overview of key cracking tools for 32BTC puzzle

[citb0in]

EDIT:
Due to multiple requests, I try to link the tools in each case. I try to link to the original author's github repository when possible. If I have linked incorrectly or made a mistake in the author, please correct me - I am very grateful for corrections. I have also added few entries and info to the list.

Hi all,

there are dozens of tools available out there and I am not sure if I listed them all. Please add them if they're worth to mention. I am trying to find out which tools are preferable and mostly used out there. This list is focused on GPU capable tools, because using CPU only is kinda useless (except BSGS) for puzzle solving above #66. I thought I'd create an overview from which we can all benefit. I want to define the areas of application, which tool is suitable for which purpose, etc. Perhaps the developers of these tools can also get in touch and add the missing information or correct the information found here if something should be wrong. Please forgive me if I have described something wrong.

keyhunt (+BSGS) (github link, forum link)
- as far as I know, this is CPU version only. Keyhunt is memory-bound and makes use of lots of it in order to find keys.

keyhunt-cuda (github link 1, github link 2)
- this is the modified version of Albertos' original keyhunt which now is capable of CUDA. What's the main difference between keyhunt-cuda and bitcrack? both support CUDA

Bitcrack github link, forum link)
- supports GPU, but not really multi-gpu capable as described in its readme. You need to open one window and access gpu1 on your system (first bitcrack process running), open an additional new window and run another copy of bitcrack (second bitcrack process running) and so on.
- does not support random mode
- no progress status, you never know how much of the keyspace you already have scanned.
- in my findings so far the keyrate achieved with Bitcrack or Bitcrack2 is always about 30% lower than when using keyhunt-cuda for searching the same keyspace. Your mileage may vary.

Bitcrack2 (github link 1, cannot find forum link)
- as far as I can tell the only addition in BitCrack2 is, that you can run it in random mode. It will then search randomly through the range search space.
- has progress status, you see how many % of the keyspace search is completed and you also see what was the last keys that were tested so you get an idea where the search currently is located at
- in my case the keyrate achieved with Bitcrack or Bitcrack2 is always about 30% lower than when using keyhunt-cuda for searching the same keyspace.  Your mileage may vary.

VanBitCracken(Random) (github link, forum link)
VanBitCrakcenS (github link, forum link)
- VanBitKracken family of software was developed very recently in 2020-2021 by WanderingPhilosipher I have no idea how old and useful this tool might be and what the main differences to the other tools here presented are. Any information?
EDIT: As the autor said in the forum link for this tool, this is Windows only edition, does not work on Linux. This is a mixed tool, something like between VanitySearch and BitCrack, especially made for supporting the Nvidia 3070 cards. As there are no source code files available on his github repository, only a windows .exe (which is highly dangerous to execute! no trust), I removed this tool from the list.

Kangaroo (github link, forum link)
This tool can be only used when the pubkey of an adress is known. That means that there must have been minimum one outgoing transaction from this address or a message that was signed by this address or the pubkey has been revealed otherwise.

BSGS (github link )

BSGS-Cuda (github link)
- runs on CPU only and cannot make use of GPU. As far as I know there is a CUDA-capable modification available, however I was not able to install and run it. Is there anyone out there who can provide a download link for the old and free version of purebasic v5.3 ? Without purebasic it's impossible to run this tool which was made by Etayson. The user was online hear about 1-2years ago for the last time, no reaction at all. Any clues?

Rotor-CUDA (github link)
- was that a tool that was created and published before or after Bitcrack2, Kangaroo, etc... ? I have no idea how old and useful this tool might be and what the main differences to the other tools here presented are. Any information? As I understand Rotor-CUDA can use random search but Bitcrack2 is also capable of random searches as well as keyhunt-cuda. Did I miss any important feauture info ? What's that tool good for in comparison to the other mentioned ?

Brainflayer (github link, source)
that tool allow use to brute force the hex privatekeys in order to find the hash160 of an address. Basically it hunts for brainwallets. You feed it with a word list of phrases and try to find matches to valid and funded bitcoin addresses.

Looking forward to hear your comments, what tool is best-suited for which purpose and case and which tools you puzzle-hunters out there are using.

[1714640274]

1714640274

[1714640274]

1714640274

[1714640274]

1714640274

[nc50lc]

Would be nice if you can link the repository or official Bitcointalk threads of each tools.
Because otherwise, people will rely on Google to search for them and will likely find malware versions, specially newbies.

[NotATether]

VanBitKracken family of software was developed very recently in 2020-2021 by WanderingPhilosipher.

Keyhunt is memory-bound and makes use of lots of it in order to find keys, whereas Bitcrack is CPU/GPU bound.

[citb0in]

Hi all,

thanks for your contribution in updating this list with valuable information. As suggested, I have added the links that I was able to find. Please check, correct, suggest some more or provide further information.

[albert0bsd]

Well the options are very clear if you have GPU then use it a program for GPU. If you only have CPU then use keyhunt.

The BSGS in keyhunt use a custom Bloomfilter it use less RAM than the bsgs in the JeanLucPons version (More RAM available means more speed)

The BSGS of JeanLucPons use a HashTable

About the programs for GPU i only have to mention that if you have the publickey available then use Kangaroo it is faster than BSGS.

If you don't have the publickey then use bitcrack.

[citb0in]

Much appreciate your feedback Alberto. Thank you

About the programs for GPU i only have to mention that if you have the publickey available then use Kangaroo it is faster than BSGS.
If you don't have the publickey then use bitcrack.

