Modern Bitcoin wallets show a fresh receive address after every payment. The old addresses keep working: they are all derived from the same seed phrase. The change is a privacy feature, not an expiry.
Why the address changes
HD wallets following BIP44 and BIP84 derive a long chain of addresses from one seed. Reusing one address lets anyone who knows it see your whole payment history, which is why the Bitcoin developer guide advises against reuse.
When coins seem missing after a restore
A restoring wallet scans addresses until it finds a run of unused ones, usually 20 (the gap limit). A payment to a far-away address, or to a different script type such as bc1q versus bc1p, may stay hidden. The coins are still on-chain. See our guide to Electrum addresses and the gap limit.
Exchange deposit addresses are different: the exchange may rotate them, so always copy the current one from your account instead of an old record.
Label addresses as you hand them out and note the wallet app and address type next to your seed backup.
What to do
- Look up the incoming transaction and note the exact receiving address.
- Search for it in the wallet's address list.
- If it is missing, add an account with the right script type or raise the gap limit.
- Never reuse a swap deposit address: on the BTC to USDC page each order gets its own deposit address and expires if unpaid within an hour.
FAQ
Does an old Bitcoin address stop working?
No. Every address derived from your seed keeps receiving funds; the new one is shown for privacy.
Why can't I see some coins after restoring?
The wallet may not have scanned far enough (gap limit) or restored a different address type.