Rana is a free, open-source tool for mining Nostr public keys, built for developers and hobbyists who want a key that matches a pattern they choose. It is released under the MIT license and written in Rust, so you can read the source code, modify it, or reuse it in your own projects. If you are looking for a way to create a custom Nostr identity on a Windows PC, this page explains what the program does and how to get it running.
Rana is a focused utility rather than a general-purpose miner. It does not mine blocks, does not pay rewards, and does not connect to a coin network. Its only job is to generate key pairs until the public key meets the requirements you set. The current release is 0.5.5, and the project is hosted on GitHub, where the source code and release files are available.
What Is Nostr and Where Do Public Keys Fit In?
Nostr is an open protocol for social and messaging apps in which users are identified by cryptographic key pairs rather than by accounts held by a single company. Your public key is the identifier other people and clients use to find you, while your private key proves that a message really came from you.
Because the public key is shared widely, many people treat it as a kind of username. That is why some users want a key that is easier to recognize, such as one that starts with a sequence they like. Rana exists for that narrow purpose. It does not change how Nostr works; it only helps you find a key pair whose public half meets your chosen conditions.
Understanding this split matters. The public key can be shown anywhere, but the private key must stay secret, because anyone holding it can sign messages as you. Keep this distinction in mind as you read the rest of this page.
How Vanity Key Mining Works Under the Hood
Vanity key mining is a brute-force search. The program creates a random key pair, checks whether the public key matches your requirements, and discards it if it does not. It then repeats the process with another random pair. Nothing is verified by a network; each attempt is an independent guess.
Because every attempt is independent, the expected time depends on how restrictive your requirements are. A short, loose condition can be satisfied quickly, while a longer or more specific one can take a very long time. The project's documentation points out that additional requirements lengthen the search. Each extra constraint narrows the set of acceptable keys, so the average number of attempts climbs.
For that reason, it helps to decide early what you actually need. Matching a short pattern is a reasonable experiment on an ordinary PC. Chasing a long, exact match may take far longer than you expect, and waiting will not shorten it. Treat each run as a search whose length you can only estimate roughly.
Practical Use Cases for a Custom Nostr Public Key
Some people want a recognizable public key for personal branding. A writer, artist or small project may prefer an identifier that is easier to remember and share in conversation or on a business card. Rana offers a simple way to generate such a key without building custom tooling.
Developers and testers form another group. When building or testing Nostr clients, relays or bots, they often need many distinct identities. Being able to create keys with predictable patterns can make test logs and fixtures easier to read and debug.
Finally, the tool suits people who enjoy experimenting with cryptography. Watching a search run on a desktop shows how key pairs and public identifiers relate, which is useful background before you handle real identities. Keep expectations modest: the output is a key pair, and what you do with it depends entirely on your own setup.
Key features
Nostr Public Key Mining
Free and MIT-Licensed
Written in Rust
Installs with Scoop
Supported coins
Rana is designed around Nostr, the protocol whose public keys it generates. It does not target a particular blockchain or coin, so it is not a tool for mining cryptocurrencies. If you need keys for another system, a different program will be a better fit.
How to install Rana on Windows
PS> scoop install rana- 1
Install Scoop if needed
Scoop is a command-line package manager for Windows. If it is not already on your machine, install it from its official project website, then open a new PowerShell window so the command becomes available.
- 2
Install Rana with one command
Run scoop install rana in PowerShell. Scoop downloads the package and sets it up, so you do not need to place files manually.
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Use the manual route if you prefer
Alternatively, download the release only from the official source, the GitHub Releases page at github.com/grunch/rana. Compare the file's SHA-256 checksum with the value published alongside the release before running it, then follow the project's instructions for placing the program.
How to use Rana
Rana runs from a terminal, so the workflow is simple but needs attention to detail. Work through these steps on a machine you trust.
- Open PowerShell and confirm the program is installed through Scoop.
- Decide exactly what your public key must match before starting, and write it down. Each added condition makes the search longer.
- Start with a short, loose requirement to learn how long a run takes on your hardware.
- Let the search run until it returns a matching key pair. If it runs too long, interrupt it and adjust your requirements.
- Copy the public key and store the private key in a password manager or on an offline medium. Never paste it into a website or chat.
- Test the new identity in a Nostr client using the public key, and only then consider relying on it for anything important.
Repeat small test runs before committing to a demanding pattern. This keeps your time predictable and prevents surprises later.
Pros & cons
- Free to use
- MIT license allows you to inspect and modify the source code
- Focused on one job: generating Nostr public keys
- Written in Rust and hosted on GitHub for review
- Simple one-line installation with Scoop on Windows
- Narrow scope: it works only with Nostr
- Its documented platforms focus on Linux, so Windows users rely on the Scoop package
- Search time grows quickly as requirements become stricter
- Results are random, so you cannot reliably get a specific key on a fixed schedule
Is Rana safe?
Rana generates keys, so treat it with care. Download it only from the official GitHub repository at github.com/grunch/rana or through the Scoop package manager, and avoid copies on third-party download sites. Before running a downloaded release, compare its SHA-256 checksum or verify its signature when one is published. Antivirus software often flags mining and key-generation tools, sometimes as false positives. If that happens, check the file's source and hash rather than turning protection off entirely. Never enter a seed phrase or private key on third-party websites, and check the latest version on the official source before installing.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/grunch/rana. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Most of the similar programs listed here are miners or node software for specific blockchains. XMRig targets RandomX, KawPow and CryptoNight, and GMiner is a GPU miner. Rana is different. It does not mine blocks, does not connect to a coin network, and does not generate income. Its only function is searching for Nostr key pairs whose public key meets your requirements. Choose by purpose: a coin miner for blockchain work, or Rana for a custom Nostr identity.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- MIT
- Latest version
- 0.5.5
- Last update
- 15 Nov 2024
- Windows support
- Yes (available via Scoop)
- Source code
- github.com/grunch/rana
- Install command
- scoop install rana
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Rana is free and released under the MIT license, which lets you use, study and modify the source code. Downloading from the GitHub repository or installing through Scoop does not require payment. Because the program's purpose is generating Nostr public keys rather than earning cryptocurrency, there are no rewards to claim.
No. Rana is not a cryptocurrency miner in the usual sense. It does not mine blocks or coins and does not produce payouts. Instead, it generates random key pairs and keeps the ones whose public key matches your requirements. Think of it as a key generator with a search function, and do not expect it to produce income.
The simplest method is Scoop. Install Scoop first, then run scoop install rana in PowerShell. If you prefer a manual install, download the release from the GitHub Releases page, verify its SHA-256 checksum, and follow the instructions for placing the program. Both routes give you the same program.
It can be, if you use trusted sources and protect your keys. Get the program from GitHub or Scoop, verify the checksum, and keep your private key offline. Antivirus tools may flag the program, but investigate the warning rather than disabling protection. Never share your private key with any website or person.
There is no fixed answer, because the search is random. Each extra requirement makes a match rarer, so the expected time increases quickly. A short, loose pattern may finish in a reasonable time, while a long, exact one can run far longer than you expect. Start with a small test to estimate your own timing.
Yes. Rana is built to generate public keys for use with Nostr, and the public key can be shared with clients and other users. Keep the matching private key secret, since it proves ownership of the identity. Test any new key in a low-stakes setting before relying on it.
Verdict
Rana is a good fit if you want a custom Nostr public key and are comfortable running a terminal tool. It is free, open source under the MIT license, and installs with a single Scoop command on Windows. It is not suitable if you want a general-purpose coin miner or a point-and-click interface. Pick it for a focused task, keep your private key offline, and start with simple requirements so you can judge how long the search will take.