Seed Phrase
A human-readable backup that can recreate a wallet’s private keys, addresses, and spend authority.
- Also known as
- Recovery PhraseMnemonic Phrase
A seed phrase is a list of words that encodes the entropy used to derive a wallet’s private keys, commonly through BIP39 and hierarchical deterministic wallet standards such as BIP32. Restoring the phrase in a compatible wallet can regenerate the same accounts and addresses.
Anyone who obtains the seed phrase can usually spend the wallet’s funds, so it should be stored offline, backed up carefully, and never typed into untrusted websites or shared with support staff. Screenshots and cloud backups can create hidden exposure.
Some wallets also use an optional passphrase, derivation path, or wallet type. Losing those details can make a correct seed phrase appear empty, so recovery instructions should be tested with small amounts before relying on a backup.
Related terms
3 linkedExplore connected entries beyond the alphabetical index.
Mnemonic
→A sequence of words used to generate and recover a private key, typically 12 or 24 words long.
Private Key
→A cryptographic key used to sign blockchain transactions and derive public keys; ultimate proof of control over funds.
Non-custodial Wallet
→A wallet where you control the private keys, without relying on a third party to hold your funds.
All terms and definitions may update as the Cryptionary improves.
