Single-Address Mode

Why Use Single-Address Mode

In simple terms, wallets can have too many addresses. Ethereum users might wonder, “Why does one wallet have multiple addresses? Shouldn’t it just have one?” Cardano’s address design is different: it can recognize multiple addresses as belonging to the same wallet, so having multiple addresses isn’t a problem. Technically, this is because the stake credential in the address is the same for the same user.

You might still wonder: why design it this way instead of just having a single address? This is where Cardano’s Extended UTxO (eUTxO) model comes in. Unlike account-based models (like Ethereum), Cardano wallets automatically generate many addresses. Each time you receive funds, a new address is usually used, and the wallet manages a large number of UTxOs internally.

Why so many UTxOs? Without diving into too much technical detail, it mainly improves performance. If you’re curious, you can explore it further, but we won’t go into it here.

That said, Cardano wallets still offer a single-address mode, which can be used for various purposes.

How to Set Single-Address Mode

eternl wallet

It’s simple: in the Settings button, search for “Single Address.” It will appear, then just click to enable it. Done!