About the RIPEMD-160 Hash Generator
What is a RIPEMD-160 hash?
RIPEMD-160 is a cryptographic hash that produces a 160-bit fingerprint, written as 40 hexadecimal characters. It was developed in Europe in 1996 as an open alternative to the SHA family, and while it is not widely used for general hashing today, it has one very prominent home: Bitcoin and many other cryptocurrencies use it to derive addresses from public keys.
In Bitcoin, an address is built by taking SHA-256 of the public key and then RIPEMD-160 of that result, a combination often written as HASH160. That single use keeps RIPEMD-160 relevant decades after its release. It has no known practical weaknesses at its 160-bit size. This tool implements the standard from scratch, validated against the official test vectors, and runs entirely in your browser.
How to Use This Tool
- Enter your input. Type or paste text on the Text tab, or switch to the File tab and drop in a file. The RIPEMD-160 hash appears instantly.
- Choose the output. Switch the output between hexadecimal and Base64, and pick upper or lowercase hex.
- Verify a value. Paste a hash you were given into the compare box and the tool tells you instantly whether it matches.
- Copy the result. One click copies the RIPEMD-160 hash to your clipboard.
Common Use Cases
- Bitcoin and cryptocurrency: RIPEMD-160 is the second half of HASH160, used to derive addresses from public keys.
- Interoperability: reproduce a RIPEMD-160 value generated by another library or wallet to confirm they agree.
- Compact fingerprints: a 160-bit digest that is shorter than SHA-256 while remaining cryptographic.
- Integrity checks: verify data against a published RIPEMD-160 checksum.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is RIPEMD-160 used for?
Its most important modern use is in cryptocurrency: Bitcoin derives addresses by applying SHA-256 and then RIPEMD-160 to a public key. Outside of that it is used occasionally as a general-purpose 160-bit hash, but SHA-256 has largely replaced it elsewhere.
Why does Bitcoin use RIPEMD-160?
Bitcoin hashes the public key with SHA-256 then RIPEMD-160 to produce a shorter 160-bit address while still relying on two independent hash functions for safety. The shorter result keeps addresses compact, and using two different algorithms guards against a weakness in either one.
Is RIPEMD-160 secure?
At its full 160-bit output it has no known practical collision attacks and is considered secure for its intended uses. Its smaller output offers less collision resistance than SHA-256, so for new general-purpose applications SHA-256 is usually preferred. Like all fast hashes, it is not suitable for storing passwords.
How long is a RIPEMD-160 hash?
RIPEMD-160 is 160 bits, written as 40 hexadecimal characters or 28 characters in Base64. The length is fixed regardless of the input.
What does HASH160 mean?
HASH160 is shorthand in Bitcoin for RIPEMD-160 applied to the SHA-256 of some data, usually a public key. To reproduce it, hash your data with SHA-256 first, then paste that result and hash it again here with RIPEMD-160.
Can I hash a file with RIPEMD-160?
Yes. Use the File tab to drop in any file; it is hashed locally in your browser and produces the standard RIPEMD-160 digest.