bitfact/docs/guide/privateKeys.md

A Javascript library to fingerprint (prove) your data, text, & files on the Ethereum blockchain.

## What's a Private Key?
A `privateKey` is a credential that allows you to interact with an account on the Ethereum blockchain. *You can think of it as a password, as such it's a good idea to treat it as one.*

?> Exercise Caution: BitFact is not a centralized service. We cannot help you recover the privateKey you create if it becomes lost or stolen.
### Example
```
0xea656c47e3c9bcfaf42433a4e8bf71e3ec567c85baa86e31fa2df5a0ef804bb2
```
With BitFact you can provide a private key with or without the leading `0x`.

## Get Private Key
In this tutorial, we'll show you how to obtain a private key for Ethereum. This tutorial has two steps: creating the key and then funding the key. Both steps are necessary.

!> The external tools/services in this document have not been audited by BitFact. Exercise extreme caution when storing larger amounts of value.

### Creation
You can quickly generate keys using the BitFact tool. No matter where you generate Ethereum keys, they're valid on any ETH chain. Be sure to make note of your `address` as well for the funding step.

```console
$ bitfact keypair
```
```console
⠋ Generating keys..
Address: 0xfA7460413D3592C96c867642C13De64a223f0994
Private Key: 0xdcb3535eac64fb0ed569d2442f60ec0b7a42629af810bd883f0e704109646d65
```
The example calls the `createKeypair()` method as part of the BitFact library. Each time it's called a new (random) keypair will be generated. This is syntactic sugar for [web3.eth.accounts.create](https://web3js.readthedocs.io/en/v1.2.11/web3-eth-accounts.html#create).


### Funding
Fund your account depending on whether you want to use the `mainnet` or `testnet`.

!> Do not share your privateKey with funding services. They do not need it. Use the corresponding "address" created in the previous step.
#### Testnet (Free)
- Visit the following link: https://faucet.dimensions.network/. Enter the address you recorded from the last step. Complete the bot challenge and press submit.
  
#### Mainnet (Real)
- Utilize a 3rd party service like Coinbase to purchase and send Ethereum to your recorded address. Steps to do this: https://help.coinbase.com/en/coinbase/trading-and-funding/cryptocurrency-trading-pairs/how-to-send-and-receive-cryptocurrency 

## Service List
- Creation (Mainnet & Testnet Compatible)
  - https://myetherwallet.com

- Funding - Testnet (Free)
  - https://faucet.ropsten.be/
  - https://faucet.dimensions.network/

- Funding - Mainnet (Real)
  - https://coinbase.com
  - https://binance.com
  - https://investvoyager.com
  - https://www.argent.xyz/