From f98d518c4c7f64a1116ef67d9b8388b1d644958a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: "judymcconville@roadrunner.com" Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2017 10:15:18 -0700 Subject: [PATCH] Edited ch04.asciidoc with Atlas code editor --- ch04.asciidoc | 2 +- 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/ch04.asciidoc b/ch04.asciidoc index f4508423..1c9bc47a 100644 --- a/ch04.asciidoc +++ b/ch04.asciidoc @@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ image::images/mbc2_0401.png["privk_to_pubK_to_addressA"] .Why use asymmetric cryptography (public/private keys)? **** -Why is asymmetric cryptography used in bitcoin? It's not used to "encrypt" (make secret) the transactions. Rather, the useful property of asymmetric cryptography is the ability to generate _digital signatures_. A private key can be applied to the digital fingerprint of a transaction to produce a numerical signature. This signature can only be produced by someone with knowledge of the private key. However, anyone with access to the public key and the transaction fingerprint can use them to _verify_ the signature. This useful property of asymmetric cryptography makes it possible for anyone to verify every signature on every transaction, while ensuring that only the owners of private keys can produce valid signatures. +((("cryptography", "assymetric")))((("digital signatures")))Why is asymmetric cryptography used in bitcoin? It's not used to "encrypt" (make secret) the transactions. Rather, the useful property of asymmetric cryptography is the ability to generate _digital signatures_. A private key can be applied to the digital fingerprint of a transaction to produce a numerical signature. This signature can only be produced by someone with knowledge of the private key. However, anyone with access to the public key and the transaction fingerprint can use them to _verify_ the signature. This useful property of asymmetric cryptography makes it possible for anyone to verify every signature on every transaction, while ensuring that only the owners of private keys can produce valid signatures. **** [[private_keys]]