Private Key
The secret number that authorises transactions from an address. Possession of the key is possession of the assets.
Also called private keys
The secret number that authorises transactions from an address. Possession of the key is possession of the assets.
Why it matters
No one can reset it. A leaked key means an irreversible loss; a lost key means permanently frozen funds.
Related terms
- Wallet
- Seed Phrase
- Self-Custody
Keep reading
Smart Contract
A program stored on a blockchain that runs automatically when its conditions are met,…
Self-Custody
Holding your own keys rather than leaving assets with an exchange or custodian.
DeFi
Financial services — lending, trading, derivatives — built from smart contracts rather than intermediaries,…
Staking
Committing tokens to help secure a proof-of-stake network, earning newly issued tokens and fees…
Audit
A review of a smart contract's code by a specialist firm, looking for vulnerabilities…
Circulating Supply
The number of tokens currently available to trade, excluding those locked, reserved or not…