Private key sharding is a technique used to distribute a private key into multiple parts, or “shards,” to enhance security and fault tolerance. This method is particularly useful in scenarios where a single point of failure must be avoided, such as in secure communications, cryptocurrency wallets, and distributed systems. What is Private Key Sharding? Private
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Tag: Key
What is BTC SegWit and Its Impact on Transaction Fees
Posted onSegregated Witness (SegWit) is a protocol upgrade for Bitcoin that enhances its scalability and transaction efficiency. Introduced in 2017, SegWit addresses several limitations of the original Bitcoin protocol, including transaction malleability and block size constraints. Understanding SegWit What is SegWit? SegWit stands for “Segregated Witness,” referring to the separation of signature data from transaction data.
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Understanding Bitcoin Transaction Structure: Legacy and Witness Versions
Posted onBitcoin transactions are the backbone of the Bitcoin network, facilitating the transfer of value. Understanding their structure is essential for anyone interested in blockchain technology. This article delves into the details of both legacy and witness (SegWit) transaction structures. Basics of Bitcoin Transactions A Bitcoin transaction comprises inputs and outputs. Inputs are sources of funds,
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Proving Ownership of BTC Multisig Addresses
Posted onProving ownership of a Bitcoin (BTC) address is a crucial aspect in various scenarios. The post Proof of Ownership for BTC Addresses introduced the proof for non-multisig addresses. This guide explores how to prove ownership for different multisig BTC address types, including algorithm specifications and step-by-step methods. What is a Multisig Address? A Bitcoin multisig
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A Comprehensive Guide to PGP: Technical Deep Dive
Posted onPretty Good Privacy (PGP) is a robust encryption program that ensures privacy and authentication for data communication. Developed by Phil Zimmermann in 1991, it’s widely used for securing emails, files, and directories. This article explores the technical details of PGP, including its algorithms, key management, and detailed processes for encryption, decryption, and signing. Cryptographic Foundations
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Comparing Paxos and Raft
Posted onPaxos and Raft are both consensus algorithms used to ensure consistency in distributed systems. While they solve similar problems, they have different approaches and design philosophies. Characteristics Paxos Roles: Proposers, Acceptors, Learners. Phases: Two main phases (Prepare/Promise and Propose/Accept). Leader Election: Not explicitly defined, often implemented using Multi-Paxos to handle multiple proposals efficiently. Use Cases:
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Understanding the Raft Consensus Protocol
Posted onThe Raft consensus protocol is a distributed consensus algorithm designed to be more understandable than other consensus algorithms like Paxos. It ensures that a cluster of servers can agree on the state of a system even in the presence of failures. Key Concepts Raft divides the consensus problem into three relatively independent subproblems: Leader Election:
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Extracting EC Public Keys with OpenSSL
Posted onIn the realm of cryptography, handling and managing keys is a crucial task. The command provided is a series of operations using OpenSSL and other command-line utilities to extract and format an elliptic curve (EC) public key. Let’s break down the command to understand its purpose and functionality. The Command Extracting EC Public Keys with
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Mapping Left Alt to Ctrl for Windows Keyboard to Be Similar to macOS
Posted onAs a dedicated macOS user, I often find myself missing the convenience of having a Command key located near my thumb for common shortcuts when using Windows. In the standard Windows keyboard layout, the key that occupies the same position as the Command key on macOS is the Alt key. However, the equivalent key on
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Multisig 101
Posted onMultisig, short for “multisignature,” is a cryptographic mechanism that requires multiple signatures to authorize and execute a transaction. What is Multisig Multisig ensures that multiple parties must collaborate and approve a transaction before it can be deemed valid. It provides an additional layer of security requiring multiple parties’ signatures to spend or transfer the crypto
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Sybil Attack 101
Posted onDistributed systems, such as peer-to-peer networks, , and other decentralized platforms, have become increasingly popular due to their potential to offer more robust, scalable, and secure solutions. However, these systems face unique challenges and vulnerabilities, one of which is the Sybil attack. Named after the psychiatric case study “Sybil,” in which a person exhibits multiple
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Double-Spending 101
Posted onDouble-spending is a critical issue that any digital currency must address to ensure its viability and security. In this post, we’ll explore the concept of double-spending, the problems it poses, and how blockchain technology overcomes these challenges. What is Double-Spending? Double-spending occurs when a user spends the same digital currency unit more than once. In
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Proof of Work (PoW) 101
Posted onBlockchain technology is based on the idea of decentralization, transparency, and security. One of the key challenges in blockchain technology is reaching consensus on the state of the ledger. Consensus mechanisms ensure that all nodes in the network agree on the current state of the blockchain. Proof of Work (PoW) is a consensus mechanism that
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Proof of Stake (PoS) 101
Posted onBlockchain technology is based on the idea of decentralization, transparency, and security. One of the key challenges in blockchain technology is reaching consensus on the state of the ledger. Consensus mechanisms ensure that all nodes in the network agree on the current state of the blockchain. Proof of Stake (PoS) is a consensus mechanism that
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Uniswap 101
Posted onUniswap is a decentralized exchange (DEX) that was launched in 2018. It is built on the . Uniswap is a fully decentralized platform, which means that it is not controlled by any central authority or organization. The key feature of Uniswap is its , which allow users to trade cryptocurrencies without the need for a
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Ethereum 101
Posted onEthereum is a decentralized blockchain platform that enables developers to build and deploy decentralized applications (dApps) on the blockchain. Ethereum was created in 2014 by Vitalik Buterin and has since become one of the most popular blockchain platforms in the world. In this article, we’ll provide a development history of Ethereum, an overview of its
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Decentralization 101
Posted onDecentralization is a concept about control and management. It refers to that the control and decision-making in a distributed network are transferred away from a centralized entity (individual, organization, or group thereof). The resources in a decentralized network are owned and shared by network members. This concept is particularly significant in the world of blockchain
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Bitcoin 101
Posted onBitcoin is the world’s first cryptocurrency on the Bitcoin blockchain network. BTC has gained significant popularity since its inception in 2009. It functions as a decentralized, peer-to-peer electronic cash system, allowing users to make transactions without the need for a central authority. Bitcoin History Bitcoin’s story begins with the release of a whitepaper by an
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Splitting a String by Another String in C++: A Flexible Utility Function
Posted onIn this post, we will explore a flexible utility function for splitting a string based on a given delimiter using C++ and the standard library. This allows us to break down complex strings into smaller parts that are easier to process and manipulate. The C++ Utility Function to Split a String by Another String Background:
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Generating ECDSA K1 and R1 keys using OpenSSL in Linux
Posted onECDSA keys are commonly used in various areas like blockchains. OpenSSL is a commonly used tools in Linux for handling signature/encryption/decryption. This post introduces how to generate ECDSA keys using OpenSSL in Linux. Generate keys for K1 secp256k1 elliptic curve We start with K1 (secp256k1) as the example. To generae ECDSA keys using other curves,
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