> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://initialabs-develop.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Address Derivation on Initia

## Overview

On Initia, importing the same mnemonic into a Cosmos-based wallet (e.g., Keplr, Leap Wallet) and an Ethereum-based wallet (e.g., MetaMask, Rabby) results in different addresses.

Although both wallet types follow HD Wallet standards like BIP32 and BIP44, they use different derivation paths, specifically different coin\_type values. This difference leads the wallets to derive distinct private keys and, consequently, different addresses, even when using the same mnemonic.

## Example Case

Let's consider an example where the same mnemonic is imported into MetaMask and Keplr.

<Frame caption="Address Derivation Example">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/initialabs-develop/dgyEiqvzqU2vBh5v/images/faqs/address-derivation.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=dgyEiqvzqU2vBh5v&q=85&s=fbde3142c9a6b47e1b3191bf116209dc" alt="Address Derivation Example" width="3372" height="1328" data-path="images/faqs/address-derivation.png" />
</Frame>

Mnemonic:

```plaintext theme={null}
borrow debate guard coconut chat polar loan stable render hazard true margin crash soon also leopard vehicle impose emotion sea amazing equal parade soldier
```

Import into MetaMask result in:

* Private Key: `a18d5fc426d6f4b72e44c8c0e3e1147508b4a193f901c5dc351c6ca1a5ab52ad`
* Hex Address: `0xb658395C73c592695d8de3DF320a15CE1C8d8252`
* Bech32(init) Address: `init1kevrjhrnckfxjhvdu00nyzs4ecwgmqjjufa7z5`

Import into Keplr result in:

* Private Key: `f3decd45241fc1a2d4b80f1449140b6cf67faf302b6c0f67f021337470a9c193`
* Hex Address: `0x8d9f8c5d0f68ebd45b2d7cf732e56073a4e009ca`
* Bech32(init) Address: `init13k0cchg0dr4agked0nmn9etqwwjwqzw28u97dr`

As you can see, the addresses differ and the chain will recognize them as a completely different addresses.

## Key Reason: Derivation Paths

Derivation paths are the core reason why the same mnemonic yields different addresses in different wallets.

BIP44 defines a path structure like this:

```plaintext theme={null}
m / 44' / coin_type' / account' / change / address_index
```

* `44'` is the BIP44 purpose field.
* `coin_type'` is a hardened index that identifies the blockchain.
* `account'`, `change`, `address_index` specify account details, internal/external chains, and the specific address index.

Different wallets use different `coin_type` values to derive addresses for different blockchains.

For example, Ethereum-based wallets use `60` as the `coin_type` value, while Cosmos-based wallets use `118`.

## How to Derive Addresses

EVM Wallet:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="CLI">
    ```bash theme={null}
    initiad keys import-hex [key-name] [private-key] --key-type eth_secp256k1

    # initiad keys import-hex alice a18d5fc426d6f4b72e44c8c0e3e1147508b4a193f901c5dc351c6ca1a5ab52ad --key-type eth_secp256k1
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Typescript">
    ```typescript theme={null}
    import { mnemonicToSeedSync } from 'bip39'
    import * as bip32 from 'bip32'

    // Replace with your 12 or 24 word mnemonic:
    const mnemonic = "borrow debate guard coconut chat polar loan stable render hazard true margin crash soon also leopard vehicle impose emotion sea amazing equal parade soldier"

    // Common parameters
    const account = 0
    const index = 0

    // ----- Deriving an Ethereum (MetaMask-like) private key -----
    const coinTypeEthereum = 60  // EVM-based chains (Ethereum, etc.)
    const seedEthereum: Buffer = mnemonicToSeedSync(mnemonic)
    const masterKeyEthereum = bip32.fromSeed(seedEthereum)
    const hdPathEthereum = `m/44'/${coinTypeEthereum}'/${account}'/0/${index}`
    const ethereumHD = masterKeyEthereum.derivePath(hdPathEthereum)
    const ethereumPrivateKey = ethereumHD.privateKey
    const ethereumPublicKey = ethereumHD.publicKey

    console.log("Ethereum (MetaMask) Private Key:", ethereumPrivateKey.toString('hex'))
    console.log("Ethereum (MetaMask) Public Key:", ethereumPublicKey.toString('hex'))
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

Cosmos Wallet:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="CLI">
    ```bash theme={null}
    initiad keys add [key-name] --recover

    # initiad keys add alice --recover
    # > Enter your bip39 mnemonic
    # borrow debate guard coconut chat polar loan stable render hazard true margin crash soon also leopard vehicle impose emotion sea amazing equal parade soldier
    ```

    or if you have a private key:

    ```bash theme={null}
    initiad keys import-hex [key-name] [private-key] --key-type secp256k1

    # initiad keys import-hex bob f3decd45241fc1a2d4b80f1449140b6cf67faf302b6c0f67f021337470a9c193 --key-type secp256k1
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Typescript">
    ```typescript theme={null}
    import { mnemonicToSeedSync } from 'bip39'
    import * as bip32 from 'bip32'

    // Replace with your 12 or 24 word mnemonic:
    const mnemonic = "borrow debate guard coconut chat polar loan stable render hazard true margin crash soon also leopard vehicle impose emotion sea amazing equal parade soldier"

    // Common parameters
    const account = 0
    const index = 0

    // ----- Deriving a Cosmos (Keplr-like) private key -----
    const coinTypeCosmos = 118  // Cosmos-based chains
    const seedCosmos: Buffer = mnemonicToSeedSync(mnemonic)
    const masterKeyCosmos = bip32.fromSeed(seedCosmos)
    const hdPathCosmos = `m/44'/${coinTypeCosmos}'/${account}'/0/${index}`
    const cosmosHD = masterKeyCosmos.derivePath(hdPathCosmos)
    const cosmosPrivateKey = cosmosHD.privateKey
    const cosmosPublicKey = cosmosHD.publicKey

    console.log("Cosmos (Keplr) Private Key:", cosmosPrivateKey.toString('hex'))
    console.log("Cosmos (Keplr) Public Key:", cosmosPublicKey.toString('hex'))
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>