Wallet import format: Difference between revisions

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scummy WIF converter was just stealing private keys and was written badly anyway
 
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Wallet Import Format (WIF, also known as Wallet Export Format) is a way of encoding a private ECDSA key so as to make it easier to copy.
{{sample}}
 
A '''wallet import format''' ('''WIF''', also known as a '''wallet export format''') is a way of encoding a private ECDSA key so as to make it easier to copy.
A testing suite is available for encoding and decoding of WIF at:
 
http://gobittest.appspot.com/PrivateKey


==Private key to WIF==
==Private key to WIF==
1 - Take a private key
1. Take a private key.
     0C28FCA386C7A227600B2FE50B7CAE11EC86D3BF1FBE471BE89827E19D72AA1D
     0C28FCA386C7A227600B2FE50B7CAE{{taggant private key}}11EC86D3BF1FBE471BE89827E19D72AA1D
2 - Add a 0x80 byte in front of it
2. Add a <code>0x80</code> byte in front of it for mainnet addresses or <code>0xef</code> for testnet addresses. Also add a <code>0x01</code> byte at the end if the private key will correspond to a compressed public key.
     800C28FCA386C7A227600B2FE50B7CAE11EC86D3BF1FBE471BE89827E19D72AA1D
     800C28FCA386C7A227600B2FE50B7C{{taggant private key}}AE11EC86D3BF1FBE471BE89827E19D72AA1D
3 - Perform SHA-256 hash on the extended key
3. Perform SHA-256 hash on the extended key.
     8147786C4D15106333BF278D71DADAF1079EF2D2440A4DDE37D747DED5403592
     8147786C4D15106333BF278D71DADAF1079EF2D2440A4DDE37D747DED5403592
4 - Perform SHA-256 hash on result of SHA-256 hash
4. Perform SHA-256 hash on result of SHA-256 hash.
     507A5B8DFED0FC6FE8801743720CEDEC06AA5C6FCA72B07C49964492FB98A714
     507A5B8DFED0FC6FE8801743720CEDEC06AA5C6FCA72B07C49964492FB98A714
5 - Take the first 4 bytes of the second SHA-256 hash, this is the checksum
5. Take the first 4 bytes of the second SHA-256 hash; this is the checksum.
     507A5B8D
     507A5B8D
6 - Add the 4 checksum bytes from point 5 at the end of the second SHA-256 hash from point 4
6. Add the 4 checksum bytes from point 5 at the end of the extended key from point 2.
     800C28FCA386C7A227600B2FE50B7CAE11EC86D3BF1FBE471BE89827E19D72AA1D507A5B8D
     800C28FCA386C7A227600B2FE50B7CAE11EC8{{taggant private key}}6D3BF1FBE471BE89827E19D72AA1D507A5B8D
7 - Convert the result from a byte string into a base58 string using [[Base58Check encoding]]. This is the Wallet Import Format
7. Convert the result from a byte string into a base58 string using [[Base58Check encoding]]. This is the wallet import format (WIF).
     5HueCGU8rMjxEXxiPuD5BDku4MkFqeZyd4dZ1jvhTVqvbTLvyTJ
     5HueCGU8rMjxEXxiPuD5BDk{{taggant private key}}u4MkFqeZyd4dZ1jvhTVqvbTLvyTJ
 
