4 ms·
> Each is at least 20 bytes (160 bits) long, with at least 4 bytes (32 bits) of checksum. Not quite. More modern addresses have 30 bit checksums (so not at lea
by nullc 1y ago
> Each is at least 20 bytes (160 bits) long, with at least 4 bytes (32 bits) of checksum.
Not quite. More modern addresses have 30 bit checksums (so not at least 32 bits!), but rather than being a truncated cryptographic hash the check digits are a BCH code that guarantees any 4 or fewer substitution or transposition errors will always be detected (or 5 bitflips IIRC)... along with one in a billion or better detection of other kinds of errors.
So although the newer formats provides somewhat less protection against wildly incorrect, the protection against likely errors is much greater. The newer addresses are also case insensitive which was the biggest source of transcription errors in most contexts before.
Beyond being better for real errors the use of a error correction code also makes it impossible to intentionally generate 'fragile' addresses where there does exist a one character typo which is a valid address. It also makes it practical for wallet software to highlight the position of a likely typo, which can greatly speed things up when fixing a mistake. (The spec strenuously cautions against correcting errors, because any correction undermines detection strength).
And as hleszek's comment says, existing addresses don't help, generally addresses should not be reused-- they're not accounts, reusing addresses doesn't make the system work better. Early on in Bitcoin's life people created a scheme for shortened addresses where you used truncated addresses that were unmapped to the first user of that prefix. This obviously bad idea ran into immediate spoofing problems, and people quickly learned better.
> but address typos are not a major concern.
Yeah though malware that substitutes addresses in clipboards and copying the WRONG address are both real risks.
What you also might have heard is advice about _Ethereum_, which in spite of being created long after Bitcoin has addresses with no meaningful checksum and which has caused quite significant losses. (There is an optional very weak checksum using mixed case hex, but AFAICT it's not widely used).
- Deuter8 1y agoEarly on in Bitcoin's life, Satoshi had a clear plan for increasing blocksize as necessary, but you went and screwed that up with your buddies. Hope it was worth it for you per$onally. OGs will never forget.
- skeezyboy 1y agoTell Satoshi hes a numpty. How could he not forsee the issues inherent in his design?
- bloatedGoat 1y agoSource? In any case, a fork of Bitcoin with bigger blocks has existed for years and the market doesn't prefer it despite all the big names and companies hyping it up at the time of the split. Satoshi left Bitcoin so there wouldn't be an appeal to authority so maybe your argument isn't as strong as you think it is.
- pcthrowaway 1y ago> Source? GGP was CTO of Blockstream (https://blog.blockstream.com/en-blockstream-bids-farewell-to-gregory-maxwell/ https://blog.blockstream.com/en-blockstream-bids-farewell-to...)
- nullc 1y agoWhat an interesting flashback-- as of the last three days I'm starting to see again this sort of strange offtopic harassment following me around the internet. In any case, what Satoshi remarks were you referring to? Perhaps his last related to the subject? > Piling every proof-of-work quorum system in the world into one dataset doesn't scale. [...] Bitcoin users might get increasingly tyrannical about limiting the size of the chain so it's easy for lots of users and small devices https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1790.msg28917#msg28917 https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1790.msg28917#msg289... I stopped working on some Bitcoin seven years ago after being burned out by harassment, threats, and an a literal trillion dollars worth hateful of vexatious litigation eating up my time. After all that I'm not intimidated by you. I reject your absurd accusations, but if they were true by this time you have only yourself to blame. If whatever you thought should have been done was doable and valuable, why didn't you do it and why isn't anyone using it? I certainly didn't stop you.
- jakupovic 1y agoLol, tell it how it is. Mofos trying to blame their inactions on others and if that's not enough then talk shit.
- skeezyboy 1y agosounds very usable. who made it, a sadist?