Key pair
A matched private key and public key used to prove control, verify signatures, and derive cryptocurrency addresses.
- Also known as
- public-private key pairasymmetric keys
A key pair consists of a private key that must remain secret and a public key that can be shared. The private key creates signatures; the public key lets others verify those signatures without learning the private key.
Wallets usually derive many key pairs from one seed phrase using deterministic paths. Encodings and address formats vary by chain, curve, and network.
Related terms
4 linkedExplore connected entries beyond the alphabetical index.
Signature
→A cryptographic proof that a message was authorized by the holder of a private key.
Address
→A public identifier used to receive cryptocurrency on a blockchain network.
Deterministic Wallet
→A wallet that derives all keys and addresses from a single seed phrase, enabling easy backup and recovery.
Hardware wallet
→A physical signing device that keeps private keys isolated while approving cryptocurrency transactions.
All terms and definitions may update as the Cryptionary improves.
