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

Some users have adopted Ethereum Cashaddr (bech32) as a convenient way to handle transactions on the Ethereum network. However, this format is not directly compatible with legacy Bitcoin Cash wallets and blockchains. In this article, we will look at how to convert Ethereum bech32 addresses generated for Bitcoin Cash to equivalent legacy Bitcoin Cash addresses.

What is bech32?

Bech32 is a standard format used by many cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum. It was designed as an alternative to Bitcoin’s traditional Merkle tree-based address system. Bech32 addresses are typically represented with the following pattern: “bitcoincash:q“, where “” is the public key of Bitcoin Cash.

Traditional Bitcoin Cash Address Format

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

Converting Bech32 to Legacy Bitcoin Cash Address Format

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

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

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

Here is an example of a conversion process:

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

• Extract “q”: Remove the “q” prefix, leaving “bitcoca”.

• Combine with public key: Add the public key to the resulting string: “bc1…”, where “…” is a random Bitcoin Cash private key.

The resulting legacy Bitcoin Cash address would be: “bc1…”.

Example use case

Let’s say you have an Ethereum wallet that generates the following bech32 addresses: bitcoincash:q. You can use the following Python script to convert these addresses to equivalent legacy Bitcoin Cash addresses:

import re
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 form "bc...")
legacy_bc_address = f"bc{re.findall(r'[0-9a-fA-F]{44}', q_prefix)[0]}"
return_bc_address

Usage example
bech32_address = 'bitcoincash:q...'
legacy_bc_address = bech32_to_legacy_bc(bech32_address)
print(legacy_bc_address) 
Output: bc1...

Conclusion

In summary, converting Ethereum Cashdr (bech32) addresses to legacy Bitcoin Cash addresses requires additional processing. This article will walk you through a step-by-step guide on how to achieve this conversion using Python code. While there may be differences in the format used by different wallets and platforms, understanding these differences is essential for seamless integration with different cryptocurrency systems.

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