Many people ponder Bitcoin’s security and how secure it really is. Well, the video “How secure is 256-bit security?" by “3Blue1Brown” explains extremely well the security of a 256-bit security method, like SHA256, which is used in Bitcoin. It puts into perspective the effort required for the guessing-checking method by describing how large the number 2²⁵⁶ really is. This number, 2²⁵⁶, is equivalent to (2³²)⁸ or (4 billion)⁸, and the video elegantly describes the magnitude of 4 billion as it is consistently multiplied by itself eight times. It concludes by highlighting the nearly impossible chance of success for the guess-and-check method.
From describing KiloGoogles to GigaGalactic SuperGoogles, this video was eye-opening. It begins with a description of the SHA256 cryptographic hashing method and how it is critical to Bitcoin, then goes on to discuss the number 2²⁵⁶ and its importance. Overall, the video explains, in a simple manner, the security of a network like Bitcoin through an easy-to-understand example that puts into perspective the magnitude of the number 2²⁵⁶.
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