VanitySearch is a free, open-source command-line program for Windows that generates Bitcoin addresses beginning with a prefix you choose. It is aimed at developers, hobbyists and power users who want a recognizable address for receiving payments or for personal experiments. The latest version is 1.19, released under GPLv3.
Keep one caveat in mind before you start: the last code update dates from April 4, 2022, so the project has gone more than two years without new commits. That does not make it automatically unsafe, but you should not assume recent fixes or hardware support are included. Treat it as an older tool, verify every file you download, and read the safety section below before running anything that handles private keys.
What Is a Vanity Address and Why People Create One
A vanity address is a Bitcoin address that starts with a sequence of characters you choose, such as a short word or a set of letters that is easy to recognize. The rest of the address looks random, as every address does. The prefix changes only how the address looks. It does not make the funds behind it more secure or more private.
Creating one is a brute-force search. The program generates candidate private keys, derives the matching addresses and checks whether any begins with your prefix. Most candidates miss, so the work repeats millions of times. Short prefixes are found quickly, while longer ones can take far longer.
Some people use vanity addresses for donation pages, business branding or personal recognition. Others simply enjoy the experiment of seeing how a prefix search behaves on their own hardware.
How Prefix Length and Hardware Affect Search Time
Each extra character in a prefix multiplies the number of attempts needed on average, so search time grows quickly as the pattern gets longer. This is the main practical limit of any vanity tool. It is worth settling on a short, memorable prefix before you start.
Speed is measured as hashrate, the number of candidate keys checked per second. A faster graphics card or processor checks more candidates in the same time, which is why VanitySearch can use CUDA-capable NVIDIA GPUs alongside the CPU. Hardware is not the only factor. The grid size setting controls how work is divided on the GPU, and a poor value can leave performance on the table.
Expect long runs for anything beyond a few characters, and plan for the computer to stay under heavy load for the duration of the search.
Does a Vanity Address Make a Wallet Safer?
No. A vanity address is cosmetic. Its security comes entirely from the private key behind it, so a recognizable prefix neither strengthens nor weakens the key by itself. Anyone who obtains the private key controls the funds, regardless of how the address looks.
A more practical concern is that a custom prefix becomes public the moment you share the address, and it can make the address easier to spot across services. For privacy, most users are better served by a fresh address for each payment.
It also helps to separate roles. Use a dedicated computer for key generation, store the output in a well-organized offline location, and do not reuse keys across unrelated purposes.
Key features
GPU and CPU search
Adjustable grid size
Passphrase-based key generation
Bitcoin prefix search
Supported coins
VanitySearch targets Bitcoin (BTC) addresses. Its search uses SHA-256, the same algorithm Bitcoin relies on, and it runs on NVIDIA graphics cards through CUDA or on the CPU alone.
How to install VanitySearch on Windows
- 1
Choose the Windows build
Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub Releases page, which is linked from the source repository at github.com/JeanLucPons/VanitySearch. Select the Windows build or installer for version 1.19.
- 2
Verify the file
Compare the file's SHA-256 checksum with the value published alongside it on the release page. If a signature is offered, check that as well. A mismatch means the file should not be run.
- 3
Extract or install
If you received a zip archive, extract it to a folder you control, such as a dedicated tools directory. If an installer is provided, run it and follow the on-screen prompts.
-
Open the program folder
Open Command Prompt in the folder that contains VanitySearch.exe. From there you can run the program with the options described in the how-to section.
System requirements
- Windows, using the ready-made build or installer
- NVIDIA graphics card with CUDA support for GPU-accelerated search
- Standard CPU for CPU-only search
How to use VanitySearch
Before you start, make sure you are working on a computer you trust, and close other demanding programs so the search gets full resources. Each run is a single command that combines the optional passphrase with the prefix you want.
- Open Command Prompt and change to the folder where VanitySearch.exe is located.
- Choose a prefix that starts with 1 and uses only characters allowed in Bitcoin addresses. Avoid 0, O, I and l, which are not part of the format.
