README.md
secp256k1
Package secp256k1 implements optimized secp256k1 elliptic curve operations.
This package provides an optimized pure Go implementation of elliptic curve cryptography operations over the secp256k1 curve as well as data structures and functions for working with public and private secp256k1 keys. See https://www.secg.org/sec2-v2.pdf for details on the standard.
In addition, sub packages are provided to produce, verify, parse, and serialize ECDSA signatures and EC-Schnorr-DCRv0 (a custom Schnorr-based signature scheme specific to Decred) signatures. See the README.md files in the relevant sub packages for more details about those aspects.
An overview of the features provided by this package are as follows:
- Private key generation, serialization, and parsing
- Public key generation, serialization and parsing per ANSI X9.62-1998
- Parses uncompressed, compressed, and hybrid public keys
- Serializes uncompressed and compressed public keys
- Specialized types for performing optimized and constant time field operations
FieldVal
type for working modulo the secp256k1 field primeModNScalar
type for working modulo the secp256k1 group order
- Elliptic curve operations in Jacobian projective coordinates
- Point addition
- Point doubling
- Scalar multiplication with an arbitrary point
- Scalar multiplication with the base point (group generator)
- Point decompression from a given x coordinate
- Nonce generation via RFC6979 with support for extra data and version information that can be used to prevent nonce reuse between signing algorithms
It also provides an implementation of the Go standard library crypto/elliptic
Curve
interface via the S256
function so that it may be used with other
packages in the standard library such as crypto/tls
, crypto/x509
, and
crypto/ecdsa
. However, in the case of ECDSA, it is highly recommended to use
the ecdsa
sub package of this package instead since it is optimized
specifically for secp256k1 and is significantly faster as a result.
Although this package was primarily written for dcrd, it has intentionally been designed so it can be used as a standalone package for any projects needing to use optimized secp256k1 elliptic curve cryptography.
Finally, a comprehensive suite of tests is provided to provide a high level of quality assurance.
secp256k1 use in Decred
At the time of this writing, the primary public key cryptography in widespread use on the Decred network used to secure coins is based on elliptic curves defined by the secp256k1 domain parameters.
Installation and Updating
This package is part of the github.com/decred/dcrd/dcrec/secp256k1/v4
module.
Use the standard go tooling for working with modules to incorporate it.
Examples
- Encryption Demonstrates encrypting and decrypting a message using a shared key derived through ECDHE.
License
Package secp256k1 is licensed under the copyfree ISC License.