@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ When spending bitcoins, the current bitcoin owner presents her public key and a
[[private_public_keys]]
==== Private and Public Keys
((("keys","public/private")))((("keys","in wallets")))((("private keys")))((("public keys")))((("wallets","public/private keys in")))A bitcoin wallet contains a collection of key pairs, each consisting of a private key and a public key. The private key (k) is a number, usually picked at random. From the private key, we use elliptic curve multiplication, a one-way cryptographic function, to generate a public key (K). From the public key (K), we use a one-way cryptographic hash function to generate a bitcoin address (A). In this section, we will start with generating the private key, look at the elliptic curve math that is used to turn that into a public key, and finally, generate a bitcoin address from the public key. The relationship between private key, public key, and bitcoin address is shown in <<k_to_K_to_A>>.
((("keys","public/private")))((("keys","in wallets")))((("public keys")))((("wallets","public/private keys in")))A bitcoin wallet contains a collection of key pairs, each consisting of a private key and a public key. The private key (k) is a number, usually picked at random. From the private key, we use elliptic curve multiplication, a one-way cryptographic function, to generate a public key (K). From the public key (K), we use a one-way cryptographic hash function to generate a bitcoin address (A). In this section, we will start with generating the private key, look at the elliptic curve math that is used to turn that into a public key, and finally, generate a bitcoin address from the public key. The relationship between private key, public key, and bitcoin address is shown in <<k_to_K_to_A>>.
mjones@wordco.com
10 years ago