Base58 Encode/Decode
Encode text to Base58 with the Bitcoin alphabet or decode Base58 back to text, with optional Base58Check (version byte 0x00/0x05) and double SHA-256 checksum verification, entirely in your browser.
What is Base58 and what is it used for?
Base58 is a binary-to-text encoding that represents data using 58 alphanumeric characters. It is best known from Bitcoin, where it encodes wallet addresses and private keys in WIF form, and it also appears in IPFS CIDs, Flickr photo IDs, Monero and Ripple addresses.
Why does Base58 not use 0, O, I and l?
The Bitcoin alphabet deliberately removes the digits 0 (zero) and 1 (one) is kept, but the uppercase O, uppercase I and lowercase l are excluded, along with 0 and uppercase/lowercase look-alikes, because in many fonts they are impossible to tell apart. This lets people read, copy and dictate encoded strings without mistakes.
How is Base58 different from Base64?
Base64 uses 64 characters including + and / plus the = padding character, and it maps fixed 6-bit groups. Base58 uses only 58 unambiguous alphanumeric characters, has no padding, and works like a large-base number (base 58), so a single changed input byte can alter the whole output string.
What is Base58Check?
Base58Check is the variant used by Bitcoin: a version byte is placed in front of the payload, then the first 4 bytes of the double SHA-256 hash of that data are appended as a checksum before encoding. When decoding, the checksum is recomputed and verified, so typos and truncation are detected instead of silently producing garbage.
What do the version bytes 0x00 and 0x05 mean?
In Bitcoin, 0x00 marks mainnet pay-to-pubkey-hash addresses, which start with the character 1, and 0x05 marks pay-to-script-hash addresses, which start with 3. Choosing the version byte here lets you build or inspect strings in the same format as real Bitcoin addresses.
How do I use this tool?
Pick the direction (Text to Base58 or Base58 to Text), choose plain Base58 or Base58Check with version byte 0x00 or 0x05, and type or paste into the input box. The conversion happens live as you type. Use Swap to move the result back into the input, and Copy to send it to the clipboard.
Is Base58 encryption? Is my data uploaded?
No, Base58 is only a reversible encoding, not encryption - anyone can decode it. This tool is also privacy-safe: all encoding, decoding and checksum verification runs locally in your browser with JavaScript, and nothing you paste is ever sent to a server.
Why do I get an invalid character error?
Only the 58 characters of the Bitcoin alphabet are accepted: digits 1-9 (no 0), uppercase A-Z without I and O, and lowercase a-z without l. Spaces and symbols like - _ + / = are rejected. Whitespace is tolerated and stripped before decoding, but any other character stops the conversion.
What does the checksum verification failed message mean?
When decoding Base58Check, the last 4 characters of data are compared against a freshly computed double SHA-256 checksum. If they do not match, the string was mistyped, truncated or altered somewhere, so the tool refuses to output wrong data.
How to Use Base58 Encode/Decode
Base58 turns bytes into a compact string of 58 unambiguous letters and digits — the encoding used by Bitcoin addresses, WIF private keys and IPFS CIDs. This tool converts text to Base58 and back, optionally in Base58Check form with a version byte and a double SHA-256 checksum. Everything runs locally in your browser; nothing you type is uploaded.
- Choose the direction: Text → Base58 to encode, or Base58 → Text to decode.
- Pick a format: plain Base58, or Base58Check with version byte 0x00 (like Bitcoin addresses starting with 1) or 0x05 (addresses starting with 3). Check adds a 4-byte double SHA-256 checksum that is verified on decode.
- Type or paste into the input box — the result updates live as you type. Invalid characters or a failed checksum show a friendly message instead of garbage output.
- Use Swap to move the output back into the input and reverse the direction, or Copy to send the result to your clipboard.
Base58 is an encoding, not encryption — anyone can decode it. A changed input byte can change the entire output, so always rely on the Base58Check checksum when integrity matters.
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