Topic: BitCrack - A tool for brute-forcing private keys - page 6. (Read 77647 times)

Yes, I was thinking about QCs as well. In fact, it is quite likely that some undisclosed powerful machine managed to find the #120 after searching for smaller ranges on the blockchain. Quite possibly without being aware of this forum.

I would say that a science lab team would not actually send the BTC - they normally follow good ethical standards.

I'd throw in "Quantum computers" into the discussion but considering that commercial versions are 20+ years away from reality, it's more likely that people will be alerted by some Google Project Zero researcher who finds and discloses a flaw in ECDSA, than by any brute forcing a bunch of crackers are doing

However, we'd make a good benchmark on how practical the exploits are for random people to pull off.

what about puzzle 66? 

chid = 12 e3d5306d21a01002b9c1c7009d09e9b4773b8f17ee609c760b225179c283983a
mask = 12 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001000
puzz = 12 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000183a
addr = 12 1CQkWJjiN8XriTHTxHp1DTwmK6Jqw8g7uL

chid = 13 f7eaeb7e36ad6c888106571363dceb9ddbfb15ec42d599e8385f89a3f78d0975
mask = 13 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000002000
puzz = 13 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000002975
addr = 13 1D9Ke1efDzABEGjStePtq3K2kFvXL2ub9

chid = 14 f9a54d6d6d2242caab523cbf6b6f1a2f84333b9bed0f8c3be4b87014908a929b
mask = 14 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000004000
puzz = 14 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000529b
addr = 14 1DkS6GGepLbDtAsv5RUWZNzFpqpXp6Ghyp

chid = 15 b8a00b1257c99ba1a2478b41d283586f0c76c48b4237b5db31631feb371091e7
mask = 15 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000008000
puzz = 15 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000091e7
addr = 15 15GRgqRJr8LiacnRPb2iaSEJtXhfDJ1Q17

chid = 16 7c4fc3241d8ee50aa0e72f46c92ee3deae067fc09fbecfff28032174921ce7fb
mask = 16 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000010000
puzz = 16 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001e7fb
addr = 16 1Cx3WDjc3vHW4DTvGq1MtrU2rrVMvMZJR7

chid = 17 8f1641f977618f5f646df45cddc1faac4277fe6beed9ba61264f313d4b0ecf6a
mask = 17 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000020000
puzz = 17 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000002cf6a
addr = 17 1LsG5kw7QwioKiMW3wspU3XTN31989c1Ds

chid = 18 1a6d15e555182b9961fd9b16b3ab1fa555b8f94c4e44395881d76713f0ed787c
mask = 18 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000040000
puzz = 18 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000005787c
addr = 18 121KXamvwbNoaLYyjddVD9NqahMjjebTqK

chid = 19 f0aa486210b7d2e881eeffd95d02e4b9bf114191fe6d8648529abde391c496ab
mask = 19 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000080000
puzz = 19 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000c96ab
addr = 19 1Ka5pj9nmYQ5kwBewhydq2BVnLAQRSF3sG

chid = 20 aa48bf28b307ad3efe5ed2e35e244b39c4d91c7e6b1ee071ef8fa7cf56543c9e
mask = 20 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000100000
puzz = 20 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000143c9e
addr = 20 1Jj9EHtu2zM9Gu5hTRVfvtvHaKosnAR8cz

chid = 21 2933504b93161ab48a70acca16be5eaef56ef950e030b4f7b656d04e8b6fc17f
mask = 21 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000200000
puzz = 21 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000002fc17f
addr = 21 1KrXCyRHiaQ9bdyCp1SC8kn9GDaFLCssQJ

chid = 22 32b349e7e2b975a82d3aa1b2ff12fda6f53697ef9745ed6621f70174c72bcf23
mask = 22 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000400000
puzz = 22 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000006bcf23
addr = 22 15Fd9aZQTB2P483wHrLgF187BBrCom3Mft

chid = 23 75aad343bb176dd9b7e82a5e0918d04ebed50cce7a9b433cc422109769c20381
mask = 23 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000800000
puzz = 23 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000c20381
addr = 23 1J1KX8vL6GfnymvSG2dR9spJ3bJ5gv1Rqj

