<p>It was discussed <a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/pull/18267#discussion_r491150895" rel="noreferrer">here</a>. One of the co-authors of <a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0325.mediawiki" rel="noreferrer">BIP325</a> stated:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>People think that the test networks should use the same prefixes so it was changed to match testnet.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Perhaps this could be clarified in the BIP at a later date.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-01-05T09:49:04.423Z
2023-01-05T10:01:46.833Z
2023-01-05T10:01:46.833Z
Michael Folkson
<p>It used to, but we switched to using the testnet one to simplify things. It's a testnet so it doesn't really impact anyone if you screw it up (go to the faucet and get more if you lose them), and using the same prefix seemed like it would simplify things.</p>
<p>(In hindsight, though, I feel like this decision was a mistake and actually made things needlessly complicated, because a lot of software (e.g. the rust stack) uses a &quot;prefix to/from network&quot; dictionary setup, which doesn't work well with duplicates.)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-01-05T09:48:21.413Z
2023-01-05T09:48:21.413Z
Kalle
<p>I noticed that signet and testnet both use <code>tb1</code> addresses. Why doesn't signet use a unique prefix that distinguishes it from testnet?</p>

<address><testnet><bech32-address><signet>
Why doesn't signet use a unique bech32 prefix?
Casey Rodarmor
# Why doesn't signet use a unique bech32 prefix?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-01-05)

I noticed that signet and testnet both use `tb1` addresses. Why doesn't signet use a unique prefix that distinguishes it from testnet?

**Tags:** address, testnet, bech32-address, signet


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2023-01-05. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

It used to, but we switched to using the testnet one to simplify things. It's a testnet so it doesn't really impact anyone if you screw it up (go to the faucet and get more if you lose them), and using the same prefix seemed like it would simplify things.

(In hindsight, though, I feel like this decision was a mistake and actually made things needlessly complicated, because a lot of software (e.g. the rust stack) uses a "prefix to/from network" dictionary setup, which doesn't work well with duplicates.)


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### Answer by username_1 on 2023-01-05. Score: 5

It was discussed [here](https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/pull/18267#discussion_r491150895). One of the co-authors of [BIP325](https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0325.mediawiki) stated:

> People think that the test networks should use the same prefixes so it was changed to match testnet.

Perhaps this could be clarified in the BIP at a later date.


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