Why Is the Inclusion of a ‘Salt’ or Random Secret Number Essential in the Commitment Hash?

The inclusion of a 'salt' (a random secret number) is essential to prevent a 'brute-force' or 'pre-image' attack on the commitment hash. Without a salt, an attacker could calculate the hashes of all possible simple transactions and compare them to the public commitment, potentially revealing the intended trade.

The salt makes the hash unique and unpredictable, ensuring that only the original user, by knowing the secret salt, can reveal the transaction details and prove the hash's origin.