Discover how the BIP39, BIP39 standard works, the engine that translates entropy (random raw data) into the famous 12 or 24 recovery words you use in any Bitcoin wallet.
Raw Entropy
Everything starts with a gigantic random number. For 12 words we need 128 bits (16 bytes), and for 24 words we need 256 bits (32 bytes).
Checksum
To prevent errors when writing down the words, the SHA-256 hash of the entropy is calculated. The first bits of this hash (4 bits for 12 words, 8 bits for 24) are taken and appended to the end of the entropy.
11-Bit Grouping
The complete sequence (Entropy + Checksum) is divided into exact 11-bit chunks. 11 bits can represent numbers from 0 to 2047 (exactly the size of the BIP39 dictionary).
Mnemonic Phrase (Seed)
Each 11-bit number serves as an index to find an exact word in the official BIP39 dictionary (which has 2048 English words).
Root Seed Derivation (PBKDF2)
Finally, the words (and an optional passphrase) undergo 2048 rounds of the PBKDF2 cryptographic function (HMAC-SHA512) to generate the 512-bit master Root Seed. From here, all your addresses are born.
Hierarchical Derivation (BIP32 / BIP44)
The Root Seed is not used directly. A mathematical tree of keys is created (HD Wallet). Modifying the account or index allows extracting multiple addresses. Below are the 4 standard Bitcoin address formats derived for your input.
Privacy: This laboratory operates entirely locally in your browser. No generated entropy or seed ever leaves your device. Designed strictly for educational purposes. Never use these seeds to store real funds.