---
title: "How Bitcoin Works: Blocks, Proof-of-Work and Private Keys (PDF)"
url: "https://bip39-phrase.com/list-keys/btc-private-keys-list-24-march/"
language: "en"
updated: "2025-03-24T00:00:00+00:00"
---

# How Bitcoin Works: Blocks, Proof-of-Work and Private Keys

How Bitcoin's chain of blocks, proof-of-work, capped supply and longest-chain consensus work, and how private keys and addresses fit in. Example WIF-format keys follow.

PDF document · Published March 24, 2025 

[ Open the PDF (6 pages, 253 KB) ](/list-keys/btc-private-keys-list-24-march.pdf) 

Keywords: 

proof-of-work · blockchain · private keys · Bitcoin addresses

Topic: 

[Private Keys and Addresses: Formats Explained](/topics/keys-and-addresses/)

## Guides on the same subject

- [Bitcoin Private Key Format: WIF, Base58 and Hex Explained](/private-key-btc/)  
A Bitcoin private key is a 256-bit number, usually shown in WIF: Base58 with a version byte, compression flag and checksum. Encoding steps and test vectors.
- [Longest Chain in Blockchain: Security, Consensus and Forks](/longest-chain-in-blockchain-explained-security-consensus-forks/)  
The longest chain in blockchain is the version with the most proof of work, the rule Bitcoin nodes use to resolve forks and settle transaction history.
- [BIP 157 Client-Side Block Filtering: Compact Filters Explained](/bip-157-client-side-block-filtering/)  
BIP 157 lets light wallets fetch compact block filters (BIP 158) from full nodes and test them locally, finding their payments without revealing addresses.

One of the documents in the [Private Key PDF Archive](/list-keys/), listed on [archive page 2](/list-keys/2/).