What is a wallet address?

What is a wallet address? A wallet address is a public string of letters and numbers that people use to send you crypto, similar to a bank account number. It is safe to share; the secret part is your recovery phrase or private key, which you never share. Different blockchains use different address formats, and mixing them up is one of the most common ways people lose funds. This guide explains the meaning of a wallet address, the formats for TON, TRC20, BEP20/ERC20 and Bitcoin, how to find your TON address in Telegram Wallet and Tonkeeper, how to check an address on an explorer, what happens with a wrong network or missing memo, and how address poisoning scams work.

Share your address freely, but never share your recovery phrase or private key. No support team, airdrop or game legitimately asks for it.

Wallet address meaning

Your wallet holds a private key. From that key, the wallet derives a public address that anyone can see on the blockchain. People send funds to the address; only the holder of the private key can move them. One recovery phrase can control addresses on several blockchains, which is why a single wallet app can show TON, USDT on TRON and Bitcoin at once. Basics: crypto wallets explained.

Address formats: TON (UQ/EQ), TRC20, BEP20/ERC20, Bitcoin

On TON, UQ and EQ are two forms of the same address: wallets now show the UQ form by default, which helps funds return if they are sent to an uninitialised wallet. Exchanges may still show EQ for their deposit addresses. USDT itself exists on several of these networks: what is USDT.

Finding your TON address in Telegram Wallet and Tonkeeper

1. Open the wallet and tap "Receive".
2. Choose the asset (GRAM, formerly Toncoin, or USDT on TON).
3. Copy the address or show the QR code.

Telegram's built-in wallet and self-custodial wallets such as Tonkeeper each have their own address. Guide: TON wallet.

Checking an address and a transaction on an explorer

Paste an address into the right explorer to see its balance and history. Paste a transaction hash to see whether a transfer was confirmed, how much was sent and which token contract was used. This is how you can check that you received real USDT and not a look-alike token, and how you can prove to support that a payment was made.

Wrong network or missing memo: what happens

• Wrong network: sending USDT on BEP20 to an address that expects TRC20 can make funds unreachable, or recoverable only by the exchange at a fee.
• Missing memo or tag: many exchanges use one address for many users and identify you by the memo; without it, the deposit is not credited automatically.
• Always check the withdrawal network on both sides: how to withdraw USDT.

Address poisoning scams

Scammers send tiny transfers from addresses that look like ones you have used, matching the first and last characters. Later, if you copy an address from your history, you may copy the scammer's look-alike. Protect yourself by saving trusted addresses in your wallet's address book, checking the full address, and sending a small test amount first.

A TON address for a game

TotalHash is a free mining game in Telegram. Tasks send small amounts of USD₮ and GRAM to a TON wallet address. No earnings promised.

FAQ

What is a wallet address?

A public string used to receive crypto, similar to an account number.

Is it safe to share my wallet address?

Yes; never share your recovery phrase or private key.

What is the difference between UQ and EQ TON addresses?

They are two forms of the same address: non-bounceable (UQ) and bounceable (EQ).

What happens if I send to the wrong network?

Funds can become unreachable or recoverable only by the exchange for a fee.