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Bitcoin Dev Archive 2013

Web Crypto -- Named Curve Dictionary (adding secp256k1)

1 message, 15 Dec 2013. Started by Melvin Carvalho.

Melvin Carvalho

Permalink Original thread on gnusha.org

Melvin Carvalho permalink original

Harry and David suggested I send a message to this group. I was wondering if the crypto group may consider adding support for *secp256k1* in the browser Named Curve dictionary.

http://www.w3.org/TR/WebCryptoAPI/#EcKeyGenParams-dictionary

enum NamedCurve {
  // NIST recommended curve P-256, also known as secp256r1.
  "P-256",
  // NIST recommended curve P-384, also known as secp384r1.
  "P-384",
  // NIST recommended curve P-521, also known as secp521r1.
  "P-521"
};

Over the last year, there has been a significant increase in deployment for this curve. It's used in bitcoin and many other crypto currencies. Bitcoin deployment now numbers in the millions of users and hundreds of companies. There are also free software implementations in most languages.

For more background on Koblitz curve used by bitcoin see:

https://bitcointalk.org/?topic=2699.0

I'm aware that the API tends to expose what's existing in NSS, but, imho, if it were possible to add support for this curve would be a great step to help to many people that already work with crypto currencies in the browser.