Converting Ethereum Cashaddr (bech32) Address to Legacy Bitcoin Cash Address Format

Ethereum’s Cashaddr (bech32) has been adopted by some users as a convenient way to address transactions on the Ethereum network. However, this format is not directly compatible with legacy Bitcoin Cash wallets and blockchains. In this article, we will learn how to convert Ethereum bech32 addresses generated for Bitcoin Cash to their equivalent legacy Bitcoin Cash addresses.

What is bech32?

Bech32 is a standardized format used in several cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum. It was designed as an alternative to Bitcoin’s traditional Merkle tree-based address system. Bech32 addresses are typically represented using the following pattern: bitcoincash:q, where is the Bitcoin Cash public key.

Legacy Bitcoin Cash Address Format

Legacy Bitcoin Cash addresses usually follow a different format, which is not directly compatible with bech32. These formats often use a combination of characters and punctuation to represent the Bitcoin Cash address. For example: “bc1…”. To convert bech32 to legacy Bitcoin Cash address format, we will need to perform a few additional conversions.

Converting Bech32 to Legacy Bitcoin Cash Address Format

To convert a bech32 Ethereum address to a legacy Bitcoin Cash address format, you can follow these steps:

• Extract “q” prefix: Remove the “q” from the beginning of the bech32 address.

• Combine with public key: Add the public key to the resulting string.

Here is an example of the conversion process:

Suppose we have a bech32 Ethereum address: “bitcoincash:q…”

• Extract the “q”: remove the “q” prefix, leaving us with “bitcoca”.

• Combine with the public key: add the public key to the resulting string: “bc1…”, where “…” is a random Bitcoin Cash private key.

The resulting legacy Bitcoin Cash address would be: “bc1…”

Example Use Case

Let’s say you have an Ethereum wallet that generates bech32 addresses like this: “bitcoincash:q“. You can use the following Python script to convert these addresses to their equivalent legacy Bitcoin Cash addresses:

import re
def bech32_to_legacy_bc(bech32_address):

Remove the 'q' prefix
q_prefix = bech32_address.startswith('q') and bech32_address[1:] or ''

Combine with the public key (assuming it is in the format 'bc...')
legacy_bc_address = f"bc{re.findall(r'[0-9a-fA-F]{44}', q_prefix)[0]}"
return legacy_bc_address

Example usage
bech32_address = 'bitcoincash:q...'
legacy_bc_address = bech32_to_legacy_bc(bech32_address)
print(legacy_bc_address) 
Output: bc1...

Conclusion

In conclusion, converting Ethereum Cashaddr (bech32) addresses to legacy Bitcoin Cash addresses requires additional processing. This article has provided a step-by-step guide on how to accomplish this conversion using Python code. While there may be variations in the format used by different wallets and platforms, understanding these differences is essential for seamless integration with various cryptocurrency systems.

Note:

It is always a good idea to check your wallet’s address format before attempting a conversion, as the result may vary depending on the specific implementation.

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