Crypto Glossary
Private Key
A secret string of characters that proves you own a crypto address. Anyone who sees it can spend your funds.
Definition
A private key is a long secret number, usually shown as a string of letters and digits. It is what your wallet uses to sign transactions and prove that funds belong to you.
If someone else gets your private key, they can move your crypto and you cannot reverse it. Wallets usually hide the raw key behind a password or a seed phrase so you do not have to handle it directly.
Related terms
- WalletAn app or device that holds the keys you need to spend and receive crypto.
- Public KeyAn address-like value that other people use to send you crypto. Safe to share.
- Seed PhraseA list of 12 or 24 ordinary words that backs up an entire wallet.
Source: What The Block! Dictionary v1.0 (last updated 2026-04-25).