<p>It was not obligatory but the creator of the mini private key Mike Caldwell decided to use this system of using an S before to help users distinguish between regular private keys and mini private keys.</p>
<p>notice that it is not recommended to use those type of key because they are less secure than regular private key, also the S stand for Spend</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-03-12T11:35:12.390Z
@reticus you welcome, dont forget to validate the answer if you satisfied with it
Saxtheowl
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-03-07T16:05:43.967Z
2023-03-07T16:05:43.967Z
Saxtheowl
<p>I want to understand why the format for a mini private key necessarily has to start with an &quot;S&quot;. Why is this? Is there a specific reason for it? I would imagine so, but I don't know what it might be.</p>

<private-key><mini-key>
Mini private key format
reticus
# Mini private key format

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-03-06)

I want to understand why the format for a mini private key necessarily has to start with an "S". Why is this? Is there a specific reason for it? I would imagine so, but I don't know what it might be.

**Tags:** private-key, mini-key


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2023-03-07. Score: 2

It was not obligatory but the creator of the mini private key Mike Caldwell decided to use this system of using an S before to help users distinguish between regular private keys and mini private keys.

notice that it is not recommended to use those type of key because they are less secure than regular private key, also the S stand for Spend

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: @username_0 you welcome, dont forget to validate the answer if you satisfied with it  

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