Easier ways to memorize private key ?

[chaoticbrain]

So I've been thinking, and I can't understand why in order to keep your bitcions you have to have written down on a paper an entire 32 character address.

Theoretically couldn't you take the address and put it into some number system that includes all the characters as digits (56 digits) take the number and use it in scientific notation. Then all you would have to do is memorize that address.

Or am I completely missing something ?

[1714795105]

1714795105

[1714795105]

1714795105

[ning]

A private key is just a very large number in a very large number space. In this case, every bit counts. We might be able to compress the representation of that number using some fancy algorithms, but it's highly unlikely that we could shorten the private key significantly.

[Jace]

Are you referring to the address or the private key?

The trick is, you can generate or make up the private key yourself. So you can have something that is easy for you to remember, but hard for others to guess or brute force.

The address, however, is different. It's a double hash (sha256+ripemd160) of the public key that corresponds with your private key, and thus totally random. There is no way to have an 'easily memorable' address.

Although.. The concept of FirstBits kinda did this, especially in combination with vanity addresses. Although it had some potential security flaws (one typo in the first few characters = money gone to wrong address) and it doesn't seem to be supported anymore. At least not by blockchain.info and firstbits.net

As for easily reproducable private keys, you may consider a brain wallet. Requires you to remember not the private key or address, but a passphrase (from which the private key and address are deterministically derived).

[traderCJ]

I believe the "easiest" way is converting a randomly generated private key into RFC 1751 (Brainwallet has this feature).  You'll get a string of (24?) short words to memorize.  Pain in the ass, but it works.

[RoxxR]

You can actually reduce a key to 7 or 8 English words (while staying safe from bruteforce attacks for years to come) by generating it using a tool such as NoBrainr.

[empoweoqwj]

You can actually reduce a key to 7 or 8 English words (while staying safe from bruteforce attacks for years to come) by generating it using a tool such as NoBrainr.

Like RoxxR said - turn it into a brain wallet - 8 English words you can remember, high entropy.

[TippingPoint]

Why memorize it, when you can write it down?  There are methods and locations to do it that do not reveal that it is a Bitcoin key.

[lnternet]

You could use whatever you want as a password/key, and have your own private hash function that key maps to 256 bits.

For starters, your key is, 123456, and your hash is to simply sha-2 it once.

That wouldn't be very secure, but you can add complexity as you please.

Your key could also be "use sha-2 eleven times on this string to produce my secret private key", and then your key and your private hash function are the same

[chaoticbrain]

You can actually reduce a key to 7 or 8 English words (while staying safe from bruteforce attacks for years to come) by generating it using a tool such as NoBrainr.

Like RoxxR said - turn it into a brain wallet - 8 English words you can remember, high entropy.

I see, that's cool.

[luv2drnkbr]

easier to remember = less entropy = you gon get robbed

[drrussellshane]

easier to remember = less entropy = you gon get robbed

err on the side of caution!

To some people, the risk is forgetting their private key or passphrase.

To others, the inherent risk of lower entropy is more of a factor.


Regardless, you have a neat avatar to be stuck with!

[BTC-TK]

Remember the algorithms that you use plus the key, for example remember "MAD FLYING COW WITH WINGS" then remember SHA512, BASE64 in that order, then just use SHA512(BASE64("MAD FLYING COW WITH WINGS")) as the private key for your wallet.

[empoweoqwj]

easier to remember = less entropy = you gon get robbed

Eight random dictionary words are sufficient to have enough entropy that you will never get robbed.

[RenegadeMind]

easier to remember = less entropy = you gon get robbed

This is not true.

Why that is, is illustrated here:

https://xkcd.com/936/

[niothor]

easier to remember = less entropy = you gon get robbed

This is not true.

Why that is, is illustrated here:

https://xkcd.com/936/

https://blockchain.info/address/1JwSSubhmg6iPtRjtyqhUYYH7bZg3Lfy1T


OOOO Yeah!

[Swoos]

tattoo it at your hand : )

[cozytrade]

Why that is, is illustrated here:
https://xkcd.com/936/

Well said. I like it  Always problem is they force us to use "Difficult to use" letters rather than difficulty for guess.

[reaLity2]

I use a brainwallet. You can generate the keys on several sites e.G. http://brainwallet-generator.com/

But make sure you thrust the site or use a offline generator...

[porcupine87]

It doesn't have to be hard to remember. You just have to be creative. For example: Take the first line of a remeberale song of yours. Take the first two letters of every word and seperate this word by your last name.
Example: my name is Angela Merkel and the Song is http://www.musicsonglyrics.com/phototropic-lyrics-kyuss.html. under light that I have never seen
-> My passphrase would be: unmerkellimerkelthmerkelImerkelhamerkelnemerkelsemerkel

beat that

[empoweoqwj]

It doesn't have to be hard to remember. You just have to be creative. For example: Take the first line of a remeberale song of yours. Take the first two letters of every word and seperate this word by your last name.
Example: my name is Angela Merkel and the Song is http://www.musicsonglyrics.com/phototropic-lyrics-kyuss.html. under light that I have never seen
-> My passphrase would be: unmerkellimerkelthmerkelImerkelhamerkelnemerkelsemerkel

beat that

A brain wallet can just be a list of dictionary words, not the same as a huge long passphrase. And yes, it has huge entropy