<p>Addresses that start with <code>bc1</code>, called Bech32 addresses, can't be used to sign messages, at least for now. It might change in the future.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-25T11:25:27.687Z
2020-05-25T11:25:27.687Z
MCCCS
<p>If I choose a freshly generated address in Core, and I then choose to sign a message with it, it returns the error message "The entered address does not refer to a key".</p>

<p>Why is this? There should definitely be a key considering that it's an address generated by my seed. It is also the correct address as I checked it multiple times.</p>

<bitcoin-core>
Why do my 'sign message' not work on Bitcoin core
Bertram Lund
# Why do my 'sign message' not work on Bitcoin core

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-05-25)

If I choose a freshly generated address in Core, and I then choose to sign a message with it, it returns the error message "The entered address does not refer to a key".

Why is this? There should definitely be a key considering that it's an address generated by my seed. It is also the correct address as I checked it multiple times.

**Tags:** bitcoin-core


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-05-25. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

Addresses that start with `bc1`, called Bech32 addresses, can't be used to sign messages, at least for now. It might change in the future.


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