<p>According to the <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/List_of_address_prefixes" rel="nofollow">List of address prefixes</a>, an address beginning with <code>3</code> is <em>Bitcoin script hash</em>. This means that transactions sent to this address are handled differently than normal transactions.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-01T15:03:40.657Z
2013-11-01T15:03:40.657Z
Colin Dean
<p>The Bitcoin Dark Wallet project is accepting donations to address <a href="https://blockchain.info/address/32wRDBezxnazSBxMrMqLWqD1ajwEqnDnMc" rel="nofollow">32wRDBezxnazSBxMrMqLWqD1ajwEqnDnMc</a>. How is this a valid address? I thought that all Bitcoin public addresses start with <code>1</code>.</p>

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How is an address beginning with a 3 valid?
Colin Dean
# How is an address beginning with a 3 valid?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-11-01)

The Bitcoin Dark Wallet project is accepting donations to address [32wRDBezxnazSBxMrMqLWqD1ajwEqnDnMc](https://blockchain.info/address/32wRDBezxnazSBxMrMqLWqD1ajwEqnDnMc). How is this a valid address? I thought that all Bitcoin public addresses start with `1`.

**Tags:** address


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2013-11-01. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

According to the [List of address prefixes](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/List_of_address_prefixes), an address beginning with `3` is *Bitcoin script hash*. This means that transactions sent to this address are handled differently than normal transactions.


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