chid = 24 2a65a466500a6b0f7a2ee912e722b4a38663dd1482ce4afeeacbcc8ffeed84cc
mask = 24 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001000000
puzz = 24 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001ed84cc
addr = 24 1HNZxLPMtA9iXegM9iYkGwiDapn6XkYgBk

chid = 25 3b8ab28ba02f4bc9632b6efeb72cbee545b70e8b49e12178c34486c3d53d4fab
mask = 25 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000002000000
puzz = 25 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000033d4fab
addr = 25 1HQqmYJ6NHTs4SPcmSt69YEU4BUD2VLkiw

chid = 26 8efe03ce609a8c25bc8fb7a82044ec013919242f8f3cab81666224812700d4a4
mask = 26 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000004000000
puzz = 26 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000700d4a4
addr = 26 13u92beTk3qRVh2VLwnc9G9UtbVzWeR93C

chid = 27 ef928b336e2c8fbdd808536b577fe878f7c82da6fc653e3bb51218661330c81e
mask = 27 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000008000000
puzz = 27 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000b30c81e
addr = 27 1BRqzvah75SGWh34b4AZ2XJWhJorepzmaT

chid = 28 f8cf921da04b8b3174b8ba0bb2c04379d4610ad61356c79922fa36309f29e525
mask = 28 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000010000000
puzz = 28 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001f29e525
addr = 28 17m1CeXkduhc2hVhgrjuMmH2d8PgWaJMuN

chid = 29 2d6c63c2f05686b7613897ef6fc699698f05dd68a93628539394ee23f430a262
mask = 29 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000020000000
puzz = 29 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000003430a262
addr = 29 146HxCNRbZ8ubS1vhkaPEpbAa7S1vCpdGT

chid = 30 6be61d75070afc39047966f05f16e01382e705c6c43a2595d88700a82d2344d5
mask = 30 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000040000000
puzz = 30 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000006d2344d5
addr = 30 1NwomQRwzPMViy9L3ssaFoNLNaZtLWEui3

chid = 31 bd25220eaa31e92add8f6de398ffafa1470fc09227e117fed62b2b0b9e2b83e5
mask = 31 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000080000000
puzz = 31 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000009e2b83e5
addr = 31 1P5ZHhtYRmsp3mE7sWyRKnqo1eduHtKEpY

chid = 32 c8da00ae90f90a8d6002c867046810a3b1bedbde939484e42964f0bd6c25e10a
mask = 32 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000100000000
puzz = 32 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000016c25e10a
addr = 32 12xC3wyccymCikuGTSG1MiyBWhD4MJqQk4

chid = 33 258ba754521e220d6fc4fee153f1f320d82305390b7b7b3040611470e2bdebc9
mask = 33 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000200000000
puzz = 33 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000002e2bdebc9
addr = 33 19EwBKvqhN9ezbG8mtzEbuV9QdkFoG5bAh

chid = 34 95a795c4cfcfa4282e959e5e60df61d637cadeb3b9209b3e74efb81440b6fc37
mask = 34 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000400000000
puzz = 34 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000440b6fc37
addr = 34 1K8QPAQYUGdRrqopZkVeX9deoMzAecjgec

chid = 35 4e8c25418c4a65ba839545c4065554eef1a1a50ca04acb9f0c1a76bd9e2fa6c2
mask = 35 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000800000000
puzz = 35 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000d9e2fa6c2
addr = 35 1K4GnWwVw2bn8pA8YpKTZBrG2DsUS4vg4g

chid = 36 34cd337ec3b05e74fabaa74af7a30fa6a4e2c95fc4a30279df0455c9503ab5e4
mask = 36 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001000000000
puzz = 36 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000019503ab5e4
addr = 36 1JCEJ2x29UvuZMgK722CdPXA9keYSCzWqz

chid = 37 3689b4052ea0c35fcab305c0de93cc505778dc5c06241c320a6b31afcfad2566
mask = 37 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000002000000000
puzz = 37 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000002fcfad2566
addr = 37 1AKrsv2HUtVFoqru7NaGHebH2FKNT6k4RC

chid = 38 d08eb583e512a67ab8d1cea3920b1d1622bbd7652bba92070c348abbeb74998c
mask = 38 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000004000000000
puzz = 38 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000007beb74998c
addr = 38 18YTwRx1n4jfuNwGNNc5ByWqiEnVnzCEfj

