Convert ETH Private Key To Public Key, or Address Online
notice: the tool is Open Source and running locally only
What is Ethereum Private Key
- A private key in Ethereum is a secret number that allows user to access their funds. It is used to sign transactions and messages, which proves the ownership of the address.
- Generation: Ethereum private key is generated using elliptic-curve cryptography, specifically the secp256k1 curve.
- Security: The private key must remain confidential because anyone with access to it can control the funds.
- Public Key Derivation: From the private key, a public key is derived, which in turn is used to generate an Ethereum address.
- Usage: When you initiate a transaction, you sign it with your private key. This signature is used to verify that the transaction comes from the rightful owner.
- Storage: It's need to store your private key securely, as losing it means losing access to your assets.
What is Ethereum Uncompressed Public Key
- Definition: An uncompressed public key in Ethereum is derived from a private key using the secp256k1 elliptic curve. It includes both the
x
andy
coordinates of a point on the curve, representing the public key. - Format: The uncompressed public key starts with the prefix
04
, followed by thex
coordinate and then they
coordinate. Each coordinate is 32 bytes long, making the total length of an uncompressed public key 65 bytes (including the prefix). - Usage: Uncompressed public keys were commonly used in earlier wallet software. However, they are larger in size compared to compressed public keys, which only include the
x
coordinate and a prefix to indicate they
coordinate. - Example:
- Prefix:
04
- X Coordinate:
x-coordinate-here
- Y Coordinate:
y-coordinate-here
- Full Key:
04|x-coordinate-here|y-coordinate-here
- Prefix:
- Compression: To reduce the size, a public key can be compressed, removing the
y
coordinate. The compressed format starts with either02
or03
, depending on whether they
coordinate is even or odd, respectively. - Relevance: While uncompressed keys are still supported for backward compatibility, most modern Ethereum applications use compressed keys due to their smaller size and efficiency.
What is Ethereum Compressed Public Key
- Definition: An uncompressed public key in Ethereum is derived from a private key using the secp256k1 elliptic curve. It includes both the
x
andy
coordinates of a point on the curve, representing the public key. - Format: The uncompressed public key starts with the prefix
04
, followed by thex
coordinate and then they
coordinate. Each coordinate is 32 bytes long, making the total length of an uncompressed public key 65 bytes (including the prefix). - Usage: Uncompressed public keys were commonly used in earlier wallet software. However, they are larger in size compared to compressed public keys, which only include the
x
coordinate and a prefix to indicate they
coordinate. - Example:
- Prefix:
04
- X Coordinate:
x-coordinate-here
- Y Coordinate:
y-coordinate-here
- Full Key:
04|x-coordinate-here|y-coordinate-here
- Prefix:
- Compression: To reduce the size, a public key can be compressed, removing the
y
coordinate. The compressed format starts with either02
or03
, depending on whether they
coordinate is even or odd, respectively. - Relevance: While uncompressed keys are still supported for backward compatibility, most modern Ethereum applications use compressed keys due to their smaller size and efficiency.
What is Ethereum address
- Definition: An Ethereum address is a unique identifier that allows users to send, receive, and store Ether (ETH) and other tokens on the Ethereum network. It also serves as the interaction point for smart contracts.
- Structure: An Ethereum address is a 42-character hexadecimal string that starts with '0x'. It is derived from the public key of an Ethereum account and is used to direct transactions.
- Checksum: To prevent errors in address input, Ethereum uses a checksum mechanism where the case of the hexadecimal characters encodes redundancy checks. This is specified in EIP-55.
- Example:
- Non-checksummed:
0x6827b8f6cc60497d9bf5210d602c0ecafdf7c405
- Checksummed:
0x6827b8F6Cc60497D9bF5210D602c0EcaFDF7C405
- Non-checksummed:
- Usage: Users must provide their Ethereum address to receive funds or interact with decentralized applications (DApps). It is also used to view account balances and transaction history.
- Security: It is crucial to keep your Ethereum address secure and private, as it is linked to your assets on the blockchain.
- Best Practices: Always double-check addresses before sending transactions, use checksummed addresses to avoid errors, and consider using ENS (Ethereum Name Service) for a more human-readable address format.