Bitcoin Q&A: What is a private key?

What is a private key? How are they generated and formatted? Are private keys transmitted when you make a transaction? What are the chances of collision? Will quantum computing making it easy to guess private keys? Does implementing quantum-proof algorithms require an overhaul of the code?

Learn more from the following chapters of 'Mastering Bitcoin': https://github.com/bitcoinbook/bitcoinbook/blob/f8b883dcd4e3d1b9adf40fed59b7e898fbd9241f/ch04.asciidoc https://github.com/bitcoinbook/bitcoinbook/blob/f8b883dcd4e3d1b9adf40fed59b7e898fbd9241f/ch05.asciidoc Key to address code: https://github.com/bitcoinbook/bitcoinbook/blob/35f1c62f192dd0eaf1b1c462f88a46e0f5942e16/code/key-to-address-ecc-example.py

These questions are from the MOOC 9.3 and 9.4 sessions, as well as the (rescheduled) April Patreon Q&A session, which took place on March 2nd, March 9th, and May 5th 2018 respectively. Andreas is a teaching fellow with the University of Nicosia. The first course in their Master of Science in Digital Currency degree, DFIN-511: Introduction to Digital Currencies, is offered for free as an open enrollment MOOC course to anyone interested in learning about the fundamental principles. If you want early-access to talks and a chance to participate in the monthly live Q&As with Andreas, become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/aantonop

RELATED: Bitcoin: Where the Laws of Mathematics Prevail - https://youtu.be/HaJ1hvon0E0 Advanced Bitcoin Scripting Part 1: Transactions & Multisig - https://youtu.be/8FeAXjkmDcQ Advanced Bitcoin Scripting Part 2: SegWit, Consensus, and Trustware - https://youtu.be/pQbeBduVQ4I Cryptographic primitives - https://youtu.be/RIckQ6RBt5E Nonces, mining, and quantum computing - https://youtu.be/d4xXJh677J0 Public keys vs. addresses - https://youtu.be/8es3qQWkEiU Re-using addresses - https://youtu.be/4A3urPFkx8g What happens to our bitcoins during a hard fork? - https://youtu.be/sNR76fWd7-0 How do mnemonic seeds work? - https://youtu.be/wWCIQFNf_8g Multi-signature and distributed storage - https://youtu.be/cAP2u6w_1-k What is Segregated Witness? - https://youtu.be/dtOjjB4mD8k SegWit and fork research - https://youtu.be/OorLoi01KEE Forkology: A Study of Forks for Newbies - https://youtu.be/rpeceXY1QBM MimbleWimble and Schnorr signatures - https://youtu.be/qloq75ekxv0 Protocol development security - https://youtu.be/4fsL5XWsTJ4 Migrating to post-quantum cryptography - https://youtu.be/dkXKpMku5QY

Andreas M. Antonopoulos is a technologist and serial entrepreneur who has become one of the most well-known and respected figures in bitcoin.

Follow on Twitter: @aantonop https://twitter.com/aantonop Website: https://antonopoulos.com/

He is the author of two books: “Mastering Bitcoin,” published by O’Reilly Media and considered the best techni ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxfUpIV9wRI