Over 700 subscribers
GM. Delivering interesting content every single week on Web3, Security, Crypto, NFTs and DeFi.
It's FREE, Takes less than 5-minutes to read, and you are guaranteed to learn something.
Subscribe to get valuable Web3 News and Insights every week to your Inbox!
A private key walletβalso known as a non-custodial walletβis like having a locked mailbox that only you can access.
But unlike a regular mailbox with a physical key, the βkeyβ in a private key wallet is a string of random words called a βseed phrase.β
A seed phrase is a string of words created by your cryptocurrency wallet and used to get access to the crypto linked with it. Consider a wallet to be a crypto version of a password manager, with the seed phrase serving as the master password. You'll have access to all of the crypto linked with the wallet that created the phrase as long as you have your seed phrase β even if you delete or lose the wallet.
READ MORE. (Link)
A private key is a secret number that is used in cryptography and cryptocurrency.
A private key is a large, randomly-generated number with hundreds of digits. For simplicity, they are usually represented as strings of alphanumeric characters.
A cryptocurrency wallet consists of a set of public addresses and private keys. Anyone can deposit cryptocurrency in a public address, but funds cannot be removed from an address without the corresponding private key.
Private keys represent final control and ownership of cryptocurrency. It is vitally important to prevent one's private keys from being lost or compromised.
With a private key wallet, you have a βmailboxβ (address) on a blockchain ββthat isnβt publicly linked to your name or residenceββwhere you can send and receive crypto.
Again, only you have the key to this βmailbox,β but you can give the public address to anyone you want to send you crypto.
While having a private key wallet gives you the most control over your funds, it comes with the responsibility of keeping your keys safe. This is the origin of the popular crypto phrase βnot your keys, not your crypto.β
With a real private mailbox, if someone has the public address and the key, they can steal your mail and itβs the same with a private key wallet.
If someone knows the public address of your wallet and has your private key, they can steal your funds.
The main benefit is security.
While the post office can open up mailboxes, there's one major difference between that and your private key wallet: Crypto Wallet cannot open your mailbox under any circumstancesββonly you can.
Simply put, with a private key wallet, no one else has access to or control of your funds unless they have your seed phrase.
Each form of crypto wallet has its own set of benefits and drawbacks, so learning how they function is essential before keeping and transferring your crypto assets.
Private keys can be stored on computers or mobile phones, USB drives, a specialized hardware wallet, or even a piece of paper. The ideal form of storage will depend on how often you plan to use your cryptocurrency. A password-protected mobile phone or computer is the most convenient way to store cryptocurrency for everyday use. For long-term or "cold" storage, private keys should always be kept offline, ideally on devices that have never touched the internet. Even printers can be compromised. Hardware wallets (Ledger Stax - Preorder NOW!) can facilitate cold storage by signing transactions in a way that does not compromise the private keys.
A custodial wallet is a third-party service that allows users to store cryptocurrency, similar to a bank. This allows users to skip over the complication of private key storage, relying instead on the technological expertise of the company offering the service. However, there are tradeoffs. Custodial wallets are often targets for hackers or phishing scams, and they can also be seized or frozen by legal authorities. The best solution is to determine what type of wallet fits your individual risk tolerance and technological skill.
Share to WIN. All you need to do is share the link. It only takes 1.872 seconds. π
You currently have 0 referrals, only 3 away from winning BlockSurvey NFT (worth $100)
I hope this was helpful!
Thank you for reading!
Letβs bust some more in next article.
If you want more, be sure to
Kazani
