How many mnemonics are there?

The number of mnemonic passphrases for a given word list size increases exponentially with the number of words in the passphrase, ensuring a vast number of potential combinations for secure cryptocurrency storage.

Feb 01, 2025 at 11:18 pm

Key Points:

• The number of mnemonic passphrases depends on the number of words in the passphrase and the size of the mnemonic word list.
• Mnemonic passphrases can range from 12 to 24 words in length.
• The largest mnemonic word list contains over 2048 words.
• A 12-word mnemonic passphrase provides approximately 2^128 possible combinations.
• A 24-word mnemonic passphrase provides approximately 2^256 possible combinations.
• Choosing a strong mnemonic passphrase is crucial for ensuring the security of cryptocurrency assets.

How Many Mnemonics Are There?

The number of possible mnemonic passphrases depends on two factors: the number of words in the passphrase and the size of the mnemonic word list.

Number of Words in a Mnemonic Passphrase

Mnemonic passphrases typically consist of 12, 15, 18, 21, or 24 words. The number of words used affects the security of the passphrase. A longer passphrase provides more possible combinations and is therefore more difficult to crack.

Size of the Mnemonic Word List

The largest mnemonic word list, developed by the BIP39 standard, contains 2048 words. Other word lists, such as those used by BIP32 and Electrum, contain fewer words. The size of the word list also affects the security of the passphrase. A larger word list provides more possible combinations and makes it more difficult to guess.

Calculating the Number of Mnemonics

To calculate the number of possible mnemonic passphrases, we can use the following formula:

Number of Mnemonics = (Word List Size)^Number of Words

For example, a 12-word mnemonic passphrase using a word list size of 2048 would have the following number of possible combinations:

Number of Mnemonics = (2048)^12 = 2^128

This means that there are approximately 2^128 possible combinations for a 12-word mnemonic passphrase.

A 24-word mnemonic passphrase using the same word list size would have the following number of possible combinations:

Number of Mnemonics = (2048)^24 = 2^256

This means that there are approximately 2^256 possible combinations for a 24-word mnemonic passphrase.

Choosing a Strong Mnemonic Passphrase

When choosing a mnemonic passphrase, it is important to select a strong and secure one. This means choosing a passphrase that is:

• Long enough (at least 12 words)
• Unique (not found in any dictionary)
• Random (not easily guessed)

By following these guidelines, you can create a mnemonic passphrase that will be difficult to crack and will help protect your cryptocurrency assets.

FAQs:

What is a mnemonic passphrase?

A mnemonic passphrase is a string of words that represents a private key. It is used to recover access to a cryptocurrency wallet if the private key is lost or forgotten.

How do I choose a strong mnemonic passphrase?

Choose a mnemonic passphrase that is long (at least 12 words), unique (not found in any dictionary), and random (not easily guessed).

What is the largest mnemonic word list?

The largest mnemonic word list is the BIP39 word list, which contains 2048 words.

How many possible combinations are there for a 12-word mnemonic passphrase?

There are approximately 2^128 possible combinations for a 12-word mnemonic passphrase.

How many possible combinations are there for a 24-word mnemonic passphrase?

There are approximately 2^256 possible combinations for a 24-word mnemonic passphrase.