<p>As it was explained <a href="https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=57396.0" rel="nofollow">on the forum</a>, it is a base58 encoded private key with added 0x80 byte at the front and 4 checksum bytes at the end.</p>

<p>More detailed explanation is not available <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Wallet_import_format" rel="nofollow">on the wiki</a>, as well as in <a href="http://gobittest.appspot.com/PrivateKey" rel="nofollow">a new testing suite</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-10T13:28:20.723Z
2012-01-10T13:28:20.723Z
ThePiachu
<p>The "wallet export format" is mentioned at the Wiki page for <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Mini_private_key_format" rel="nofollow">Mini private key format</a>, but it doesn't seem to be explained on the Wiki. How does one convert the export format to and from corresponding keys?</p>

<development><address><encoding><address-format><ecdsa>
What is the "wallet export format"?
ThePiachu
# What is the "wallet export format"?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-01-08)

The "wallet export format" is mentioned at the Wiki page for [Mini private key format](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Mini_private_key_format), but it doesn't seem to be explained on the Wiki. How does one convert the export format to and from corresponding keys?

**Tags:** development, address, encoding, address-format, ecdsa


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2012-01-10. Score: 0 | Accepted answer

As it was explained [on the forum](https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=57396.0), it is a base58 encoded private key with added 0x80 byte at the front and 4 checksum bytes at the end.

More detailed explanation is not available [on the wiki](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Wallet_import_format), as well as in [a new testing suite](http://gobittest.appspot.com/PrivateKey).


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