An Ethereum address is your personal account on the Ethereum blockchain — comparable to a bank account number, but without the bank. It is a 42-character string that starts with 0x and consists of 40 hexadecimal characters (0-9, a-f). You need one to receive ETH, call smart contracts, and interact with decentralized applications (dApps).
Unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum uses only one address format. Every Ethereum address looks the same — whether it belongs to a person (Externally Owned Account, EOA) or a smart contract. This makes getting started simpler, but comes with its own nuances.
In this guide, you will learn everything you need to know about Ethereum addresses — from the technical structure to the most important security rules.
How Is an Ethereum Address Structured?
Every Ethereum address follows the same pattern: it starts with the prefix 0x, followed by exactly 40 hexadecimal characters, totaling 42 characters. Hexadecimal means the address can use digits 0-9 and letters a-f.
Example: 0xd8dA6BF26964aF9D7eEd9e03E53415D37aA96045
The 0x prefix signals that the following characters are in hexadecimal notation. The remaining 40 characters are derived from the public key through the Keccak-256 hash function — specifically, they are the last 20 bytes of this hash.
The mixed upper and lowercase letters are not random — they represent the EIP-55 checksum. This is a clever mechanism that encodes a checksum directly into the letter casing. If you accidentally change a single character, the checksum no longer matches and the error can be detected.
EOA vs. Contract Address — What's the Difference?
On the Ethereum network, there are two types of addresses that look identical in format.
Externally Owned Account (EOA)
This is the address you see in your wallet. It is controlled by a private key and can initiate transactions. When you use MetaMask or a Ledger, you are working with an EOA.
Contract Address
A contract address belongs to a smart contract — a program that lives on the blockchain. Contract addresses are automatically generated when a contract is deployed. Nobody holds the private key to a contract address; the contract is governed by its code.
Visually, you cannot distinguish between the two. Whether an address is a contract can only be determined through a block explorer like Etherscan.
ENS — Ethereum Name Service
Because 42-character hex addresses are hard for humans to remember, the Ethereum Name Service (ENS) exists. ENS works like DNS for Ethereum: you register a readable name like vitalik.eth, which then resolves to your 0x address.
ENS domains cost between $5 and $640 per year depending on the name length. They are stored as NFTs (ERC-721) on the blockchain and can be transferred to others.
Warning: When using ENS domains, always verify the resolved 0x address in your wallet before sending ETH. There have been cases where scammers registered similar-sounding ENS names.
How to Create an Ethereum Address
To get an Ethereum address, you need a wallet. The address is automatically generated when you set up the wallet. You don't need to register anywhere and it costs nothing.
Option 1: Browser Wallet (MetaMask, Rabby) — A browser extension that integrates into Chrome or Firefox. Ideal for DeFi and dApps. MetaMask is the most widely used wallet in the Ethereum ecosystem.
Option 2: Hardware Wallet (Ledger, Trezor) — A physical device that stores your private key offline. Most secure, especially for larger amounts. Can be connected to MetaMask.
Option 3: Crypto Exchange (Coinbase, Kraken, Binance) — The exchange creates an address for you. Convenient, but you don't control your private key.
→ Step-by-step: Create an Ethereum Address — Tutorial
→ Which wallet fits? Ethereum Wallet Comparison 2026
Security: How to Protect Your Ethereum Address
Always copy your address, never type it manually. A single typo can result in your ETH being permanently lost. Use addresses with EIP-55 checksum and verify the first and last five characters before sending.
Watch out for address poisoning. Scammers send tiny amounts from addresses that look like yours (same beginning and ending characters). If you copy from your transaction history, you might grab the wrong address. Always copy addresses from a trusted source.
Check token approvals regularly. When using DeFi, you grant smart contracts access to your tokens. Check which contracts have access via Etherscan → Token Approvals or revoke.cash.
Never enter your seed phrase digitally. Not in an email, not in a Google Doc, not on a website or browser extension.
→ Ethereum Scam Protection Guide
→ How to Secure Your Seed Phrase
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the same address for ETH and ERC-20 tokens?
Yes. Your Ethereum address can receive ETH and all ERC-20 tokens (USDC, USDT, UNI, etc.). NFTs (ERC-721, ERC-1155) are also sent to the same address. You don't need a separate address for different tokens.
Does my Ethereum address work on Layer 2?
Yes. Your address works identically on Ethereum Mainnet, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, Polygon, and other EVM-compatible chains. Just make sure you select the correct network — sending ETH on Arbitrum to a Mainnet transaction can get complicated.
What happens if I send ETH to the wrong address?
If the address is valid and belongs to someone, the coins are gone — blockchain transactions are irreversible. If the address is invalid, the transaction will be rejected. That's why: always double-check the address.
How much does an Ethereum address cost?
Nothing. The address itself is free. Costs only arise from transactions — the gas fees that go to the network. These vary depending on network congestion.
Can anyone see how much ETH is on an address?
Yes. Ethereum is a public network. Through a block explorer like etherscan.io, anyone can view the balance and complete transaction history of any address.
Next Steps
Last updated: February 2026. This article is regularly reviewed and updated.
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