---
id: bech32m
version: "1.0.0"
license: unclear
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: abandoned
---

# bech32m — Encoding/decoding Bech32 and Bech32m

License: permissive · Maintenance: abandoned · Downloads: 171.4K/mo

## What it is and what it does

bech32m is a Python library that implements encoding and decoding for Bech32 and Bech32m, the checksummed base32 address formats used in Bitcoin and blockchain systems. It provides the core operations needed to convert between raw data and human-readable, error-detecting address strings.

The package requires Python 3.9 or later and has no external runtime dependencies, making it lightweight and easy to integrate. It is classified as production-stable but has been abandoned since mid-2023, meaning no new features or bug fixes are planned. Use it when you need a straightforward, dependency-free implementation of these encoding standards for existing applications, but be aware you cannot rely on upstream maintenance.

Use it for:

- Validate or generate Bitcoin addresses in applications that work with blockchain wallets or payment systems.
- Encode raw public keys or hashes into human-readable Bech32m format for display or transmission.
- Decode user-supplied Bech32 or Bech32m strings to extract the underlying data and verify checksums.
- Integrate Bech32 encoding into command-line tools or scripts that interact with Bitcoin or similar blockchain networks.

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Encodes and decodes Bech32 and Bech32m strings, the checksummed base32 formats used in Bitcoin and blockchain applications.

Yes, if you need a simple, dependency-free Bech32/Bech32m codec and can accept that the package will not receive updates. The implementation is stable and well-suited to production use for encoding and decoding, but do not install if you expect ongoing maintenance or compatibility updates as blockchain standards evolve.

## Install

pip install bech32m
uv add bech32m
poetry add bech32m

## Installing bech32m

Before you install: Installation is frictionless—a pure Python wheel with no runtime dependencies. However, the package is abandoned: the last commit was 2023-07-13, over a year ago, and no updates have been released since 2023-06-14. Use only if you need a stable, unchanging implementation.

License in practice: MIT license permits unrestricted use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions, making it safe to integrate into most projects.

Quickstart:

pip install bech32m

from bech32m import bech32_encode, bech32_decode

# Encode data to Bech32m
encoded = bech32_encode('bc', data)

# Decode Bech32m string
hrp, decoded = bech32_decode(encoded)

Requires Python 3.9 or later.

Verify before relying:

- Whether the implementation handles all edge cases and malformed input robustly, given the lack of ongoing maintenance.
- Compatibility with the latest Bitcoin or blockchain protocol updates since the last release in June 2023.

## Package facts

- License: not declared (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: abandoned
- Downloads: 171.4K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

bech32 encoding decoding, bech32m bitcoin address, blockchain checksum format, base32 bech32 codec, bitcoin address encoding, bech32m python library, bitcoin, blockchain, encoding

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