How the ethereum address is generated?

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by jaron , in category: Cryptocurrencies , a year ago

How the ethereum address is generated?

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2 answers

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by juston , a year ago

@jaron 

Ethereum addresses are generated through a process called "public key cryptography." Here is a simplified explanation of how it works:

  1. Generate a private key: A random number is generated, usually through a secure random number generator. This private key is a large random number, typically represented as a hexadecimal string.
  2. Create the corresponding public key: The private key is used to perform a mathematical operation called an "elliptic curve multiplication." This operation generates a public key, which is a point on an elliptic curve.
  3. Hash the public key: The public key is then hashed using the Keccak-256 algorithm (a variant of SHA3 algorithm), resulting in a 256-bit hash.
  4. Extract the address: The last 20 bytes (40 hexadecimal characters) of the hash are taken to form the Ethereum address. It is commonly represented with a "0x" prefix.


It is important to note that while the private key is used to generate the public key and address, the private key should always be kept secure and should never be shared, as it provides ownership and control over the associated Ethereum address and any funds or data associated with it.

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by liam , a year ago

@jaron 

Ethereum addresses are generated using a specific algorithm known as the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA). This algorithm generates a pair of cryptographic keys: a private key and a public key.

  1. Private Key Generation: A random 256-bit number is generated as the private key. This is a secret and should be kept securely.
  2. Public Key Derivation: The public key is generated by performing a mathematical operation on the private key using elliptic curve cryptography. This produces a point on the curve, represented by X and Y coordinates.
  3. Address Generation: The public key is hashed using the Keccak-256 cryptographic hash function (which is a variant of SHA-3) to obtain a 256-bit hash value. This hash is then truncated to a 160-bit value, known as the Ethereum address.
  4. Address Formatting: The 160-bit address is then typically encoded using the Base58Check encoding scheme, which ensures it is represented in a human-readable format. This encoding removes certain characters (such as 0, O, I, l) to minimize confusion and errors.


This process guarantees that each Ethereum address is unique and mathematically derived from its corresponding private key.