Ethereum Address Verification Explained: Step by Step
The Ethereum decentralized platform relies heavily on secure and private transactions that involve cryptographic techniques to verify the identity of the sender and ensure that the transaction reaches the intended recipient. One critical component of this process is the Ethereum address, a unique string of characters that is used to identify users and their corresponding accounts on the network.
In this article, we will look at how Alice can be sure that she is receiving the correct Ethereum address from Bob, ensuring that the transaction is secure, transparent, and tamper-proof.
The Importance of Address Verification
When Bob wants to send coins (called “ETH”) to Alice, he needs to tell her where to send them. To do this, Bob needs to provide an Ethereum address, which is a unique 40-character string, often represented as “0x…”. This address serves several purposes:
- Identify the sender: The first 21 characters (
0x) identify the sender (Bob) and confirm that he is trying to send money.
- Identify the recipient: The next 19 characters (
...) identify the recipient of the money (Alice).
- Verify the integrity of the transaction: The last few characters (
...) help prevent potential double-spending by providing a unique hash of the transaction.
How Bob sends his address
To verify that he received the correct address from Bob, Alice follows these steps:
- Create an Ethereum account: Bob creates an Ethereum wallet and sets up his own public and private keys.
- Send your address to Alice: Using a secure communication channel (e.g. email or a messaging app), Bob shares his unique Ethereum address with Alice. This is done in a way that preserves the sender’s identity.
- Use Web3.js or another library: To interact with the Ethereum network, Bob uses an integrated development environment (IDE) such as Truffle Suite or Web3.js to create a JavaScript application.
Here is a step-by-step example using Web3.js:
const web3 = new Web3(new Web3.providers.HttpProvider('
async function sendTransaction() {
const recipientAddress = '0x...'; // Bob's address
const amount = 10n; // Amount of ETH to send
try {
const transaction = await web3.eth.sendSignedMessage({
from: '0x...', // Alice's address (sent by Bob)
to address: recipientAddress,
value: sum.toString(),
gasPrice: web3.eth.gasPrice
});
console.log(Transaction sent successfully!);
} catch (error) {
console.error(error);
}
}
In this example, the sendSignedMessage function is used to create a signed transaction with Bob’s address. The sender, to, and value parameters specify the recipient’s Ethereum address, the amount of ETH to send, and the gas price.
Alice checks the address
To verify that Alice received the correct address from Bob, she can do the following:
- Check the transaction history
: On the Ethereum network, transactions are stored in a public ledger called the blockchain. By checking the ledger, Alice can verify that Bob’s address has been successfully verified and linked to her account.
- Check the recipient’s identity: Using Web3.js or another library, Alice can verify that the recipient of the funds is indeed “0x…”, confirming that she received the correct Ethereum address from Bob.
In summary, Alice can be sure that she received the correct Ethereum address from Bob by verifying his unique identifier (sender and recipient) using various tools, such as transaction history or Web3.js libraries. This ensures secure, transparent, and tamper-proof transactions on the Ethereum network.
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