Phantom supports two Bitcoin address types:
- Native SegWit (addresses starting with
bc1q...): The older, more widely supported format. - Taproot (addresses starting with
bc1p...): The newer format with privacy and efficiency benefits.
Both are derived from the same wallet but have separate balances. BTC received at a Native SegWit address won't appear in your Taproot balance in Phantom until you turn it on, and vice versa.
| Address type | Starts with | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Native SegWit | bc1q... |
Buying Bitcoin and receiving BTC from wallets and exchanges |
| Taproot | bc1p... |
Ordinals and Bitcoin collectibles |
New wallets use Native SegWit by default. Some apps and services may send Bitcoin to a Taproot address instead.
Native SegWit (bc1q...)
Phantom uses a Native SegWit address by default. This address is commonly used for buying Bitcoin in Phantom and receiving BTC from other wallets or exchanges.
Many apps and services also use your Native SegWit address as your default Bitcoin payment address.
Taproot (bc1p...)
Taproot addresses are commonly used for Ordinals and Bitcoin collectibles. If you buy a Bitcoin collectible, the marketplace may ask you to enable your Taproot address.
Note: When swapping to Bitcoin, Phantom defaults to your Taproot address even if it is not enabled. If you do not see your swapped Bitcoin in Phantom, turn on Taproot in Settings → Preferences → Preferred Bitcoin Address.
Manage your preferred Bitcoin address
Choose which Bitcoin address type Phantom uses by default:
- Select your profile avatar in the upper left.
- Go to Settings → Preferences → Preferred Bitcoin Address.
- Select Native SegWit, Taproot, or both.
Some apps require both address types. Turning on both can improve compatibility.
Restoring a Bitcoin wallet
If you import a wallet using a Secret Recovery Phrase from another Bitcoin wallet, Phantom detects which Bitcoin addresses have been used before.
Depending on your wallet history, Phantom may show a Native SegWit address, a Taproot address, or both. This helps you access your Bitcoin and Ordinals without extra setup.