Post
Topic
Board Beginners & Help
Re: The size of the private and public key sets, and collisions
by
Berghoff
on 22/06/2014, 00:30:55 UTC
There are 2256 public/private key pairs.

Isn't the maximum value of private keys based on the p of secp256k1, which is  2256 - 232 - 29 - 28 - 27 - 26 - 24 - 1 ?  It's close to  2256, but not exact.  Not to be pedantic, just want to make sure my understanding is correct.

Yes, you are correct.

https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Private_key#Range_of_valid_private_keys
Quote
Range of valid private keys
Nearly every 256-bit number is a valid private key. Specifically, any 256-bit number between 0x1 and 0xFFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFE BAAE DCE6 AF48 A03B BFD2 5E8C D036 4141 is a valid private key.
The range of valid private keys is governed by the secp256k1 ECDSA standard used by Bitcoin.

Thank you.  Wasn't trying to be that guy, but just wanted to make sure I understood correctly.