Can Someone Guess My Crypto Private Key? [From Sand, to Molecules, to the Observable Universe]

Can't someone guess my bitcoin, ether, or other crypto private key? People ask this question all the time! Maybe you've even asked it yourself. Most answers are something like, "No, they can't". But how do I know they can't? Why is it so hard to guess a crypto private key? Watch this video where Andreas explains, in plain terms, why it's basically impossible for someone to just guess the private key to unlock your bitcoin, ethereum, or other cryptocurrency.

Chapters
0:00 Introduction -- What is Down the Rabbit Hole?
1:22 Can someone guess my bitcoin, ether, or other crypto asset private key?
2:28 What is a crypto private key?
2:58 A crypto private key is a long number but how long is it exactly?
3:50 What is 2 to the 256?
5:00 Unfathomably big numbers!
8:00 Molecules and sand!
13:00 Eddington

Private keys that control cryptocurrencies are taken from a large number set. A really large number set. So large, in fact, that it's almost impossible for most of us to understand how large it is. Which makes it hard for us to understand why someone can't just guess our private key. In this edition of Down the Rabbit Hole Andreas asks himself how a human can visualize the incredible unlikeliness that someone will be able to guess your private key as he combines three of his favorite topics, cryptocurrency, physics, and astronomy! How many grains of sand are there on a beach? How about on planet Earth? How many molecules of silica in the Milky Way? How many crypto private keys are there?

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Thanks for watching!

[AustinGarvelink]

"So you're telling me there's a chance." - Llyod Christmas, Dumb and Dumber

[oisyn]

In case someone's wondering, 2^256 = 115, 792, 089, 237, 316, 195, 423, 570, 985, 008, 687, 907, 853, 269, 984, 665, 640, 564, 039, 457, 584, 007, 913, 129, 639, 936

[oscargarza]

Omg that video just blew my mind. I was laughing most of the time. I have heard you talk about this using the sand analogy, but never to this extent 😅

[miroslavklika]

So you're telling me there's a chance... Lloyd Christmas

[ttassberkane]

The risk is not the number of available private keys, it is the random algorithm that the wallet uses to pick one of those keys.

[robtmil]

Go to the equator and deal a trillion hands. Take a step, repeat. When you arrive at your starting point remove a drop from the Pacific ocean, repeat. When it's empty, refill it and put a card on the ground repeat all. When the cards reach the sun repeat 3000 times, your private key is in there somewhere.

[drbennyboombatz]

Shoulda went 2 to the 257 just make sure😝

[notowar]

Andreas, you are amazing, always with the best explanations. Thanks for your massive effort to make Bitcoin, the tech behind and the principles, easy to understand. The crypto community owes you a lot.

[jeff-jofs]

....so you're telling me there's a chance

[JarolCuellarValle]

This is magisterial, and way beyond funnier than expected! Thank you so much!

[margaritopineda]

My favorite video of yours so far, thank you!

[gpirker]

Wow! Mind-blowing! Thank you so much for the explanation!

[cuzinevil]

I've got a good one. I did the math on this and this is what I found; Trying to guess a private key, say you could try a key every second and everyone on the planet is too. It would take 75% longer than the universe has existed for someone to guess it. This is assuming of course the are no duplicate guesses.

[holodeckdragon]

All of that math made me leave my body.

[zonnovate]

Amazing video! Ever since learning about the wonders of Bitcoin I had this itching question, hearing the answer every time just blows my mind again and again.

[bentaye]

I think you underestimated the amount of sand on Tatooine

[jamesjaneway]

Enjoyed this lighthearted program. Please do more! 🤣

[debloqueenbloque]

I can’t understand how this doesn’t have 21 Million views at least, btw loved the data about the Eddington number it adds to the to the etherial side of Bitcoin.
Thanks for the work Andreas 👌

[cryptosipto]

This is an amazing video that makes my head spin 10 to the 77. Thanks for the simple explanation! You rock, I mean you grain of sand!

[davidthomas]

This is why you should create a "passphrase" for your hardware wallet.