Case sensitivity of crypto addresses

When sending out crypto, one of the many questions a user might have is whether or not capitalizing letters in an address is important. Does a string of capitalized characters mean a different address than the same string in lowercase? Let's investigate. 

Contents

• What is case sensitivity?
• Are crypto addresses case-sensitive?
• What happens if I made a case-related error while sending out funds?
• How to avoid case errors when sending the funds?
• The list of case-sensitive and case-insensitive assets

What is case sensitivity?  

Even if you've never heard of this term, you could probably guess what it means by reading the introduction to this article. Case sensitivity defines whether an uppercase letter is identified as the same as a lowercase by the system. If it is, the system is case-insensitive. If it's not, it's case-sensitive. 

Are crypto addresses case-sensitive? 

Unfortunately, there is no simple 'yes' or 'no' answer to that question since every blockchain has its own set of rules and even within the blockchain itself, there are variations. Some cryptos have existed for long enough to change their address format and the way differing cases are treated. Bitcoin is the most obvious example of such a blockchain. 

What happens if I made a case-related error while sending out funds? 

• In a case-sensitive blockchain, that means your funds are lost, unfortunately. Even one letter used in the wrong case means that your funds were sent to a completely different address. 
• In a case-insensitive blockchain, nothing bad will happen to your funds. They will make their way to the specified address without a hitch. 

How do I avoid case errors when sending the funds? 

The answer is quite simple, never type your address manually. With some addresses being as long as 35 characters, mistakes are nigh unavoidable. It is much safer to use the 'Copy' and 'Paste' mechanics, available on all modern devices. Better yet, if your device, whether it's mobile or a desktop, has a camera, use the QR code. 

The list of case-sensitive and case-insensitive assets 

In this list, case sensitivity is defined by whether or not inputting a letter in the wrong case would result in your funds being sent to a completely different, existing address. An asset is not considered case-sensitive if inputting a letter in the wrong case results in an error or a failed transaction. The list is not exhaustive, the assets were taken from the top of CoinMarketCap's rating.