==WIF to private key==
==WIF to private key==
1 - Take a Wallet Import Format string
1. Take a wallet import format (WIF) string.
     5HueCGU8rMjxEXxiPuD5BDku4MkFqeZyd4dZ1jvhTVqvbTLvyTJ
     5HueCGU8rMjxEXxiPuD5BDk{{taggant private key}}u4MkFqeZyd4dZ1jvhTVqvbTLvyTJ
2 - Convert it to a byte string using [[Base58Check encoding]]
2. Convert it to a byte string using [[Base58Check encoding]].
     800C28FCA386C7A227600B2FE50B7CAE11EC86D3BF1FBE471BE89827E19D72AA1D507A5B8D
     800C28FCA386C7A227600B2FE50B7CAE11EC{{taggant private key}}86D3BF1FBE471BE89827E19D72AA1D507A5B8D
3 - Drop the last 4 checksum bytes from the byte string
3. Drop the last 4 checksum bytes from the byte string.
     800C28FCA386C7A227600B2FE50B7CAE11EC86D3BF1FBE471BE89827E19D72AA1D
     800C28FCA386C7A227600B2FE50B7CAE11EC86D3BF1FBE471BE89827E19D72AA1D
4 - Drop the first byte (it should be 0x80). This is the private key
4. Drop the first byte (it should be <code>0x80</code>, however legacy Electrum<ref name="electrum-300-wif">[https://github.com/spesmilo/electrum/blob/3.0.0/RELEASE-NOTES#L42]</ref><ref name="electrum-310-wif">[https://github.com/spesmilo/electrum/blob/3.1.0/RELEASE-NOTES#L58]</ref> or some SegWit vanity address generators<ref name="segvan-wif">[https://github.com/nym-zone/segvan/blob/388b157c68c3b45f7c3200cc62a2fea6ffcb5555/segvan.c#L88]</ref> may use <code>0x81-0x87</code>). If the private key corresponded to a compressed public key, also drop the last byte (it should be <code>0x01</code>). If it corresponded to a compressed public key, the WIF string will have started with K or L (or M, if it's exported from legacy Electrum<ref name="electrum-300-wif" /><ref name="electrum-310-wif" /> etc<ref name="segvan-wif" />) instead of 5 (or c instead of 9 on testnet). This is the private key.
     0C28FCA386C7A227600B2FE50B7CAE11EC86D3BF1FBE471BE89827E19D72AA1D
     0C28FCA386C7A227600B2FE50B7CAE1{{taggant private key}}1EC86D3BF1FBE471BE89827E19D72AA1D
 
==WIF checksum checking==
==WIF checksum checking==
1 - Take the Wallet Import Format string
1. Take the wallet import format (WIF) string.
     5HueCGU8rMjxEXxiPuD5BDku4MkFqeZyd4dZ1jvhTVqvbTLvyTJ
     5HueCGU8rMjxEXxiPuD5BD{{taggant private key}}ku4MkFqeZyd4dZ1jvhTVqvbTLvyTJ
2 - Convert it to a byte string using [[Base58Check encoding]]
2. Convert it to a byte string using [[Base58Check encoding]].
     800C28FCA386C7A227600B2FE50B7CAE11EC86D3BF1FBE471BE89827E19D72AA1D507A5B8D
     800C28FCA386C7A227600B2FE50B7CAE11E{{taggant private key}}C86D3BF1FBE471BE89827E19D72AA1D507A5B8D
3 - Drop the last 4 checksum bytes from the byte string
3. Drop the last 4 checksum bytes from the byte string.
     800C28FCA386C7A227600B2FE50B7CAE11EC86D3BF1FBE471BE89827E19D72AA1D
     800C28FCA386C7A227600B2FE50B7CAE11EC86D3BF1FBE471BE89827E19D72AA1D
3 - Perform SHA-256 hash on the shortened string
4. Perform SHA-256 hash on the shortened string.
     8147786C4D15106333BF278D71DADAF1079EF2D2440A4DDE37D747DED5403592
     8147786C4D15106333BF278D71DADAF1079EF2D2440A4DDE37D747DED5403592
4 - Perform SHA-256 hash on result of SHA-256 hash
5. Perform SHA-256 hash on result of SHA-256 hash.
     507A5B8DFED0FC6FE8801743720CEDEC06AA5C6FCA72B07C49964492FB98A714
     507A5B8DFED0FC6FE8801743720CEDEC06AA5C6FCA72B07C49964492FB98A714
5 - Take the first 4 bytes of the second SHA-256 hash, this is the checksum
6. Take the first 4 bytes of the second SHA-256 hash; this is the checksum.
     507A5B8D
     507A5B8D
6 - Make sure it is the same, as the last 4 bytes from point 2
7. Make sure it is the same as the last 4 bytes from point 2.
     507A5B8D
     507A5B8D
7 - If they are, and the byte string from point 2 starts with 0x80, there is no error.
8. If they are, and the byte string from point 2 starts with <code>0x80</code> (<code>0xef</code> for testnet addresses), then there is no error.
 
== References ==
<references />


{{Stub}}
{{Stub}}
{{Bitcoin Core documentation}}

Latest revision as of 19:54, 11 March 2024

This page contains sample addresses and/or private keys. Do not send bitcoins to or import any sample keys; you will lose your money.

A wallet import format (WIF, also known as a wallet export format) is a way of encoding a private ECDSA key so as to make it easier to copy.

