Post
Topic
Board Bitcoin Discussion
Re: Bitcoin puzzle transaction ~32 BTC prize to who solves it
by
frozenen
on 25/02/2025, 09:32:06 UTC
Let's recap the main methods:

1. Magic-based

- Adobe Illustrator number horoscopes, misc. font sizes, arrows everywhere
- magic number patterns in hexagons, squares, rectangles;
- adding "hex" numbers left and right, maybe mix in decimals as well, so that we can fit somehow solutions


2. Random methods

- sliders to choose hex digits, maybe we get lucky by clicking the mouse!
- Python scripts that sit idle in background (we all like quiet environment, right?)
- pick random ranges, or random keys - ignore completely that testing 2/3/4/5/6/...N times the same keys or ranges becomes inevitable really, really quick, why care?!

3. Probabilities

- backward statistics: if something is probable, and it happens, than it can still be analyzed as if it was just probable, right? Sure.
- uniform distribution: if something is totally random, then it matters what values it ended up with (and also when), and hence we can predict where & when it's not likely to be repeated
- the keys must not look "not random": very low chances that the solution is key 0x1, or key 32768, 16777216, and so on. Because too many zero or one bits in a row. Even better, do the same with base-10 digits, or upgrade to using hex char strings. Also, invent some alphabet where hex digits are case-sensitive, and let everyone else figure out WTF you smoked.

4. Mystical

- hashes are broken; NSA has the backdoor to SHA256
- there is a hidden relation between secp256k1 formula and RIPEMD160 bits: this makes all sorts of statistical theories to not apply
- neural networks can be trained to predict the keys, because they are really so intelligent that they can predict the future.

5. A shitload of computing power, scanning the ranges just once by splitting the work. Keep some proof of work for each range, like keys for a fixed number of leading zeros. Laugh thinking that some people may interpret this as proof of backward statistics (maybe combined with mystical key-to-hash relationship) as the main reason of why the correct key was eventually found after around 50% checked keys.


Hey I like Magic-based methods , I still have the wheel of fortune!