Sophie Schmieg on Nostr: npub1phuxf…uk976 npub17qejc…gv7la there is a related mystery in the choice of ...

npub1phuxfsk056t3ushzd6760da6xt9v5akzsr90xtdft5j9809c7cxs3uk976 (npub1phu…k976) npub17qejctd76jm8syfmpkde4nlur4avy2fhthwk75yce2ykes08zqjs3gv7la (npub17qe…v7la) there is a related mystery in the choice of style generator points. If you take Secp256k1 (if I recall correctly) and multiply the generator with (n+1)/2 where n is the order of the curve, you get a point with a very small x coordinate, most likely the SHA1 hash of something, with an extra byte added for some reason.

This would correspond to using SHA1 to create the generator point, and then doubling it so it doesn't look weird. (It is also a completely harmless and safe way to create a generator point)