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3 sats \ 6 replies \ @jasonb OP 4 Dec \ parent \ on: New On-Chain Wallet Release bitcoin
Yeah, this is hard to explain, but I really think I’m onto something here that has a specific use case to travel or just really physically insecure situations.
I’m proposing that the user makes a 12 word phrase but then recreates it in a 24 word context with one word they intentionally pick filling in the rest of the places. Now they can carry a paper wallet with the 12 word phrase. Of course, they don’t want to expose this, but if they do, the border guard opens it up and finds a decoy wallet. Meanwhile, they get to their destination and only need to have remembered the one word that they combine with the 12 word phrase to generate the real 24 word keys.
My fear is that the 24 word wallet isn’t actually as random as I’d guess because about half of it wasn’t generated randomly, but rather made in a way similar to the “bacon” wallet.
You start with 128 bits of entropy from the 12 words, which is the standard for a 12-word BIP39 seed phrase. A 24-word seed phrase typically has 256 bits of entropy. While your approach wouldn’t lower the entropy of the original 12 words below 128 bits, the repetitive pattern you’re adding reduces the overall entropy significantly below 256 bits. The security of your 24-word phrase is closer to that of the original 12-word seed, with added complexity but no significant increase in actual randomness.
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This is great! This is honestly the kind of confirmation I was hoping for. I knew it wouldn’t have as much entropy as the 24 word phrase, but 128 ain’t no joke, as I understand it. I was just thinking there may have been some element that I hadn’t thought of.
But I have a simple question:
Why do so much trouble with keys inside other keys, just to give to a dumb border guard a decoy wallet or even give them a reason to search, when you could just send a nice email letter to your mom, inserting just the fucking 12 words into a 1000 words letter text and ONLY you know the real position of the words for your seed?
So you cross a border with empty pockets and fuck'em'all...
I did such thing a s test in 2016. In an airport. Just me with nothing on me. They asked me: sir, did you declare something else?"
I said: "yes I carry 12 millions fiat coins with me, is that a problem?" I said "fiatcoins" just to fuck around with them, thinking that I carry a shitload of money...
They were definitely nervous because I had nothing on me. Seeing them in a complicated situation, I told them: all is in my head...
Then I just walked away.
Later I stick this nice BTC sticker on their billboards... just to fuck around more.
When I see people carrying with them obvious HW that even the dumbest airport guard knows what is it, I just laugh. Carry nothing, give them nothing. Be smart and use smart ways to hide your stash.
Even the shitiest USB stick can carry an encrypted seed.
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So yeah, that was a brilliant tactic. I just want to compile as many ideas as possible like this so folks have options when they end up in these type of situations. I liked how my idea was a little simpler than the border wallet, but this is simpler still. You obviously just want to make sure the email is preserved! Haha
Now I’m even more curious where you are from and now live. Obviously will probably never learnt that though.
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Imagine you are at the airport with a bunch of images on your phone. Each image is a wallet with a steganographied seed inside....
Absolutely nobody will have the idea that each picture could have 100 BTC inside.
Cats pictures, or with you and your family at the beach.
Fuck'em.
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