What is a wallet address?

When someone wants to send you crypto, they need to know where to send it. That's exactly what a wallet address is — your public identifier on the blockchain, the destination that tells the network where funds should land.

Think of it like an email address, but for crypto. You can share it freely with anyone, and it never changes — every transaction sent to that address will show up in your wallet.

Public address vs Private key — What's the difference?

Your public address (also called a public key) is what you share when receiving funds. It's safe to give out and is visible on the blockchain.

Your private key is something else entirely — it proves ownership of your wallet and should never be shared with anyone. Ever.

When people talk about a "wallet address," they mean the public one. That's the only one you need to share.

Does every token have its own address?

It depends on the blockchain. On networks like Bitcoin or Litecoin, each coin has its own separate address. On Ethereum and EVM-compatible chains, your wallet address stays the same across all tokens on that network — your ETH address is the same as your USDT (ERC-20) address, for example.

This is worth knowing before you send — always make sure you're using the right address for the right network.

Why does my address look different for some coins?

Different blockchains use different address formats. A Bitcoin address looks nothing like an Ethereum address — and that's by design. Each format is specific to its network. If an address looks unfamiliar, make sure you've selected the right coin before sharing it.

How to find your wallet address in NOW Wallet

Finding your address in NOW Wallet takes a few seconds:

1. Select the coin or token you want to receive
2. Tap "Receive". You'll see a QR code and your public address — these represent the same thing and can both be used to receive funds
3. Tap the address to copy it directly to your clipboard

That's it. Share the address or let someone scan the QR code — either works.

Pro tip: Always double-check that the address matches the network your sender is using

What is a QR code in crypto — and why use it?

When you tap "Receive" in NOW Wallet, you'll notice two things appear: a long string of characters and a QR code. They represent the same address — just in two different formats.

The QR code exists for a good reason. Crypto addresses are long, so one wrong character means funds go somewhere else entirely. Typing or copying them manually leaves room for error. Scanning a QR code removes that risk completely — the address gets read automatically, exactly as it should be.

It's particularly useful for in-person transfers, where someone can simply point their camera at your screen and send without either of you typing anything. Fast, clean, and much harder to get wrong.

If you're sharing your address remotely, copying and pasting the text version works just as well — just make sure the full address comes through and nothing gets cut off at either end.

Always match the network

This is one of the most common — and expensive — mistakes in crypto.

Each blockchain works separately. When you send funds, the network doesn’t check if “everything makes sense” — it just processes the transaction as is. If the network doesn’t match, the funds won’t be redirected.

For example, sending USDT via Ethereum to a Tron address can either fail or go through but end up inaccessible.

Some networks (like Ethereum, BNB Chain, or Polygon) use the same address format, which makes this especially confusing — even though they’re still different blockchains. They don't just share the same format — they generate identical addresses for the same recovery phrase. That means if someone sends BNB to your Ethereum address, you'll actually receive it, as long as BNB Chain is enabled in your wallet settings. Where it gets risky is sending between non-compatible networks — like sending a token from Ethereum to a Bitcoin or Tron address. That's where funds can genuinely get lost.

Pro tip: always double-check the network before sending or sharing your address.

Common mistakes to avoid

Even experienced crypto users slip up on these. Worth keeping in mind:

Sending to the wrong network

The most expensive mistake on this list. Always confirm the network before hitting send — not just the address. ETH sent over the BTC network, for example, won't arrive in the right place.

Copying the address incorrectly

If you're manually copying your address, make sure you've got the whole thing. Addresses don't have obvious start and end points, and a partial address is just as wrong as a completely wrong one. Tap to copy in NOW Wallet to avoid this entirely.

Confusing your public address with your private key

Your public address is for sharing. Your private key is not — not with friends, not with support teams, not with anyone. Sharing your private key is the equivalent of handing someone a permanent password to your wallet. Whoever has it has full, irreversible access to everything inside. If something or someone is asking for your private key, that's a red flag.

Sharing an address on the wrong network

You might have the right address but the wrong network selected when you copied it. Double-check the network label every time, especially if you're dealing with multiple chains regularly.

Assuming all tokens on a chain use the same address format

On EVM chains they do — but not everywhere. If you're receiving something on Solana or Bitcoin, make sure you're sharing the address for that specific coin, not a leftover address from a different network.

FAQ

What is a wallet address?

It’s basically your “receive address” for crypto. When someone wants to send you funds, this is what you share — like giving your bank details, but for crypto.

Is a wallet address the same as a public key?

Not exactly, but you don’t need to worry about the difference. Your address is created from your public key — and for you, it works as the thing you use to receive crypto.

Can I use the same address for all tokens?

Depends on the network.

• On Ethereum (and similar networks), one address works for all tokens on that network
• On others (like Bitcoin), each has its own address

Is it safe to share my wallet address?

Yes, that’s totally fine. It’s meant to be shared. It only lets people send you crypto — nothing else. Just never share your private key or recovery phrase. Ever.

How do I find my token address in NOW Wallet?

Super simple:

• Open the app
• Choose the coin
• Tap “Receive”

You’ll see your address and a QR code. Tap to copy — and you’re good to go.

What happens if I send crypto to the wrong address?

This is the part where you want to be careful. Crypto transactions can’t be reversed.
If you send funds to the wrong address — or the wrong network — there’s usually no way to get them back. Always double-check before sending. It takes a few seconds and can save your funds.