How to convert private key to WIF

wif.md

How to convert private key to WIF

0. Overview

WIF = base58check encode ([version byte][private key][checksum])

version byte = 80 for mainnet, ef for testnet and regtest

checksum = first 4 bytes of double SHA256 of private key

1. Add version byte

In this example

• private key = 619c335025c7f4012e556c2a58b2506e30b8511b53ade95ea316fd8c3286feb9

  > export PRIV_KEY=619c335025c7f4012e556c2a58b2506e30b8511b53ade95ea316fd8c3286feb9
  

Add version byte in front of private key (ef for regtest)

> export VER=ef

> echo ${VER}${PRIV_KEY}
ef619c335025c7f4012e556c2a58b2506e30b8511b53ade95ea316fd8c3286feb9

Network	Version Byte (Hex)
mainnet	80
testnet	ef
regtest	ef

2. Compute checksum (Double SHA256)

> echo ${VER}${PRIV_KEY} -n | xxd -r -p | openssl dgst -sha256 -binary | openssl dgst -sha256
5ea6574663729d86cdc55bc9b7b47eda13a7ae8e4c7bc7084e248f8ddd755cbc

Take the first 4 bytes of the double SHA256 hash

5ea65746

> export CHECKSUM=5ea65746

3. Append checksum

> echo ${VER}${PRIV_KEY}${CHECKSUM}
ef619c335025c7f4012e556c2a58b2506e30b8511b53ade95ea316fd8c3286feb95ea65746

4. Convert to Base58Check (encoder)

92KuV1Mtf9jTttTrw1yawobsa9uCZGbfpambH8H1Y7KfdDxxc4d

5. Verify (Optional)

In bitcoin-qt console

> importprivkey 92KuV1Mtf9jTttTrw1yawobsa9uCZGbfpambH8H1Y7KfdDxxc4d "test-priv-key"
null

> getaddressesbyaccount "test-priv-key"
[
  "mi7uHKSho5sj9EwN8Tat4GuLu5ZjbJqT4Q"
]

References

Wallet Import Format - Bitcoin Wiki

Step 4 fails for me, Invalid Base58 Character(s)!

Step 4 fails for me, Invalid Base58 Character(s)!

Same here

@WillWammer
base58 encoding ef619c335025c7f4012e556c2a58b2506e30b8511b53ade95ea316fd8c3286feb95ea65746 from step 3 returns
92KuV1Mtf9jTttTrw1yawobsa9uCZGbfpambH8H1Y7KfdDxxc4d in step 4

Did that resolve your issue?

@t4sk
Well yes, clearly THAT encoding is valid. Something on my end with the previous steps probably, I'll look into it seeing this is clearly more maintained than I thought

I need some help with Point 5 ??
When I have Base 58 what do I have then to do?? to catch the WIF Format?

@Odot2456 open the console from bitcoin-qt and type the command in step 5

The bitcoin-qt console should look something like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN1oTxnAUUE&t=160

This was more than 2 years ago, so things might have changed

This guide works great and all steps so easy. When you are copy and paste things, do it with brain, not with the mouse.

This guide works great and all steps so easy. When you are copy and paste things, do it with brain, not with the mouse.

Thanks. I'm surprised it still works

step five doesn't seem to work for me

step five doesn't seem to work for me

There is the shell script that converts a private key from hex to WIF Bitcoin: https://gist.github.com/GregTonoski/438992249df6e4bd613f9758421ff38a