero address is 95 characters of base58 with a built-in checksum. The first letter tells you which kind it is — here is how to read an XMR address at a glance.
Anatomy of a Monero address
A Monero address is not random text — it is a small structure encoded in Monero's own base58 alphabet:
- 1 byte — network and type prefix (mainnet standard, subaddress or integrated)
- 32 bytes — public spend key
- 32 bytes — public view key
- 4 bytes — checksum (first four bytes of keccak-256 over the prefix and keys)
That is 69 bytes encoded in blocks of eight, which is why mainnet addresses are exactly 95 characters long. Integrated addresses add an 8-byte payment ID and come out at 106 characters.
What the first letter tells you
| Starts with | Type | When you see it |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Standard (primary) address | Your main receiving address |
| 8 | Subaddress | Per-sender or per-invoice addresses |
| 9 | Integrated address | Address + payment ID combined (legacy services) |
Testnet and stagenet use different prefixes (5 and 7 on testnet), which is why a testnet address is a useful sanity check that you are on the right network. All three mainnet types are valid destinations for a normal wallet — sending to a subaddress works exactly like sending to a primary address, and it lands in the same wallet the subaddress was derived from.
How the checksum protects you
The four checksum bytes mean a single mistyped character breaks the address. Wallets validate the checksum before letting you send, so a corrupted paste is rejected with an error instead of sending coins into the void. If a wallet says an address is invalid, do not “try anyway” — re-copy it from the source.
Common mistakes
- Truncation. Chat apps that wrap long strings can cut the tail. The checksum will catch it — but always copy with the clipboard, not by selecting text.
- Wrong coin. BTC (bc1…), Ethereum (0x…) and Monero (4…/8…) addresses are not interchangeable. A wallet that accepts any string is a wallet that will burn your coins.
- Payment IDs. Old services asked for a long payment ID alongside the address. Modern services use integrated addresses or subaddresses instead; a plain wallet address plus a random memo field is a red flag.
- Testnet addresses. They look similar but will never appear on mainnet — the network byte decides.
Which one should you hand out?
Your primary address is fine for public donation-style use. For everything else prefer a subaddress — see Monero subaddresses explained. Integrated addresses are mostly a compatibility feature for older merchants.
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