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Ethereum: Why is P2PKH used instead of a simpler P2PK?
Choosing the cryptography of elliptical cryptography (ECC) in the Ethereum scheme of public key, known as P2PKH (hierarchical riding public key) was the topic of discussion among developers and researchers. In this article, we will investigate the reasons why P2PKH was selected over his simpler colleague, P2PK.
Safety of the cryptography of elliptical cryptography
The cryptography of the elliptical crypt is considered safe enough that it could give a public key without fear that anyone could calculate the appropriate private key from it. This is because the ECC uses a mathematical concept called discrete logarithms, which are theoretically unbreakable. However, this safety comes at the price.
Restrictions P2PK
P2PK (hierarchical Hashing public key) is a simpler public key scheme that uses only the difficulty of the hash function to secure transactions. The problem with the P2PK is that it requires more computer resources and energy to cut new blocks, which can be expensive and lead to the centralization of the network.
Why the P2PKH was selected
In 2017, Vitalik Buterin, co -founder of Ethereum, proposed P2PKH as an alternative to P2PK. He claimed that P2PK was too energy intense to support a large blockchain like Ethereum. Using a separate hash function for public key, Ethereum can reduce computer requirements and make it more energy efficient.
Additional advantages P2PKH
In addition to security, P2PKH also has some additional advantages:
* Higher energy efficiency : As mentioned earlier, P2PK requires more computer resources and energy to minimize new blocks. Using a separate hash function for public key, Ethereum can reduce its energy consumption.
* Improved network resistance : P2PKH provides improved network resistance, allowing the transactions to be processed in the series, not one by one.
* Better SCALAbility Support
: P2PKH is designed to support scalability and large amounts of transactions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the choice of P2PKH over P2PK was motivated by the need to balance security with energy efficiency. While P2PK is still used in certain scenarios, P2PKH provides a more scalable, more resistant and safe alternative to the Ethereum scheme of public key. As the net continues to grow and develop, it will be interesting to see how these two schemes are integrated and whether one will eventually replace the other.
additional resources
- [Ethereum’s Whitepaper] (
- [Blog Vitalik Buterin] (
- [Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) WIKIpedia] ( article)
Note: This article is based on information available until 2021 and may not reflect the latest achievements in the Ethereum ecosystem.