chid = 39 4304213ffafa56e0412f65f5f2d29114f91d696f5b726a22e87d4f8ac01ba451
mask = 39 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000008000000000
puzz = 39 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000008ac01ba451
addr = 39 16UMY9fn5dHQsE4fwP4tFXXPEdHTbw9jve

chid = 40 37479f75de648319a47a8a08d6afe4586ab709c94d58844097cc6f7465921222
mask = 40 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000010000000000
puzz = 40 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000017465921222
addr = 40 1QABWzhHYxsviPaWrTonKBErmocsHWwXVz

chid = 41 e4fb5ea534fa454d50f326e6130f5d52d52f0a720ea44b740a915717ea191fa0
mask = 41 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000020000000000
puzz = 41 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000317ea191fa0
addr = 41 12B6C3jrhMzpQsYg1aAMM3TJSMLgwkSdLb

chid = 42 74d47f128061946f08fc1999b675d7fb44856744103b7c18bd88017a66af3226
mask = 42 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000040000000000
puzz = 42 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000057a66af3226
addr = 42 1N9rS25fXmvMDaXEgKEuobVSbkFCPTWkJ3

chid = 43 8c009e839183dd916bb75dd4bc188a21437781069c8765a65e0742cd9dba9b8e
mask = 43 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000080000000000
puzz = 43 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000acd9dba9b8e
addr = 43 1JcMwgy2w7C6FKUD6uPZRvL3qHVuYZCWVB

chid = 44 6de042a16f18949d4dbdcd88934f72ad176febaf4838ccc7cfe0888e2693071d
mask = 44 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000100000000000
puzz = 44 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000188e2693071d
addr = 44 1LiL4ec54Z13zoM6udpvpAj2BiN2Kosvsx

chid = 45 f4e125c7fdd0775cbfacca1e9f65f3ee130be2304f5f6985777da00d14d39517
mask = 45 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000200000000000
puzz = 45 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000200d14d39517
addr = 45 1Bt9G7KPd1T2GDXKGFEXcXrz9jiovRDhwb

chid = 46 edde3d6e7fb1783f8aa7773c37b0cdd1b99eb6ff79e52de682ce88c746ea4882
mask = 46 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000400000000000
puzz = 46 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000048c746ea4882
addr = 46 18ZL2pKJh5hFhBsH4ztbzqqJv3gJkxTS6j

chid = 47 d0368def3d784cd7500a4d9ec101031f431e8805a40336ebdeb889f272529758
mask = 47 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000800000000000
puzz = 47 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000089f272529758
addr = 47 1Nqtyz4TmDgcaAF7cLxQutRoR4HkkFUVhb

chid = 48 970c9760c43d7f0224c18df0dd7636e24c537f9c28e5f9af8a1a4d89e82737fd
mask = 48 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001000000000000
puzz = 48 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000014d89e82737fd
addr = 48 15BPVRV8mUpVPuivqe9wSkN1QEfejvaAR2

chid = 49 0b674768af21d28ee6b0622df9bb5f9086e2f99d9090937f11733af6cf963533
mask = 49 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000002000000000000
puzz = 49 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000033af6cf963533
addr = 49 1LdtPki6Q8oSTQcQRCc7jsKchmHfcwPxYN

chid = 50 78b5de41251eff3f90a7de55b98b83b2126fa1285cbd12b53d82c4acea791a71
mask = 50 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000004000000000000
puzz = 50 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000006c4acea791a71
addr = 50 17F6zDuQaEcWFVeuoo21Wq6BSkbHVMgVdz

chid = 51 743620e3e00696db6f822968a44fd2f7d6ffe8fd05026e15fa5773e93b227801
mask = 51 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000008000000000000
puzz = 51 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000f73e93b227801
addr = 51 1CxQXeKaH37gDMvaFUFMfk5L9im857WCyT

chid = 52 1082b760aef71626d93660d67a3b881b227e082959995e0b81f3c611d76afd90
mask = 52 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000010000000000000
puzz = 52 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000013c611d76afd90
addr = 52 15rsg71Xm33reLtBwmecdq14YHpJkPDcR8

chid = 53 586a619996b668680dbac7875cde1c696b56a3e75bea1407279ec2a6676e7685
mask = 53 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000020000000000000
puzz = 53 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000003ec2a6676e7685
addr = 53 1Prw79oRa2tbF2hom4N6ajm3nFXqbnkzDc

