---
id: base58
version: "2.1.1"
license: MIT
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: abandoned
---

# base58 — Base58 and Base58Check implementation.

License: permissive · Maintenance: abandoned · Downloads: 4.5M/mo

## 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 above — verify before relying.

Encodes and decodes data using Base58 and Base58Check formats compatible with Bitcoin and other networks, with support for custom alphabets like XRP.

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

pip install base58
uv add base58
poetry add base58

## Installing base58

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_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: abandoned
- Downloads: 4.5M/month (top 5,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

base58 encoding decoding, bitcoin base58 python, base58check checksum, xrp ripple alphabet, base58 codec library, data encoding base58, checksum validation base58, bitcoin, encoding, blockchain

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