Kim May Tree: Why Searching for the ETH Private Key Is Just an Impossible Dream

Our planet currently has over 380 million active ETH wallets. But this number is just “a drop in the ocean” compared to the total number of addresses that can exist on the EVM network. Imagine trying to find a specific needle in an endless pile of needles—you don’t even know which one you’re looking for.

380 Million ETH Wallets in an Ocean of 2^160 Addresses

According to the wallet creation algorithm on the EVM, the total number of possible wallets is 2^160, which equals an enormous number: 1,461,501,637,330,902,918,203,684,832,716,283,019,655,932,542,976. This number is so large that we can hardly comprehend it.

In other words, compared to the current 380 million ETH wallets, this ratio is almost like “a needle in the ocean.” The wallets we use are essentially public from the algorithm—anyone can see their private keys. But the problem is, no one has enough computational power to “hunt down” a specific wallet within that vast space.

Modern Computers Are Powerless Against Cryptographic Complexity

To find a wallet with funds among billions of addresses, modern computers would have to run for years—and most likely still wouldn’t find one. This is why, when you create a new wallet, it almost never coincides with any existing wallet—even though, in theory, it could happen.

The best way to visualize the difficulty: it’s like throwing a needle into the ocean, locking the bag, and then asking someone to find that needle. The number of attempts they would need to find (or fail to find) it reaches 904,625,697,166,532,776,746,648,320,380,374,280,100,293,470,930,272,690,489,102,837,043,110,636,675.

Quantum Computers: A Future Threat to BTC and ETH

However, the future might be different. According to scientists, quantum computers will be capable of processing these calculations at an incredible speed. When that technology becomes a reality, BTC could instantly drop to zero because all private keys could be “hunted down” in a short time.

ETH will need to update its security mechanisms to ensure that even if private keys are exposed, wallets remain inaccessible. That’s why developers are preparing for a future where traditional cryptography no longer holds.

Warning: Never Reveal Your Private Key

Although brute-force attacks to find private keys are nearly impossible with current technology, that doesn’t mean you should try. There are websites that allow you to enter a private key to check if the wallet has funds—this is a very risky gamble.

Billions of wallets have been created, and their private keys are somewhere within those address spaces. But the golden rule is: never enter your private key on any website. Once your private key is exposed, there’s no way to protect your assets.

In summary, searching for a private key with funds is like trying to find a needle in the ocean—impractical in reality, at least with today’s technology. Protect your private keys as if they were your most valuable assets.