chid = 54 25e060e38a3e1ccf258353b8d33677722d8844a07f5482567922fdda5fbf2756
mask = 54 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000040000000000000
puzz = 54 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000062fdda5fbf2756
addr = 54 1LWcTNcwBQ6iiGtPFDTcY84MvKe3yr4Umo

chid = 55 8e69a99c0aa02b5f2063fbc27dcde25fe3b69d93c4f3472d9133ae4800ee5a4d
mask = 55 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000080000000000000
puzz = 55 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000b3ae4800ee5a4d
addr = 55 1DMaEzF58zRRcsw5fmj4tWGU6QSEPm5MQq

chid = 56 23f1b089dec1de329b8882f2f72e34322f94cce2da4a8f11fda701bad71729ba
mask = 56 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000100000000000000
puzz = 56 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001a701bad71729ba
addr = 56 1A2xHoWPN55RJqNxfKykhei7U3qqqJhnnY

chid = 57 876c0868f48554033068bd534874eeab9f44f843e5b62d3e91bb6766d3437ce8
mask = 57 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000200000000000000
puzz = 57 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000003bb6766d3437ce8
addr = 57 15w72gJjQ2rQVRGeVeLhac9n7iJHdFEoqv

chid = 58 ba4ba53636465c058fa1c32401ffdee3bf701928140f02fad0ab6aff2df91e78
mask = 58 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000400000000000000
puzz = 58 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000004ab6aff2df91e78
addr = 58 13cS5jzh8EfqyJoFoxNUYFhXta8UuAbUz3

chid = 59 61e8674ec717dab1a1fa10510c9c5fadf206b1093face56e525f2f7faa7279c8
mask = 59 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000800000000000000
puzz = 59 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000a5f2f7faa7279c8
addr = 59 1824pskx3KvmU6vgvFqfc7eEs4G2zxdyi7

chid = 60 483c0f888ca2580ea8329f3a05fad436366ef1edcf239d1ee9185bb978b60fc7
mask = 60 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001000000000000000
puzz = 60 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000019185bb978b60fc7
addr = 60 12dFVUHWxMz6GvQA1D6zrAogZft9ajeNUH

chid = 61 30989fb2c5dd9d3865b6a7c8b74528d88344cd3f9e498f0e67f9d7e29e60d924
mask = 61 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000002000000000000000
puzz = 61 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000027f9d7e29e60d924
addr = 61 17k3c2baMMvReYp5wuMKvmwXkQ8Xe94pg4

chid = 62 9088488b7530b1094a2922a5ffcfae576ee32dccdcca81ca5ae782dc76ad527e
mask = 62 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000004000000000000000
puzz = 62 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000005ae782dc76ad527e
addr = 62 1ETyLHX7tp2ZkrtwEBVchjZAYrS5MXPtg8

chid = 63 a40ae5be8cc37e1ff39a8bf81f7f5f0b164e11e4408e91f9376914bbc97aac3c
mask = 63 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000008000000000000000
puzz = 63 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000b76914bbc97aac3c
addr = 63 1C1awYFTn6LobbyetwopgVwh2v9UPFiMVq

chid = 64 95cc6f31f552f03eaede91b89e345f41ff06d6ce816d0a460ebcd7d0eacbe579
mask = 64 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000010000000000000000
puzz = 64 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000010ebcd7d0eacbe579
addr = 64 18SmQG5WHwkMqKVJXBYe1yHTLog53qWdme

chid = 65 4fa517f3c33ae0b4417d426007ecc263a1f33c7c8dfb677d5d8bdf810edd8a07
mask = 65 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000020000000000000000
puzz = 65 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000035d8bdf810edd8a07
addr = 65 1PVm3xXbdUkyooPGYdRAyEW48182AjPRdu

chid = 66 a7b9cd7d218cd4ab7a382aa4c823d1d43330e578868ca80880cf0f3c36fa6ad4
mask = 66 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000040000000000000000
puzz = 66 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000480cf0f3c36fa6ad4
addr = 66 1AT7oovTNs8ViFoSiE8uGh3TngAjC8MBNZ

chid = 67 8fe5782ffacfdd622be74389ba441ac3c7c5524015edda6c13b234551eda02bb
mask = 67 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000080000000000000000
puzz = 67 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000c13b234551eda02bb
addr = 67 17ADKjSRaBsdx24NMErFhwy6WxJGA791BW

