How can I complete a Satoshi test with UTXO-based wallet?
A Satoshi test is used to confirm ownership of a withdrawal address before funds can be sent there. To complete this process on a UTXO-based network, it's important to understand how these wallets work — and why a few extra steps are needed compared to account-based blockchains.
What is a UTXO?
A UTXO (Unspent Transaction Output) is a discrete chunk of digital assets locked to a specific address, waiting to be spent. Unlike account-based blockchains (such as Ethereum), UTXO-based networks don't store a single balance per account. Your wallet's total balance is the sum of all UTXOs it controls across one or more addresses.
Networks that use the UTXO model include:
Bitcoin (BTC)
Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
Litecoin (LTC)
Dogecoin (DOGE)
Why does my UTXO Wallet sometimes fail a Satoshi Test?
When you select Send in a UTXO wallet, the wallet automatically picks one or more UTXOs to fund the transaction.
This causes a common problem: even though your wallet contains the deposit address you wish to whitelist with us, the wallet may pull UTXOs from a different address it also controls (often a change address from a previous transaction). When we receive the test transaction, the sending address on-chain doesn't match the address you whitelisted, and the verification fails.
Another common problem occurs when wallets generate a new deposit address for every deposit. Satoshi tests have to be conducted from a wallet with funds. Due to the nature of UTXOs, the new deposit address provided will not be able to complete the Satoshi test even if your wallet address has sufficient balances.
In short: the address you wish to whitelist and the address the Satoshi test actually originates from must be identical.
How do I complete a Satoshi test successfully?
To pass the test, the address you intend to withdraw to must be one that already holds a UTXO with a sufficient balance to cover both the test amount and applicable network fees.
Follow these steps:
Check your wallet for an address with an existing balance. Open your wallet's address list (sometimes labelled "Receive," "Addresses," or "Coins") and find an address that already holds a confirmed UTXO. An empty or never-used address will not work.
Perform the Satoshi Test with that exact address. Use the address with a UTXO to complete the Satoshi test verification flow.
Send the test transaction from that address. Use your wallet's "Coin Control" or equivalent feature to ensure the UTXO is selected as the transaction input comes from the whitelisted address, and not from a different address in the same wallet.
Important: If you perform a Satoshi test with an address that has never received funds, the test can't be completed successfully. The address must already hold a UTXO before the test transaction is created.
How do I use Coin Control to select the right UTXO?
Each wallet labels the feature differently and some wallets don't support manual UTXO selection. We recommend referring to your wallet's official documentation for the most accurate, up-to-date instructions on how to use select a specific UTXO.
If you have any questions or require additional assistance with your Satoshi test, please contact us via the OKX Assistant or reach out to your dedicated Relationship Manager (for Institutional and VIP clients).