<p>Not directly.  You'd first have to convert your RSA private key into an <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Private_key">secp256k1 ECDSA private key</a> (a 256 bit value between 0x1 and 0xFFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFE BAAE DCE6 AF48 A03B BFD2 5E8C D036 4140).  You could do this by using a SHA256 hash of your RSA private key as your ECDSA private key.  Then you could import that hash (as a number) into a Bitcoin program that allows importing private keys.</p>

<p>However, I strongly recommend against this.  Use your RSA key for the things it was designed for.  Use a Bitcoin program for generating new Bitcoin private keys.  Haphazardly mixing different crypto together almost always reduces your security.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-17T18:41:35.987Z
Ok, thanks you just saved my bitcoins! :)
tor
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-17T16:01:26.323Z
2015-01-17T16:01:26.323Z
David A. Harding
<p><strong>Can I generate a bitcoin address with my RSA private key?</strong></p>

<p>Explain also how and why.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-17T14:51:37.170Z
You can generate bitcoin private key with everything (even with a quarter coin) and create address. The question you should ask youself will be how should you spend funds from this address
amaclin
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-17T14:56:01.707Z
HOW can I generate the address with my RSA key thats the question
tor
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-17T15:44:14.090Z
@tor you can use RSA key in bit format and then use it as number input for generating new private key.
Marek
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-17T15:44:44.423Z
OK, the answer is: (1) take your RSA key (2) generate random 256-bit number (3) use this number as your bitcoin private key (4) generate your public key from private key (5) generate address from your public key. This is the way how to generate address with your RSA key
amaclin
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-17T15:50:06.683Z
(2) generate random 256-bit number. Then its not from the rsa key
tor
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-17T16:56:55.983Z
You asked how to generate "with" private key. Not "from" private key :) I agree with the answer below by David A. Harding that you should not use your RSA key for bitcoin. Take a random number instead.
amaclin
<address><address-generation>
Generate address with RSA private key
tor
# Generate address with RSA private key

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-01-17)

**Can I generate a bitcoin address with my RSA private key?**

Explain also how and why.

**Tags:** address, address-generation

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: You can generate bitcoin private key with everything (even with a quarter coin) and create address. The question you should ask youself will be how should you spend funds from this address  
> **username_0**: HOW can I generate the address with my RSA key thats the question  
> **username_2**: @username_0 you can use RSA key in bit format and then use it as number input for generating new private key.  
> **username_1**: OK, the answer is: (1) take your RSA key (2) generate random 256-bit number (3) use this number as your bitcoin private key (4) generate your public key from private key (5) generate address from your public key. This is the way how to generate address with your RSA key  
> **username_0**: (2) generate random 256-bit number. Then its not from the rsa key  
> **username_1**: You asked how to generate "with" private key. Not "from" private key :) I agree with the answer below by username_3 that you should not use your RSA key for bitcoin. Take a random number instead.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2015-01-17. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

Not directly. You'd first have to convert your RSA private key into an [secp256k1 ECDSA private key](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Private_key) (a 256 bit value between 0x1 and 0xFFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFE BAAE DCE6 AF48 A03B BFD2 5E8C D036 4140). You could do this by using a SHA256 hash of your RSA private key as your ECDSA private key. Then you could import that hash (as a number) into a Bitcoin program that allows importing private keys.

However, I strongly recommend against this. Use your RSA key for the things it was designed for. Use a Bitcoin program for generating new Bitcoin private keys. Haphazardly mixing different crypto together almost always reduces your security.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Ok, thanks you just saved my bitcoins! :)  

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