<p>Yes, the concept is known, and called "<a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/3139/how-can-i-generate-a-vanity-bitcoin-address">vanity address</a>". The problem with it is that it takes a lot of computing power. However, there is also a <a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/3853/can-one-safely-buy-vanity-addresses-from-a-third-party-without-risking-ones-coi">"split-key" method of generating vanity addresses</a>, which lets you commission other people for the computing work. And finally, I created a website called <a href="https://vanitypool.appspot.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Vanity Pool</a> that handles a sort of free market of vanity miners and buyers.</p>

<p>As for the legal issues, I have already included a so called <a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/3444/has-any-illegal-data-been-saved-in-the-block-chain">"illegal number"</a> in the block chain as a part of my <a href="https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=88149.0" rel="nofollow noreferrer">master thesis</a>. So far Bitcoin hasn't been banned;).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-09-19T12:19:08.153Z
Yes, that part of the question was inspired from your master thesis.  Great work, highly recommended reading!
makerofthings7
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-09-19T06:17:28.390Z
2012-09-19T06:17:28.390Z
2017-04-13T12:47:33.660Z
ThePiachu
<p>Similar to how the SHA256 hash competition exists to validate a transaction, I wonder if this concept can be ported to addresses, so that the first few characters is significant to a human reader.</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Is there value in making a public key address start with human readable text?</p></li>
<li><p>What approaches exist to accomplish this?  Must the key pair be re-generated continuously or there there space to place a nonce?</p></li>
<li><p>Could this cause legal issues?  ...such as a key that contains text matching censored information which is replicated to countries that ban that information</p></li>
</ul>

<address><vanity-address>
Generating addresses starting with certain characters such as "JoeAnonymousUserB7pMqyVa8JRcpZdCQLQ"
makerofthings7
# Generating addresses starting with certain characters such as "JoeAnonymousUserB7pMqyVa8JRcpZdCQLQ"

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-09-19)

Similar to how the SHA256 hash competition exists to validate a transaction, I wonder if this concept can be ported to addresses, so that the first few characters is significant to a human reader.

* Is there value in making a public key address start with human readable text?
* What approaches exist to accomplish this? Must the key pair be re-generated continuously or there there space to place a nonce?
* Could this cause legal issues? ...such as a key that contains text matching censored information which is replicated to countries that ban that information

**Tags:** address, vanity-address


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2012-09-19. Score: 9 | Accepted answer

Yes, the concept is known, and called "[vanity address](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/3139/how-can-i-generate-a-vanity-bitcoin-address)". The problem with it is that it takes a lot of computing power. However, there is also a ["split-key" method of generating vanity addresses](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/3853/can-one-safely-buy-vanity-addresses-from-a-third-party-without-risking-ones-coi), which lets you commission other people for the computing work. And finally, I created a website called [Vanity Pool](https://vanitypool.appspot.com/) that handles a sort of free market of vanity miners and buyers.

As for the legal issues, I have already included a so called ["illegal number"](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/3444/has-any-illegal-data-been-saved-in-the-block-chain) in the block chain as a part of my [master thesis](https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=88149.0). So far Bitcoin hasn't been banned;).

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Yes, that part of the question was inspired from your master thesis.  Great work, highly recommended reading!  

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