WDB23 Universal Address Format

Overview

WDB23 is a 23-byte universal address format that provides a unified way to represent wallet addresses from any blockchain. It solves the critical problem of using blockchain addresses as document IDs in WeaveDB while maintaining human readability and cross-chain compatibility.

The Problem

WeaveDB document IDs are constrained to 254 bits maximum due to BN254 zk-circuit limitations. This creates a significant issue:

• Arweave addresses: 32 bytes = 256 bits (exceeds limit)
• Ethereum addresses: 20 bytes = 160 bits (fits, but no universal format)
• Bitcoin addresses: Variable length (inconsistent)

Without a universal format, structuring user-based documents and directories becomes extremely inconvenient, as different blockchains require different handling.

The Solution: WDB23

WDB23 creates a uniform 23-byte format that works for any blockchain address:

23 bytes = 184 bits < 254 bits ✅ (Fits WeaveDB constraint)

Structure

[3 bytes: Human-readable prefix] + [20 bytes: Truncated address] = 23 bytes total

Encoding Format

• Base64url encoding (RFC 4648 Section 5)
• 31 characters total when displayed
• No padding required (clean format)
• URL and filename safe

Prefix Rules

The 4-character prefix must use only:

• Lowercase letters: a-z
• Numbers: 0-9
• Hyphen: -

Example: Arweave Address Conversion

Input

Arweave address: Tbun4iRRQW93gUiSAmTmZJ2PGI-_yYaXsX69ETgzSRE
Length: 43 characters (32 bytes when decoded)

Process

1. Decode Arweave address to bytes: 32 bytes
2. Truncate to first 20 bytes
3. Encode 20 bytes to base64url: 27 characters
4. Add prefix: ar-- + base64url result

Output

WDB23 address: ar--Tbun4iRRQW93gUiSAmTmZJ2PGI8
Length: 31 characters (23 bytes when decoded)

Universal Blockchain Support

WDB23 uses algorithm-based prefixes rather than chain-specific ones:

Key Benefits

✅ WeaveDB Compatible

• 184 bits fits within 254-bit constraint
• Uniform length simplifies database schema
• Consistent doc ID format across all blockchains

✅ Human Readable

• Instant recognition of signature algorithm
• Clear visual distinction between address types
• URL-safe encoding for web applications

✅ Universal Compatibility

• Same address format across compatible chains
• Algorithm-based grouping enables token aggregation
• Future-proof for new blockchains

✅ Collision Resistant

• 160 bits of address data = 2^80 collision resistance
• Same security level as Ethereum addresses
• No precision loss in practical use