<p>The last 4 bytes of the WIF format is a checksum. The details can be seen here: <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Wallet_import_format" rel="nofollow">https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Wallet_import_format</a></p>

<p>That's approximately 5 characters of Base58 that are essentially redundant. This is so that errors in the WIF encoded private key can be detected easily. I believe some wallets will simply ignore the checksum if it's not correct.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-16T23:11:49.147Z
2016-08-16T23:11:49.147Z
Jimmy Song
<p>A picture is worth a 1000 words. See <code>Figure 6</code> from <a href="https://github.com/bitcoinbook/bitcoinbook/blob/first_edition/ch04.asciidoc" rel="nofollow">Chapter 4</a> of the <strong>Bitcoin Book</strong>. The last 4 bytes are used as a <em>checksum</em> for error checking. The <em>version</em> prefix is different for Bitcoin altcoin forks. See the 3rd column of this <a href="https://github.com/libbitcoin/libbitcoin/wiki/Altcoin-Version-Mappings#bip44-altcoin-version-mapping-table" rel="nofollow">Table</a> for versions used by various altcoins.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-17T00:56:45.027Z
2016-08-17T01:03:33.137Z
2016-08-17T01:03:33.137Z
skaht
<p>I'm trying to understand the Base 58 WIF number. While messing around with importing on blockchain I noticed that if you change the last five (or so) digits, it doesn't appear to affect which address is imported - 
i.e. i get the "This address is already present in the wallet" note.
Does anyone have any insight they could share about this?</p>

<wallet><base58><wallet-import-format>
What is the significance of the last 5 digits of Base 58 WIF?
confused_wallet
# What is the significance of the last 5 digits of Base 58 WIF?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-08-16)

I'm trying to understand the Base 58 WIF number. While messing around with importing on blockchain I noticed that if you change the last five (or so) digits, it doesn't appear to affect which address is imported -
i.e. i get the "This address is already present in the wallet" note.
Does anyone have any insight they could share about this?

**Tags:** wallet, base58, wallet-import-format


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-08-16. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

The last 4 bytes of the WIF format is a checksum. The details can be seen here: <https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Wallet_import_format>

That's approximately 5 characters of Base58 that are essentially redundant. This is so that errors in the WIF encoded private key can be detected easily. I believe some wallets will simply ignore the checksum if it's not correct.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2016-08-17. Score: 2

A picture is worth a 1000 words. See `Figure 6` from [Chapter 4](https://github.com/bitcoinbook/bitcoinbook/blob/first_edition/ch04.asciidoc) of the **Bitcoin Book**. The last 4 bytes are used as a *checksum* for error checking. The *version* prefix is different for Bitcoin altcoin forks. See the 3rd column of this [Table](https://github.com/libbitcoin/libbitcoin/wiki/Altcoin-Version-Mappings#bip44-altcoin-version-mapping-table) for versions used by various altcoins.


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