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

Ethereum Cashaddr (bech32) has been adopted by some users as a convenient way to handle transactions on the Ethereum network. However, this format is not directly compatible with Bitcoin Cash wallets and the legacy blockchain. In this article, we will explore 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 a number of cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum. It was designed as an alternative to Bitcoin’s traditional Merkle tree addressing system. Bech32 addresses are typically represented using the following scheme: bitcoincash:q, where is the Bitcoin Cash public key.

Legacy Address Format for Bitcoin Cash

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

Converting Bech32 to Legacy Bitcoin Cash Address Format

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

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

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

Here is an example of the conversion process:

Let’s say we have a bech32 Ethereum address: bitcoincash:q...

• Extract q: remove the q prefix, leaving bitcoca.

• Combine with the public key: append the public key to the resulting string: bc1..., where ... is the random private key of Bitcoin Cash.

The resulting legacy Bitcoin Cash address would be: bc1...

Example usage

Let’s say we 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 word
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) 
Result: bc1...

Conclusion

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

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

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