base58
Base58 and Base58Check implementation.
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need Base58 encoding for Bitcoin or similar use cases and accept the maintenance risk. The package is stable, has no dependencies, and works reliably for its core function. However, do not use it if you require active security monitoring or bug fixes—the abandoned status means issues will not be addressed.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Low install friction with no runtime dependencies.
- However, the package is in abandoned maintenance status with the last commit on 2022-12-11 and no new releases since 2021-10-30, so security updates or bug fixes are unlikely.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license permits commercial and private use with minimal restrictions, making it suitable for most projects that need Base58 encoding without licensing concerns.
last release 2021-10-30 (1749 days) · last repo commit 2022-12-11 · 186 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 4,515,145 downloads/mo, #2,289 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
import base58
# Encode
encoded = base58.b58encode(b'hello world')
print(encoded) # b'StV1DL6CwTryKyV'
# Decode with checksum validation
decoded = base58.b58decode_check(b'3vQB7B6MrGQZaxCuFg4oh')
print(decoded) # b'hello world'- Whether the package handles edge cases or malformed input safely given its abandoned status
- Performance characteristics for large-scale encoding/decoding operations
- Compatibility with Python versions beyond 3.5 in practice
What it is and what it does
base58 is a pure-Python implementation of Base58 and Base58Check encoding, the formats used by Bitcoin and other blockchain systems. It provides functions to encode binary data into Base58 strings and decode them back, with optional checksum validation to detect corruption. The package supports custom alphabets, including built-in options for Bitcoin and XRP/Ripple compatibility.
The library has no external runtime dependencies and installs as a simple wheel. It requires Python 3.5 or later and is classified as Production/Stable. However, the package has been in abandoned maintenance since its last commit in 2022-12-11, meaning no active bug fixes or security updates are being made.
Use it for
- Encoding and decoding Bitcoin addresses or transaction data in applications that interact with the Bitcoin network
- Validating checksummed Base58 data to detect transmission errors or corruption
- Converting binary data to human-readable Base58 strings for URLs, identifiers, or display purposes
- Supporting XRP/Ripple address encoding in blockchain or cryptocurrency applications
- Building command-line tools for Base58 encoding/decoding with the included CLI interface
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need Base58 encoding for Bitcoin or similar use cases and accept the maintenance risk.
The package is stable, has no dependencies, and works reliably for its core function. However, do not use it if you require active security monitoring or bug fixes—the abandoned status means issues will not be addressed.
Install
base58 on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with no runtime dependencies. However, the package is in abandoned maintenance status with the last commit on 2022-12-11 and no new releases since 2021-10-30, so security updates or bug fixes are unlikely.
License in practice
MIT license permits commercial and private use with minimal restrictions, making it suitable for most projects that need Base58 encoding without licensing concerns.
Quickstart
import base58
# Encode
encoded = base58.b58encode(b'hello world')
print(encoded) # b'StV1DL6CwTryKyV'
# Decode with checksum validation
decoded = base58.b58decode_check(b'3vQB7B6MrGQZaxCuFg4oh')
print(decoded) # b'hello world'Verify before relying
- Whether the package handles edge cases or malformed input safely given its abandoned status
- Performance characteristics for large-scale encoding/decoding operations
- Compatibility with Python versions beyond 3.5 in practice
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.5 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Abandoned 1,749 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 4,515,145 / month, #2,289 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3 |
Evidence: base58-2.1.1-py3-none-any.whl
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See also base58check · based58 · bech32m · python-baseconv · rlp · bech32 · xrpl-py · py-multibase · pylzss · base64io