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I see some bitcoin documentation sites reference dummy addresses like "1bitcoinEaterAddressDontSend32425663" or something made up like that. I'd assume it's just so people reading the docs won't try to "tip" the writer and send to a foobar address that was made up for the sake of example.

That said, I find addresses under this schema that actually have quite a bit of bitcoins in them. Like hundreds of transactions+ and thousands of USD worth (circa 2016 for future readers).

Here is an example (1BitcoinEaterAddressDontSendf59kuE): https://blockchain.info/address/1BitcoinEaterAddressDontSendf59kuE

Who are these people sending money here, what's the point? Can anyone shed some light, lol.

Albert Renshaw
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I'd assume it's just so people reading the docs won't try to "tip" the writer and send to a foobar address that was made up for the sake of example

That is correct!

Other than that, there is no other real point at all. These bitcoins are gone forever and no one will ever be able to get them.

However there is some projects or new coins that does Proof-Of-Burning and by sending the bitcoin correctly to the bitcoin eater address you would get corresponding amount in the new cryptocurrency.

Joe Tannoury
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  • There are some occasions where burning bitcoin can have a purpose. – Tom Busby Mar 08 '18 at 16:49
  • I remember OpenBazaar originally had some idea for bootstrapping your reputation by burning some coins. (You couldn't send your coins to someone else because the same person may be at both ends, you don't know with a permissionless system). – Tom Busby Mar 08 '18 at 16:50
  • Man I bet that author wishes he had used a real address right about now – Albert Renshaw Mar 09 '18 at 21:17
  • @AlbertRenshaw not one author, and nobody is stupid enough to send their coins there – user253751 Nov 18 '21 at 23:12
  • @user253751 There are over 13 BTC on the example address I gave........ – Albert Renshaw Nov 23 '21 at 05:09
  • @user253751 That was a claim you made.. I never said they were there for stupidity, no one did but you. All I said is "I bet the author wishes has had used a real address". – Albert Renshaw Nov 23 '21 at 23:31
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The point is that someone obviously made up the sentence and then adapted the last few places to make it adhere to the checksum test, i.e. it is a valid Bitcoin address. On the other hand, it's certain that it's not an address someone generated randomly (because vanity addresses of that length would take way too much effort to generate).

Thus, it's a "safe way" to burn bitcoins.

Murch
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  • Yes I get that, but what's the point. *Why* would anyone do this? – Albert Renshaw Nov 15 '16 at 15:49
  • That was already answered by Joe: a) To have a burner address where one can be reasonably sure that it's not held by someone. b) because they can. – Murch Nov 15 '16 at 16:37
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https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Vanitygen

Theres no guarantee these addresses are made up ....

Of course, bitcoin eater addresses are around since the early days - but why not exploit it :)

Back then it came up as a joke, if you mined 100 btc a day wh not dump some for fun to an eater address to make the rest more valueable, then vanity addresses became mainstream ....

Aurigae
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  • That's an interesting tidbit about past miners. Ironically some of these addresses are still getting deposits even this week! Kinda strange – Albert Renshaw Nov 15 '16 at 19:58
  • Why not mine asic on such an address, may others think "omg how can anyone deposit there" oh well i sent a few cents :) – Aurigae Nov 15 '16 at 19:59