#CryptoBasics

What is the difference between crypto public keys, private keys and seed phrases?

Updated on 6 August, 2022 11:51 AM
1 min read

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    Cryptocurrency public keys are used to receive funds, while private keys are used to sign transactions and provide proof that the transaction came from the owner of the private key. Public keys are derived from private keys, which means that a user's public key can be generated from their private key.

    What are crypto public keys?

    A public key is a number that anyone can use to encrypt a message for a specific recipient. The recipient can then use their private key to decrypt the message. The math behind public key cryptography is very complicated, but the basic idea is that it is much easier to multiply two large numbers together than it is to factorize a large number into its component primes. This means that if someone knows your public key, they can encrypt a message for you, but they cannot decrypt it themselves. Only the person with the corresponding private key can decrypt the message.

    What are crypto private keys?

    A private key is a number that allows cryptocurrency holders to access their coins. It is used to sign transactions in order to prove that the person sending the coins is the rightful owner. The private key is kept secret and is never shared with anyone. If someone were to obtain a person's private key, they would be able to access that person's coins and make transactions with them.

    What are seed phrases?

    The Crypto Seed Phrase, also known as a mnemonic phrase, memory phrase or backup phrase, is a list of words which store all the information needed to recover a Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency wallet. There are numerous ways to store a seed phrase, most of which are far more secure than a paper wallet. You should store your seed phrase in a location that only you have access to. 

    In the event that you lose access to your device or software wallet, this phrase will allow you to recover your funds. This phrase should be treated like cash; never store it online or on a computer where it could be accessed by others. A good way to think of a seed phrase is like the password to your email account. If someone were to access your email account, they would have access to all of your messages and could potentially reset any accounts that are linked to that email address. 

    In the same way, if someone were to access your seed phrase, they would have access to all of your cryptocurrency funds. There are a few different ways to store your seed phrase. One popular method is to store it on a piece of paper or in a physical wallet. This is known as a cold storage method and is the most secure way to store

    If you lose your seed phrase, you will lose your Bitcoin. Your seed phrase is your only backup for your Bitcoin.

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