Finding Script Type from Address Format

12. Finding Script Type from Address Format

Address Formats and Their Script Types

Bitcoin addresses encode information about the expected scriptPubKey. The address format tells you what type of locking script will be generated when coins are sent to that address.

Legacy Addresses (Base58Check)

Legacy addresses use Base58Check encoding. The version byte determines the type:

| Version Byte | Network | Type | scriptPubKey | |

Pro Tip

When debugging scripts, always start with a high-level disassembly before diving into the stack trace. Tools like bitcoin-cli decodescript are your first line of defense in identifying standard script patterns.