<ol>
<li>You can derive the public key from a private key</li>
<li><em>Though</em>, you <strong>can't</strong> derive a private key from a public key</li>
<li>You can derive a bitcoin address from a public key</li>
<li><em>Though</em>, You <strong>can't</strong> derive a public key from a bitcoin address</li>
</ol>

<p>Means:</p>

<p>PrivateKey -> PublicKey -> Address</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-30T18:51:31.967Z
2017-06-30T18:51:31.967Z
Jonas Schnelli
<p>I recommend you read BIP32, BIP38, BIP39, BIP43 and BIP44 to get an understanding of present day HD wallets (Hierarchical Deterministic). 
Different depth's;
Mnemonic passphrase > Seed > Master prv Key > Master pub key > address. There is more to it than just this though. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-05T02:03:23.863Z
2017-08-05T02:03:23.863Z
dotglum
<p>I have exported my Private key to Paper Wallet. Now, when we send/receive bitcoins, we send/receive them to an "Address". So suppose I receive some bitcoins on my address. I have the private key of this address. Now I want to spend the bitcoins I received at my address. For this I need to import my private key to some wallet. Am I right?</p>

<p>And even though I'm importing my private key to the wallet, how will the wallet know what is my "Address"? Because I'm just importing the Private key, not address. Is address derived from private key?</p>

<p>I'm confused with this. </p>

<wallet><address><private-key><address-generation>
How does a wallet come to know of Address just by importing Private key?
user5155835
# How does a wallet come to know of Address just by importing Private key?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-06-30)

I have exported my Private key to Paper Wallet. Now, when we send/receive bitcoins, we send/receive them to an "Address". So suppose I receive some bitcoins on my address. I have the private key of this address. Now I want to spend the bitcoins I received at my address. For this I need to import my private key to some wallet. Am I right?

And even though I'm importing my private key to the wallet, how will the wallet know what is my "Address"? Because I'm just importing the Private key, not address. Is address derived from private key?

I'm confused with this.

**Tags:** wallet, address, private-key, address-generation


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-06-30. Score: 3

1. You can derive the public key from a private key
2. *Though*, you **can't** derive a private key from a public key
3. You can derive a bitcoin address from a public key
4. *Though*, You **can't** derive a public key from a bitcoin address

Means:

PrivateKey -> PublicKey -> Address


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### Answer by username_2 on 2017-08-05. Score: 0

I recommend you read BIP32, BIP38, BIP39, BIP43 and BIP44 to get an understanding of present day HD wallets (Hierarchical Deterministic).
Different depth's;
Mnemonic passphrase > Seed > Master prv Key > Master pub key > address. There is more to it than just this though.


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