Public keys and addresses: receive crypto correctly
A public key helps verify a signature; an address tells a network where assets should be sent. They are connected, but they are not interchangeable on every blockchain.
Your task: prepare the right receiving details and explain which information can be shared without granting spending access.
From signing secret to receiving address
Private key
The secret used to sign. Keep it private. It is not the information a sender needs to pay you.
Public key
Mathematically related to the private key and used to verify signatures. Knowing it does not normally let someone calculate the private key.
Address
The network-specific receiving identifier shown by your wallet. Depending on the chain and account type, it may represent a public key, a hash, a script or a contract.
Prepare a receiving request in three checks
Choose the asset and network
Open Receive in the destination wallet or the exchange’s deposit screen. Match the sending network to the supported receiving network. A matching-looking address does not prove the networks are interchangeable.
Copy the complete destination
Copy from that trusted screen, then compare the full destination before confirming. Include a memo or destination tag when the receiving service requires it. Do not copy an address from a recent transaction just because it looks familiar.
Share only the receiving details
Send the address, network and required memo to the payer. For a new route, consider a small test that satisfies any minimum deposit. Verify receipt before sending more, allowing for fees and processing requirements.
Public does not mean anonymous
Sharing a receiving address does not itself give spending authority, but it can connect your identity to visible transactions. A watch-only wallet can display activity without being able to sign. An extended public key (xpub) can reveal a whole family of derived addresses, so do not share it as casually as a single receiving address.
Three mistakes to avoid
Sending a raw public key instead of an address
Use the exact receiving format requested by the wallet or service. Do not manually convert keys or assume every chain uses the same address construction.
Assuming the same address means the same network
Some networks use the same address format. An exchange may support a token on one network and not another; check its current deposit instructions.
Approving a signature just to receive funds
An ordinary transfer to your address does not require you to sign a wallet prompt. A request to connect or sign deserves separate scrutiny; it is not proof of payment.
Try it: choose what to share
A friend wants to send a token. You have a receiving address, the supported network name, a recovery phrase and an optional exchange memo. Which details belong in the payment instructions?
Show the reasoning
Share the address, correct network and memo if required. Never share the recovery phrase. Afterward, use the transaction ID to verify the transfer; an on-screen promise or screenshot is not the same as confirmed receipt.
