<p>No, the time when the key was generated is entirely irrelevant. A private key is essentially a random number and with a robust source of randomness the time it takes to generate this random number is completely independent of the random number generated. For example, if we both run the same random number generator for exactly 5 minutes we should each generate completely different random numbers. With a flawed source of randomness we may both generate the same random number after exactly 5 minutes but this source of randomness should not be used for generating private keys.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-25T14:01:56.480Z
Each wallet will generate randomness differently. The code for generating randomness in the Bitcoin Core wallet is here. If the wallet did a really bad job of generating randomness then there might be a concern. https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/blob/master/src/random.cpp
Michael Folkson
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-25T23:16:07.243Z
You sure about that?
Denis Leonov
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-26T00:10:14.073Z
Sure about what specifically? That wallets will generate randomness differently?
Michael Folkson
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-25T13:04:10.013Z
2021-01-25T13:04:10.013Z
Michael Folkson
<p>Private key is not related to time or operating system it is just created from random number which is called secret exponent there are lots of procedure to recover the private key but all are infeasible to recompute it so, everyone btc is safe :)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-25T13:48:55.830Z
2021-01-25T13:48:55.830Z
Muhammad Adnan Alam
<p>Is it possible to calculate the private key if you know the time (in the suitable format) when the key was generated on a single PC (Windows, Linux or others)?</p>
<p>P.S. Using it's custom libraries for this magic.</p>

<private-key><random>
Calculation of Bitcoin private key using it's generation time
Denis Leonov
# Calculation of Bitcoin private key using it's generation time

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-01-25)

Is it possible to calculate the private key if you know the time (in the suitable format) when the key was generated on a single PC (Windows, Linux or others)?

P.S. Using it's custom libraries for this magic.

**Tags:** private-key, random


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-01-25. Score: 1

No, the time when the key was generated is entirely irrelevant. A private key is essentially a random number and with a robust source of randomness the time it takes to generate this random number is completely independent of the random number generated. For example, if we both run the same random number generator for exactly 5 minutes we should each generate completely different random numbers. With a flawed source of randomness we may both generate the same random number after exactly 5 minutes but this source of randomness should not be used for generating private keys.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Each wallet will generate randomness differently. The code for generating randomness in the Bitcoin Core wallet is here. If the wallet did a really bad job of generating randomness then there might be a concern. https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/blob/master/src/random.cpp  
> **username_0**: You sure about that?  
> **username_1**: Sure about what specifically? That wallets will generate randomness differently?  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2021-01-25. Score: 1

Private key is not related to time or operating system it is just created from random number which is called secret exponent there are lots of procedure to recover the private key but all are infeasible to recompute it so, everyone btc is safe :)


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