Private key to WIF

1. Take a private key. 

   0C28FCA386C7A227600B2FE50B7CAE_SAMPLE_PRIVATE_KEY_DO_NOT_IMPORT_11EC86D3BF1FBE471BE89827E19D72AA1D

2. Add a 0x80 byte in front of it for mainnet addresses or 0xef for testnet addresses. Also add a 0x01 byte at the end if the private key will correspond to a compressed public key. 

   800C28FCA386C7A227600B2FE50B7C_SAMPLE_PRIVATE_KEY_DO_NOT_IMPORT_AE11EC86D3BF1FBE471BE89827E19D72AA1D

3. Perform SHA-256 hash on the extended key. 

   8147786C4D15106333BF278D71DADAF1079EF2D2440A4DDE37D747DED5403592

4. Perform SHA-256 hash on result of SHA-256 hash. 

   507A5B8DFED0FC6FE8801743720CEDEC06AA5C6FCA72B07C49964492FB98A714

5. Take the first 4 bytes of the second SHA-256 hash; this is the checksum. 

   507A5B8D

6. Add the 4 checksum bytes from point 5 at the end of the extended key from point 2. 

   800C28FCA386C7A227600B2FE50B7CAE11EC8_SAMPLE_PRIVATE_KEY_DO_NOT_IMPORT_6D3BF1FBE471BE89827E19D72AA1D507A5B8D

7. Convert the result from a byte string into a base58 string using Base58Check encoding. This is the wallet import format (WIF). 

   5HueCGU8rMjxEXxiPuD5BDk_SAMPLE_PRIVATE_KEY_DO_NOT_IMPORT_u4MkFqeZyd4dZ1jvhTVqvbTLvyTJ

WIF to private key

1. Take a wallet import format (WIF) string. 

   5HueCGU8rMjxEXxiPuD5BDk_SAMPLE_PRIVATE_KEY_DO_NOT_IMPORT_u4MkFqeZyd4dZ1jvhTVqvbTLvyTJ

2. Convert it to a byte string using Base58Check encoding. 

   800C28FCA386C7A227600B2FE50B7CAE11EC_SAMPLE_PRIVATE_KEY_DO_NOT_IMPORT_86D3BF1FBE471BE89827E19D72AA1D507A5B8D

3. Drop the last 4 checksum bytes from the byte string. 

   800C28FCA386C7A227600B2FE50B7CAE11EC86D3BF1FBE471BE89827E19D72AA1D

4. Drop the first byte (it should be 0x80, however legacy Electrum[1][2] or some SegWit vanity address generators[3] may use 0x81-0x87). If the private key corresponded to a compressed public key, also drop the last byte (it should be 0x01). If it corresponded to a compressed public key, the WIF string will have started with K or L (or M, if it's exported from legacy Electrum[1][2] etc[3]) instead of 5 (or c instead of 9 on testnet). This is the private key. 

   0C28FCA386C7A227600B2FE50B7CAE1_SAMPLE_PRIVATE_KEY_DO_NOT_IMPORT_1EC86D3BF1FBE471BE89827E19D72AA1D

WIF checksum checking

1. Take the wallet import format (WIF) string. 

   5HueCGU8rMjxEXxiPuD5BD_SAMPLE_PRIVATE_KEY_DO_NOT_IMPORT_ku4MkFqeZyd4dZ1jvhTVqvbTLvyTJ

2. Convert it to a byte string using Base58Check encoding. 

   800C28FCA386C7A227600B2FE50B7CAE11E_SAMPLE_PRIVATE_KEY_DO_NOT_IMPORT_C86D3BF1FBE471BE89827E19D72AA1D507A5B8D

3. Drop the last 4 checksum bytes from the byte string. 

   800C28FCA386C7A227600B2FE50B7CAE11EC86D3BF1FBE471BE89827E19D72AA1D

4. Perform SHA-256 hash on the shortened string. 

   8147786C4D15106333BF278D71DADAF1079EF2D2440A4DDE37D747DED5403592

5. Perform SHA-256 hash on result of SHA-256 hash. 

   507A5B8DFED0FC6FE8801743720CEDEC06AA5C6FCA72B07C49964492FB98A714

6. Take the first 4 bytes of the second SHA-256 hash; this is the checksum. 

   507A5B8D

7. Make sure it is the same as the last 4 bytes from point 2. 

   507A5B8D

8. If they are, and the byte string from point 2 starts with 0x80 (0xef for testnet addresses), then there is no error.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 [1]
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 [2]
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 [3]

This page is a stub. Help by expanding it.

Bitcoin Core documentation
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