How Does the Concept of a “Key” Differ between Asymmetric Encryption and Hashing?
In asymmetric encryption, a "key" is a cryptographic value (a public-private pair) used to encrypt and decrypt data. The public key encrypts, and the private key decrypts.
In hashing, there is no "key" in the same sense. The hash function itself is the algorithm, and the output is generated deterministically from the input data alone, without a secret key to reverse the process.
Hashing is a keyless, one-way transformation.
Glossar
Asymmetric Encryption
Mechanism ⎊ The core function involves a public key for encryption and a corresponding private key for decryption, establishing a secure channel for transmitting sensitive trade data or derivative contract parameters.
Cryptographic Value
Assurance ⎊ Cryptographic value fundamentally represents the verifiable, mathematical guarantee of security, integrity, and authenticity inherent in blockchain systems.
Hashing
Cryptography ⎊ Hashing functions are foundational to the security of cryptocurrency systems, providing a deterministic transformation of input data into a fixed-size output, crucial for block creation and transaction verification.