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Lesson 06 / 21 · Beginner

Addresses, networks and QR codes

Learn why a familiar-looking destination is not enough.

10 MIN WITH PRACTICEREAD → TRY → REFLECTNO WALLET NEEDED

By the end, you’ll be able to…

  • Check the requested asset and network.
  • Explain why a QR code does not authenticate a recipient.
Your learning map

Three questions to carry into this lesson.

01Check the requested asset and network.
02Explain why a QR code does not authenticate a recipient.
Use these goals to guide your reading. Try the paper exercise, then explain the result in your own words.

An address has a job

A receiving address encodes information a wallet uses to construct a payment destination. It is not a person’s universal financial identity. Bitcoin address formats differ, and other networks use their own formats. A familiar prefix can be a clue, but it cannot replace checking the intended network in the recipient’s and sender’s software.

A code carries information

A QR code is a representation of data. It can contain an address or a richer payment request. Replacing the code on a poster can change where a payment goes while the surrounding design looks authentic. Review the decoded destination, asset, amount and recipient context. Comparing the beginning and end alone is weaker than verifying the full request through the recipient’s known channel.

A classroom check needs no live wallet

Draw a pretend invoice with the labels recipient, Bitcoin mainnet, amount, expiry and order reference. Give another learner the task of finding what is missing. Never put a real seed, private key or fabricated spendable destination in the exercise. Test networks are separate environments; a label saying test is not enough unless the actual software and destination agree. A community page should never recycle an Ethereum-style domain-owner address as a BTC donation address.

Your turn / A paper experiment

Practice on paper

A website headline says “Donate BTC,” but the payment pane names a different network. What should a beginner do?

I’ve tried it — show the worked answer

Stop and ask the verified recipient to resolve the mismatch. Do not guess, bridge or substitute an address. A matching network and clearly explained receiving arrangement must precede a real payment.

Want to explore with buttons and instant feedback? Try the practice lab ↗

Think it through

Make a choice. Discover why.

Choose an answer and check the explanation. You can retry as often as you like. These are practice questions, not a test of mastery; answers are not saved or sent.

1. Does a valid QR code prove who owns the destination?
  • Yes
  • No
Read the explanation

No. It shows that data can be decoded, not that the recipient is authentic.

2. Can one assume BTC and LTC addresses are interchangeable?
  • Yes
  • No
Read the explanation

No. They represent different networks; validate the complete payment method.

One idea to take with you

Verify the meaning of a destination, not just its appearance.

Your learning, at your pace

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