- To derive the base key from a passphrase, run: VanitySearch.exe -s "My PassPhrase" 1MyPrefix
- For extra randomness on top of your passphrase, use -ps instead: VanitySearch.exe -ps "My PassPhrase" 1MyPrefix
- If performance is poor, add the -g option with different values and compare how quickly each run produces results.
- Copy the output, including the private key, into a secure offline location as soon as it appears.
For a first test, try a short prefix so you can confirm the program works on your machine before attempting a longer one.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source under GPLv3, so the source code can be inspected
- Uses NVIDIA GPUs through CUDA and the CPU, including both at once
- Adjustable grid size lets you tune performance for your hardware
- Passphrase options give you more control over key generation
- Simple command-line syntax with the prefix passed as an argument
- Last code update in April 2022, so recent changes are not included
- Supports Bitcoin only
- Search time grows sharply as the prefix gets longer
- Relies on the command line, which may be unfamiliar to beginners
- Default settings may not suit every GPU, so tuning takes testing
Is VanitySearch safe?
VanitySearch handles private keys, so treat both the download and the run with care. Its last code update was on April 4, 2022, which makes it an older project. Check the latest version on the official website before you rely on it, since newer builds may exist.
Download only from the official website or its GitHub Releases page. Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the file with the value published alongside it, or verify the signature if one is offered. Never enter a seed phrase or private key on a third-party website, and be wary of copies of the program offered elsewhere. Antivirus software may flag key-generation tools. Investigate any alert rather than turning protection off.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/JeanLucPons/VanitySearch. 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
VanitySearch works in a crowded niche of vanity address generators, but its focus differs from most. It targets Bitcoin only, and its main draw is GPU acceleration through CUDA alongside CPU work. Galvanity covers Algorand, Cosmosvanity handles Cosmos addresses and Vaniton targets TON wallets, so choose by the network you need. Ian Coleman BIP39 Tool is an offline utility for seed phrases rather than a vanity generator, and John the Ripper is for recovering passwords to your own wallet, which is a different job entirely. If you need Bitcoin prefixes and have an NVIDIA card, VanitySearch is a sensible fit. For other chains, use the matching tool.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- GPLv3
- Latest version
- 1.19
- Last update
- 4 Apr 2022
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/JeanLucPons/VanitySearch
Frequently asked questions
It can be used with care, but it is not a tool to run casually. VanitySearch is open source, which allows inspection, yet its code has not been updated since April 2022. Before running it, check the file's SHA-256 checksum, generate keys on a computer you trust, and never share a private key or seed phrase with anyone or any website.
A vanity address is a cryptocurrency address that begins with a prefix you choose, such as a short word or set of letters. The prefix is cosmetic and does not change the security of the funds. VanitySearch finds these addresses by generating candidate keys until one matches, and the time required grows quickly as the prefix gets longer.
VanitySearch targets Bitcoin (BTC) addresses only. Its search uses the SHA-256 algorithm that Bitcoin relies on. It is not designed for other networks, so a different generator is better suited to chains that use other address formats.
No. The program can run on the CPU alone. An NVIDIA card that supports CUDA enables GPU acceleration, which is usually much faster for prefix searches. You can run GPU and CPU together, and the -g option helps you tune the split for your hardware.
The -s option derives the base key from a passphrase you enter, following the approach of the BIP38 standard. The -ps option adds a cryptographically secure seed to the passphrase. Use a long, unique passphrase and store it safely, because losing it means you cannot reproduce the key from that input.
No. VanitySearch generates new addresses that begin with a chosen prefix. It does not recover keys, seed phrases or funds from an existing wallet. For recovering a password to your own wallet, a different category of tool applies, such as John the Ripper.
Verdict
If you are looking for VanitySearch for Windows to create a Bitcoin vanity address, it suits people who are comfortable at the command line and want to use an NVIDIA graphics card for faster searches. The open-source GPLv3 license and passphrase options add flexibility, but the lack of code updates since April 2022 is a serious consideration. Use it on a dedicated machine, keep prefixes short, and treat any key it produces as sensitive from the moment it appears.