Random Number Generation Based on Cryptocurrency Prices and Linear Feedback Shift Register

This paper presents the design and evaluation of an unpredictable random number generator (URNG) utilizing cryptocurrency prices. A URNG operates using a deterministic algorithm, while utilizing external entropy sources to generate random numbers that are practically unpredictable. The proposed URNG employs a linear feedback shift register (LFSR), whose sampling period are fluctuated by the cryptocurrency price P<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">t</inf> or its logarithmic return R<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">t</inf>. Using Bitcoin (BTC) price data, we simulated the proposed URNG and evaluated its randomness with the Diehard test. Our findings suggest that a 40-bit or longer LFSR, with sampling period fluctuations determined by either the least significant bit of P<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">t</inf> or the comparison of R<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">t</inf> to its average value, achieves satisfactory randomness quality. Future work includes evaluating the URNG with other cryptocurrencies and exploring new methods for entropy extraction.