Can I recover a lost seed phrase?

Many people think that intentionally writing down only parts of a Seed phrase, for example, writing down 10 words out of 12, to prevent hackers or malicious actors who might get the Seed Phrase from accessing their wallet, believing that an incomplete Seed Phrase would prevent access. However, this might not be a good way to protect your wallet, as there are methods to guess up to 4 missing words.

Generally, a seed phrase consists of 12 or 24 words, which are considered "unhackable" because brute-forcing all possible seed phrases would require an excessive amount of computational power.

While it's impossible to brute-force an entire seed phrase, crypto industry analysts and executives say that wallet access can still be recovered if up to 3 or 4 words of the seed phrase are missing.

What is a Seed Phrase, and how does it differ from Private Keys?

If you're still unclear about Seed Phrases, you can read this article for a better understanding of how to find missing words.

 

A seed phrase is used to restore cryptocurrency wallets and consists of 12 to 24 words. Unlike private keys, which are typically a 256-digit string of numbers, a seed phrase is a human-readable master key that allows for the recovery of wallet access by simply entering 12, 18, or 24 words in the correct order.

The words in a seed phrase are not randomly generated but are derived from a predefined list of 2,048 words, as described in Bitcoin Improvement Proposal 39 (BIP-39), which aims to create a universal process for generating seed phrases.

Because seed phrases only use words from the 2,048-word BIP-39 list, attempts can be made to brute-force a seed phrase, or at least some of its missing words.

Lucien Bourdon, an analyst at Trezor, states that "If some seed words are missing, a computer can try to 'brute-force' them, meaning the computer will try to guess every possibility."

Bourdon adds, "Please note that the last required word of a BIP-39 seed phrase is a 'checksum,' not a random BIP-39 word, and can be easily calculated if the first 11 words are known."

How many words can be recovered from a private key?

Mikko Ohtamaa, co-founder of the algorithmic investment protocol Trading Strategy, states that "12 words are known to be unbreakable." However, it is still possible to guess some words, Ohtamaa told Cointelegraph.

To assess the feasibility of recovering some words from a seed phrase, Bourdon, an analyst at Trezor, referenced rough estimates of the computational power and time required to recover a certain number of words.

Bourdon emphasizes that "you can see that the time required to guess a word increases exponentially for each additional missing word," and adds:

 

"Beyond 4 words, it becomes practically impossible, although recovering 2-3 words might be feasible. The computational power required to brute-force an entire 12 or 24-word seed phrase remains astronomically high."

 

Real-world case of recovering a Seed phrase with 4 missing words

Someone successfully recovered missing words, with X platform user The Smart Ape, an industry expert, describing how to recover up to 4 words in a seed phrase using tools like GitHub BTCRecover or ChatGPT. The Smart Ape also claimed he lost 4 words from his Private Keys and was able to find them. The recovery method can be viewed here.

Given that current computational technology allows for the recovery of up to 4 words, caution should be exercised when storing Private Keys. It should also be understood that writing down only a partial seed phrase is not as effective as having a complete and securely stored backup.

Bourdon says, "Always verify your backup and ideally have multiple copies. There are also metal backup methods to prevent accidental destruction."

Conclusion: Keeping your Seed Phrase Secure

Securing your Seed Phrase is crucial for the safety of your cryptocurrency assets. Unexpected events such as floods or fires can occur, making preparedness for such situations essential.

Recommended methods for keeping your Seed Phrase secure include:

1. Make multiple copies: Create several copies of your Seed Phrase and store them in different locations to reduce the risk of loss or destruction.
   
   

2. Use durable materials: Opt for water and fire-resistant materials to record your Seed Phrase, such as:
   
   
   
   
   

•    Keytag: A specialized device for storing Seed Phrases that is resistant to environmental factors.
•    Metal Seed Phrase storage devices: Metal plates that can be engraved or stamped with your Seed Phrase.
  
  

3. Keep it safe from others: In addition to protecting against natural disasters, you must ensure that unauthorized individuals cannot access your Seed Phrase. Consider using a safe deposit box or a vault service at a bank.

4. Split and store Seed Phrase: Consider dividing your Seed Phrase into parts and storing each part in different locations to enhance security.

5. Regularly review and check: Periodically review and check the storage location of your Seed Phrase to ensure it remains in good condition and accessible when needed.

6. Beware of scams: Never reveal your Seed Phrase to anyone, including those claiming to be officials or service providers. Scams to steal Seed Phrases are common in the cryptocurrency space.

By following these steps, you can more effectively protect your Seed Phrase and cryptocurrency assets, even in the event of unexpected occurrences.

 

Reference:

https://cointelegraph.com/news/private-key-missing-words-recoverable

https://x.com/the_smart_ape/status/1811024028733206714