chid = 68 3b87dbbe806affbcf7d03ddebeb42085ee79af4e14df04a8c6c58a95ebef5b54
mask = 68 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000100000000000000000
puzz = 68 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000018c6c58a95ebef5b54
addr = 68 123Kqkzc8PfgmwfeE64GN9HwdNWXFFFb6D

chid = 69 5971d14218af57944e48ea66e2e047201230587f76be218c6b47db523ce2c84a
mask = 69 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000200000000000000000
puzz = 69 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000002c6b47db523ce2c84a
addr = 69 148VnjnCJyMDhhqkmYKGyrZuzGFSYrqeuT

chid = 70 f6db9416862a167a7ce4b95568fde3e96142a3d6b5995064aa68e44e2a299ff6
mask = 70 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000400000000000000000
puzz = 70 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000064aa68e44e2a299ff6
addr = 70 1MqG3jkAm9F3xnFHg5rWUt1JvK73DoXaGf

chid = 71 79eb4bf5b726961917fb9195cedbb621bcee2feee8df739f5962b8de4b2bfb5e
mask = 71 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000800000000000000000
puzz = 71 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000009f5962b8de4b2bfb5e
addr = 71 12JJXoeJKmvjnY7bdhv1PtgYLYq4dwEy29

chid = 72 cac57a9f3708328bb7d6a0a426286a097b77fb6b498989b072cc59cbe027035a
mask = 72 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001000000000000000000
puzz = 72 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001b072cc59cbe027035a
addr = 72 1LWS2fDgLJ3e1zhQ95Fwa7iGw7jcXCFrv2

chid = 73 4980897aba5286ca92f9e86338e32f9f2076b5cb08bceb327b8115331c608566
mask = 73 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000002000000000000000000
puzz = 73 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000003327b8115331c608566
addr = 73 1HGnuhfFbVv84REnn13GfjYfYwrcHbnXPz

chid = 74 1ea25eceec68530760e1bbad3afa32c5af0f995d893d21ada9f660c4fa9b02b9
mask = 74 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000004000000000000000000
puzz = 74 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000005ada9f660c4fa9b02b9
addr = 74 1CxAwHJvGsD5PYEWNBf5ZYz7Ag13kJMY4G

chid = 75 764b1f04f8586fcc025a27037c0a9a90395d2fd8b648cebe057929d8abd0606d
mask = 75 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000008000000000000000000
puzz = 75 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000ebe057929d8abd0606d
addr = 75 1En27bcj8hr9Pskwy2tUMWqRWjZVtajR19

Needs too much effort more then guessing 256 bit key 

I tend to agree. For quite some time I've been coming here every now and then to check on any progress and play around with Kangaroos and BitCracks

In the event that I could come up with a solution, I would prefer to keep a low profile. For a while, at least as I devote my attention to resolving the next problem in line - in this case, #125.

But more importantly than 'who did it?', let's not forget, are the fundamentals of this challenge (incorrectly referred to as a puzzle).

These principles should be the basis for all of our efforts, and for all of our discussions here. As stated in the creator's post: "It is simply a crude measuring instrument, of the cracking strength of the community. "

The reference to "community" was interesting in that it could be interpreted as an invitation for more minds to collaborate in order to solve whatever can be solved. This is also hinted at in this line:

"Finally, I wish to express appreciation of the efforts of all developers of new cracking tools and technology."

We could argue that this "community" spirit hinted at by the creator has faded. Not disappeared, but faded.

Almost everyone seems to be in it for their own benefit. This includes the undersigned...

Moreover, the recent resolution of #120 without sharing the good news only heightens a feeling of individualism instead of a sense of community.

Sorry if I offended anyone. This post is intended solely as a reminder of the importance of returning to the basics. For all of us to remember, why was this challenge even started in the first place?

I personally do not believe it was intended to test the overall strength of the blockchain or bitcoin encryption. There are scientists who use very powerful hardware in very advanced laboratories who have been testing encryption challenges for years. And they do not usually visit forums in order to share their findings, primarily due to security concerns.

Just my two cents...

This can be a significant step. All we need to know which wallets were trending at that time of the transaction and how they derived the private key.

Not only 160-256 but also 65-70-75-80-85-90-95-100-105-110-115-120 all have been solved, and up to 160 every 5 puzzles have their public keys revealed.

