<p>You can't send to a private key, that would be invalid in any client. You have exposed your private keys to a third party though, which you need to rectify immediately. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-05T22:33:18.457Z
It was empty to begin with, but I would definately obtain a new address.  Thanks!
Matt1639
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-05T19:32:05.297Z
2014-03-05T19:32:05.297Z
user13413
<p>If you indeed received a payment, you must move the money to a different address ASAP because you have already given the private key to the site. They can take your money back at any time.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-05T19:29:11.300Z
Very good idea, I will definately do that...If I even recieve the coins that is. Thank you.
Matt1639
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-05T18:03:11.187Z
2014-03-05T18:03:11.187Z
uminatsu
<p>A <strong>private key</strong> can be encoded in a number of different formats:</p>

<ul>
<li><strong>51 characters</strong> base58, starts with a '5' 
(for example: <code>5JrnhhNpRNsC6xPUhLfc4yJEviuRxMcvpcB4pc1opgHTSVi64aP</code>)</li>
<li><strong>64 characters</strong> [0-9A-F] hexadecimal format, 
for example: <code>89609C6B52AE0061FB8FFE3AF83528AC24AC637A386FE61D2822128ABE80162F</code></li>
<li><strong>44 characters</strong> base64,
for example: <code>iWCca1KuAGH7j/46+DUorCSsY3o4b+YdKCISir6AFi8=</code></li>
<li><strong>52 characters</strong> base58, WIF Compressed, starts with a 'K' or 'L', 
for example: <code>L1pkidDJJbWY1HUDF3oPnXV6U7xR9L1aZ8FRs7YZfSPdh5NPzRB5</code></li>
</ul>

<p>A bitcoin <strong>address</strong>, which is a <em>hash</em> of the public key, is <strong>25-34 characters</strong>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191225180429/https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Technical_background_of_version_1_Bitcoin_addresses" rel="nofollow noreferrer">typically 34 characters</a>,
for example: <code>1A5QMFw4vXVwLF1zZMSvAYJStuVMcjSqAa</code></p>

<p>Maybe a bitcoin address <em>could</em> be encoded in some other format, but 25-34 characters of base58 is the standard.</p>

<p>I don't know what kind of validations are in place at <em>bitbrothersllc</em>, but they should easily be able to see that you entered 51, 64, 44, or 52 characters instead of the 25-34 characters that would make up a valid bitcoin address.  </p>

<p>Contact them.  If they are legit, you'll get your funds back.  Good luck!</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-05T18:38:30.147Z
So just out of curiosity, I goggled bitbrothersllc and CEO Cameron Schorg. You should too, *caveat emptor*.
Robert Claypool
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-05T19:28:09.657Z
Thank you!  I researched bitbrothersllc before deciding to try the service, but I didn't think to research Cameron Schorg himself.  The first link on google about him didn't make me feel too hopeful, but that's what happens when you don't fully do your research.  Thank you for the helpful insight on this, hopefully a response is sent back to me soon by this guy.
Matt1639
CC BY-SA 4.0
2014-03-05T18:14:19.783Z
2020-02-27T01:01:37.710Z
2020-02-27T01:01:37.710Z
Robert Claypool
<p>I recently used the website <a href="https://www.bitbrothersllc.com/Bitbrothersllc/Welcome.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.bitbrothersllc.com/Bitbrothersllc/Welcome.html</a> to obtain my bitcoins, but when I was asked what address to send my coins to, I accidentally put down my wallet's private key, not my bitcoin address.</p>

<p>I'm wondering if the coins are lost forever now, or if they will still appear in my wallet because the private key is attached to my address.  I'm really hoping they are not lost forever, and I would greatly appreciate any assistance anyone could provide.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-05T17:46:48.827Z
Did the site give you a transaction id when you entered the transaction?  If so, you can check it on blockchain.info. It's possible to determine a public address from private key, but not sure if the site is doing that.
ChrisW
<wallet><private-key><buy-bitcoins>
What happens if I send bitcoins to my private key instead of my actual bitcoin address?
Matt1639
# What happens if I send bitcoins to my private key instead of my actual bitcoin address?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-03-05)

I recently used the website <https://www.bitbrothersllc.com/Bitbrothersllc/Welcome.html> to obtain my bitcoins, but when I was asked what address to send my coins to, I accidentally put down my wallet's private key, not my bitcoin address.

I'm wondering if the coins are lost forever now, or if they will still appear in my wallet because the private key is attached to my address. I'm really hoping they are not lost forever, and I would greatly appreciate any assistance anyone could provide.

**Tags:** wallet, private-key, buy-bitcoins

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Did the site give you a transaction id when you entered the transaction?  If so, you can check it on blockchain.info. It's possible to determine a public address from private key, but not sure if the site is doing that.  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2014-03-05. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

A **private key** can be encoded in a number of different formats:

* **51 characters** base58, starts with a '5'
  (for example: `5JrnhhNpRNsC6xPUhLfc4yJEviuRxMcvpcB4pc1opgHTSVi64aP`)
* **64 characters** [0-9A-F] hexadecimal format,
  for example: `89609C6B52AE0061FB8FFE3AF83528AC24AC637A386FE61D2822128ABE80162F`
* **44 characters** base64,
  for example: `iWCca1KuAGH7j/46+DUorCSsY3o4b+YdKCISir6AFi8=`
* **52 characters** base58, WIF Compressed, starts with a 'K' or 'L',
  for example: `L1pkidDJJbWY1HUDF3oPnXV6U7xR9L1aZ8FRs7YZfSPdh5NPzRB5`

A bitcoin **address**, which is a *hash* of the public key, is **25-34 characters**, [typically 34 characters](https://web.archive.org/web/20191225180429/https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Technical_background_of_version_1_Bitcoin_addresses),
for example: `1A5QMFw4vXVwLF1zZMSvAYJStuVMcjSqAa`

Maybe a bitcoin address *could* be encoded in some other format, but 25-34 characters of base58 is the standard.

I don't know what kind of validations are in place at *bitbrothersllc*, but they should easily be able to see that you entered 51, 64, 44, or 52 characters instead of the 25-34 characters that would make up a valid bitcoin address.

Contact them. If they are legit, you'll get your funds back. Good luck!

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: So just out of curiosity, I goggled bitbrothersllc and CEO Cameron Schorg. You should too, *caveat emptor*.  
> **username_0**: Thank you!  I researched bitbrothersllc before deciding to try the service, but I didn't think to research Cameron Schorg himself.  The first link on google about him didn't make me feel too hopeful, but that's what happens when you don't fully do your research.  Thank you for the helpful insight on this, hopefully a response is sent back to me soon by this guy.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-03-05. Score: 1

You can't send to a private key, that would be invalid in any client. You have exposed your private keys to a third party though, which you need to rectify immediately.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: It was empty to begin with, but I would definately obtain a new address.  Thanks!  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2014-03-05. Score: 1

If you indeed received a payment, you must move the money to a different address ASAP because you have already given the private key to the site. They can take your money back at any time.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Very good idea, I will definately do that...If I even recieve the coins that is. Thank you.  

---

