BIP39 (Bitcoin Improvement Proposal 39) is a mnemonic code specification proposed by the Bitcoin community in 2013. It aims to simplify the process of users remembering private keys while ensuring the security of key generation. With the popularity of cryptocurrency and the development of technology, BIP39 has gradually become a widely accepted standard and is adopted by many cryptocurrency wallets.

Core content of BIP39

The BIP39 standard defines a method for converting random numbers (called entropy) into human-readable and easy-to-remember mnemonics (mnemonic code or mnemonic phrase). These mnemonics consist of a series of randomly selected words from a predefined vocabulary. By using these mnemonics, users can more conveniently recover the private keys of their cryptocurrency wallets without having to remember complex and difficult-to-remember private key strings.

BIP39 generation process

The BIP39 mnemonic generation process is as follows:

1. Generate entropy: First, generate a random number of entropy (entropy), whose length can be 128 bits, 160 bits, 192 bits, 224 bits or 256 bits, corresponding to mnemonics of different lengths.
2. Add checksum: Then, calculate the hash value of the entropy and extract a part of it as the checksum. The length of the checksum depends on the length of the entropy.
3. Encode into mnemonics: Split the entropy (including the checksum) into multiple parts, each with 11 bits, and convert these parts into corresponding words in the vocabulary. Finally, connect these words in sequence to form the mnemonic.

Security of BIP39

BIP39 ensures security in the following ways:

Randomness of entropy: The randomness of entropy is crucial to generating secure mnemonics. Only entropy with high enough randomness can generate mnemonics that are difficult to predict and crack.
Checksum: The checksum is used to detect whether the mnemonic has been tampered with or erroneous during transmission or storage. If the checksum does not match, the mnemonic may have been tampered with and should not be used.
Vocabulary selection: The choice of vocabulary has an impact on both the memory and security of the mnemonic. An ideal vocabulary should contain words that are easy to remember and not easily confused, and should avoid using words that are too common or have specific meanings.

Application of BIP39

The BIP39 standard is widely used in various cryptocurrency wallets, especially those that support deterministic wallets (HD Wallet). By using BIP39 mnemonics, users can more conveniently manage their cryptocurrency assets without worrying about the loss or forgetting of private keys.

In general, BIP39 is an important and practical mnemonic code specification that provides a safer and more convenient way for key management of cryptocurrency wallets.

Mnemonic generation tool