That changes a lot. Because using totally random key every time would be harder to crack than some deterministic wallet. Now, the big question is: which deterministic wallet was used? Because there are some of them, and they use different algorithms to derive keys.

To better illustrate, why cracking some deterministic wallet may be easier, consider this example: we start from the master private key, and then we use addition to derive keys. We use some hash that contains the master public key, and some nonce, representing the index of our child key. What does it mean in that case?

For example, a very simple, but unsafe method, is to use "childKey=masterKey+SHA-256(masterPubKey||index)", in practice something stronger is used in real implementations, but let's start from that. Then, by inspecting revealed private and public keys, it is possible to focus on that master key, instead of trying to crack child keys alone. Also note that all public keys from 160-256 range are revealed, we can assume that those keys also follow the pattern. And even if there are no coins, then still, we can use those public keys as an additional information in our algorithms.

Let's assume that our masterKey is equal to SHA-256("master"), just to have some deterministic-but-randomly-looking hash to work with:


Then, we can go further and further, by trying to generate child keys, and checking how close we are to the keys from the puzzle. For example, the first 10 keys from this example, looks like that:


And then, we can compare our example with real keys:


And there is more: there is no need to brute force every combination here. If we assume some kind of algorithm, we can make optimizations just for that. So, if we assume that keys are added to the master key, and if mask is calculated with modulo and sum, then we can check selected keys, and create requirements for that master key.

For example, modulo addition, and modulo multiplication, has a nice property, that we can use any order. So, if we have "a+b", or "b+a", then "(a+b)%n" and "(b+a)%n" is also the same. We can also use those rules for multiplication. Then, we don't have to check every single master private key. We can simply assume that if keys are added, then the master key modulo N is in a given range. Then, we can create specific master keys, and skip many of them.

It means they were able to set the bit range "difficulty" by masking the leading characters of the private key.

JLPs Kangaroo program does it like this:


Now that is for distinguished points, but the concept is the same.

So if you run a -dp of say 40, then the leading 10 characters (of the xpoint) would be 0s (zeros). I imagine it would be easy to implement something similar in wallet software or a script to generate private keys, and change the masking to mask the leading characters of the private key.

What does masked with leading 000...0001 to set difficulty mean? I mean how would someone add that to a program?

Wonder no more big man, if you could find and sweep them all don't forget us, we're strongly outnumbered group of puzzle hunters with our primitive hardware licking the tip of the iceberg hoping to melt it down, lol.
"Care & share" you know? 😉

https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.18765941

I wonder if keys were generated by some deterministic wallet first, and then truncated to N bits. Because in that case, it could be possible to recover the master key, and then sweep coins from all of them, while it would not mean that ECDSA is broken (because HD keys could be non-hardened).

Maybe this person can tell us who found #120: https://bitcointalksearch.org/user/666msn666-1285555  (just a hunch)

I would agree. If they are a regular in the discussion of this challenge, they'd at least let peeps know the priv key once all forks have been taken care of, especially if they follow on here and know people like to know the priv keys to try and "create" a pattern with the challenges.
Also, if it's somebody not on this forum, it seems like they would at least come forward (on some venue) as this is a new world record. Maybe sooner or later they will. Time will tell...

I see it exactly the opposite way. There are numerous reasons why the true and happy finder would never want to disclose this information here in the forum, if this person is active here in the forum at all. I even claim that there are more logical reasons to hide it than to hang it on the big bell and supposedly brag about it.

This assumption can also be reflected analogously to a block find where a solo miner collects the reward but wants to remain anonymous. There are dozens of reasons for that.

Because I had my bets that they'd be celebrating about it on this thread by now if that were the case. Pretty safe educated guess to make if you ask me.

How can you know that ?

Nobody knows the private key except the guy who solved it. And there's nothing to force them to go to bitcointalk (or anywhere else) and post it here. What I do know, is that it wasn't someone from this forum.

so, send the private key
who solved ? which tools useing to crack keyhunt or BitCrack

Actually you just gave me a idea haha. What if people plugged their GPUs into a renewable energy source while cracking the keys so that they save on electricity fees?

BTC being at $23,000 currently, the rewards gained recently were around $10K or two each, but I wonder how much electricity they had to pay to achieve this? Nevermind the initial hardware investment as it's a 1 time thing.