> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.seismic.systems/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.seismic.systems/clients/python/precompiles/secp256k1-sign.md).

# secp256k1\_sign

Sign a message with the secp256k1 signing precompile at `0x69`.

## Overview

`secp256k1_sign()` and `async_secp256k1_sign()`:

* hash the input `message` with an EIP-191 personal-sign prefix
* sign the hash using the provided private key
* return signature bytes (`HexBytes`)

## Signature

```python
def secp256k1_sign(
    w3: Web3,
    *,
    sk: PrivateKey,
    message: str,
) -> HexBytes

async def async_secp256k1_sign(
    w3: AsyncWeb3,
    *,
    sk: PrivateKey,
    message: str,
) -> HexBytes
```

## Parameters

| Parameter | Type                                                               | Required | Description                   |
| --------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------- | ----------------------------- |
| `w3`      | `Web3` / `AsyncWeb3`                                               | Yes      | Connected Seismic client      |
| `sk`      | [`PrivateKey`](/clients/python/api-reference/types/private-key.md) | Yes      | 32-byte secp256k1 private key |
| `message` | `str`                                                              | Yes      | Message text to sign          |

## Returns

| Type       | Description                              |
| ---------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| `HexBytes` | Signature bytes (r/s plus recovery byte) |

## Examples

### Basic Usage

```python
import os
from seismic_web3 import PrivateKey, create_public_client
from seismic_web3 import precompiles as sp

w3 = create_public_client("https://testnet-1.seismictest.net/rpc")

sk = PrivateKey(os.urandom(32))
sig = sp.secp256k1_sign(w3, sk=sk, message="hello")
print(sig.hex())
```

### Verify Off-Chain

```python
from eth_account import Account
from eth_account.messages import encode_defunct

message = "hello"
sig = sp.secp256k1_sign(w3, sk=sk, message=message)

recovered = Account.recover_message(encode_defunct(text=message), signature=sig)
expected = Account.from_key(bytes(sk)).address
assert recovered == expected
```

### Async Usage

```python
import os
from seismic_web3 import create_async_public_client
from seismic_web3 import PrivateKey
from seismic_web3 import precompiles as sp

async def main():
    w3 = create_async_public_client("https://testnet-1.seismictest.net/rpc")
    sk = PrivateKey(os.urandom(32))
    sig = await sp.async_secp256k1_sign(w3, sk=sk, message="async hello")
    print(sig.hex())
```

### Read Signature Components

```python
r = int.from_bytes(sig[0:32], "big")
s = int.from_bytes(sig[32:64], "big")
v = sig[64] if len(sig) > 64 else None
```

## Hashing Behavior

The SDK hashes with:

```python
from eth_hash.auto import keccak

prefix = f"\x19Ethereum Signed Message:\n{len(message)}".encode()
message_hash = keccak(prefix + message.encode())
```

## Gas Cost

Fixed cost: `3000`.

## Notes

* `message` is UTF-8 encoded before hashing/signing.
* Keep private keys out of logs and telemetry.
* The output format is suitable for typical Ethereum signature verification flows.

## See Also

* [secp256k1 Sign — Precompiles Reference](/reference/precompiles/secp256k1-sign.md)
* [PrivateKey](/clients/python/api-reference/types/private-key.md)
* [EIP-191](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-191)
* [ecdh](/clients/python/precompiles/ecdh.md)


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