Well, related to GPU-capable key-cracking tools I have made some benchmarks on my own rig to see how various tools perform, that means how fast they are able to scan a particular range. I have only one single GPU so I can speak only for that. I used an arbitrary keyspace where no key is found. The scans will yield the same results, they are reproduceable. For the comparison I used Bitcrack, Bitrack2, Rotor-CUDA, Keyhunt-CUDA because most of the puzzles no pubkey is known and thus you cannot use BSGS or Kangaroo.

In all runs, Bitcrack and Bitcrack2 were the slowest (both about same performance)
In all runs, Keyhunt-CUDA and Rotor-CUDA were about 33% faster than Bitcrack/Bitcrack2 (both, Keyhunt-CUDA and Rotor-CUDA about the same).

These are my findings. What are your experiences you'd like to share ?

[seoincorporation]

You could add brainflayer to the list, that tool allow us to brute force the hex privatekeys in order to find the hash160 of an address.

Install:

Code:

#apt-get install git
#git clone https://github.com/ryancdotorg/brainflayer.git
#apt-get install openssl
#apt-get install libgmp3-dev 
#apt-get install libimobiledevice-dev libplist-dev libusbmuxd-dev libssl-dev zlib1g-dev
#apt-get install dh-autoreconf
#cd brainflayer/
#make

Usage:

Code:

brainflayer -v -I 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001 -b example.blf

Github: https://github.com/ryancdotorg/brainflayer
Source: https://www.forknerds.com/brainflayer-crack-bitcoin-and-ethereum-private-keys/

The nice part of this software is that it could be mixed with crunch, this combo is more to attack phrase wallets, but still a nice combo.

[citb0in]

Of course. How did I forget to add this to the list. This is a must-have just like kangaroo, BSGS

BTW: What is crunch, is this another tool I never heard of before ?

[CryptoSh1va]

BTW: What is crunch, is this another tool I never heard of before ?

Crunch is a wordlist generator...
https://www.kali.org/tools/crunch/

[citb0in]

Thank you.

[PawGo]

I am not sure if it is the best place, but I receive many emails with question about my WifSolverCuda - NO, it cannot be used for finding 32BTC puzzle coins. Converting puzzle into WIF with missing end is not a good idea, it will not work! Apart of fact that it is one more layer added, my program is developed for WIFs with missing end/middle.
The same with CPU version WifSolver. So please, do not ask me about it anymore 

Just to add something to the list - one may check my patched version of Kangaroo, where one may test given range with a stride, so for example check only even or odd keys.

[BiT_black]

I am not sure if it is the best place, but I receive many emails with question about my WifSolverCuda - NO, it cannot be used for finding 32BTC puzzle coins. Converting puzzle into WIF with missing end is not a good idea, it will not work! Apart of fact that it is one more layer added, my program is developed for WIFs with missing end/middle.
The same with CPU version WifSolver. So please, do not ask me about it anymore 

Just to add something to the list - one may check my patched version of Kangaroo, where one may test given range with a stride, so for example check only even or odd keys.

Can you optimize program for random search or maybe help to write a python scrip for randomly search?
Only your program support Segwit(from 3) and Berch39(bc) adresses. And also can use CUDA.

[citb0in]

Hello all,

I have just had to make the following negative observation regarding KeyHunt-Cuda. The program seems to have a problem either only with me or it is buggy. I would therefore ask anyone who has the possibility to check and report here. The problem is that the keys are not always found. I can always reproduce this, but have not been able to find anything in common to pinpoint the problem. I do not know yet where the error has its cause...

... EDIT:

I cleaned up the thread for the sake of order. The problem was just a typo, which nc50lc kindly pointed out

[nc50lc]

Puzzle 70
address = 19YZECXj3SxEZMoUeJ1yiPsw8xANe7M7QR
range = 200000000000000000:400000000000000000
key = 349B84B6431A6C4EF1

I narrow down the keyspace so that the key should be found very fast.

Code:

time ./KeyHunt -g --range 349B84B64310000000:349B84B6431A6FFFFF -m address 19YZECXj3SxEZMoUeJ1yiPsw8xANe7M7Q

COMP MODE    : COMPRESSED
SEARCH MODE  : Single Address
-snip-
ADDRESS      : 19YZECXj3SxEZMoUeJ1yiPsw8xANe7M7Q
OUTPUT FILE  : Found.txt

the search is exhausted, the program quits after 4 seconds. The key was NOT found.

May be an issue with your input method because instead of 19YZECXj3SxEZMoUeJ1yiPsw8xANe7M7QR
KeyHunt-Cuda read it as 19YZECXj3SxEZMoUeJ1yiPsw8xANe7M7Q (missing the last character).
Or you didn't just mistyped the command in that post as well?

I tried to reproduce the issue but it didn't happen to me, the address is correct and key was found.

[citb0in]

GOOD CATCH!!  Maaaaan  what a typo  thanks a bunch. I was just before getting crazy 

[Olek5k]

Hello, I also want to join the key search (1000 BTC Bitcoin Challenge Transaction) but I don't know how to install the program for sure BitCrack 2 I want to search by selective method (I have one video card rtx 2060 I want to try it) is it possible get a detailed description or video how to install this BitCrack program step by step and configure it properly, would like to try the selective method.

[citb0in]

Hello, I also want to join the key search (1000 BTC Bitcoin Challenge Transaction) but I don't know how to install the program for sure BitCrack 2 I want to search by selective method (I have one video card rtx 2060 I want to try it) is it possible get a detailed description or video how to install this BitCrack program step by step and configure it properly, would like to try the selective method.

Sure. It will just need some effort. Take your time and read through this and similar posts to build and strengthen your understanding. All questions will be answered there, we all went through those. Good luck and have fun. May the hash god be with you

Cheers
citb0in