What is a Seed Phrase for Bitcoin wallet?


what is a seed phrase?


Key Takeaways

  • A Bitcoin seed phrase is a backup of a wallet.
  • It is almost always 12 or 24 words long.
  • You only need the first 4 letters of each word.

A Bitcoin seed phrase serves as a simplified representation of a wallet backup.

Detailed Explanation

A seed phrases consists of a sequence of 12 to 24 words, generated using cryptographic algorithms.

24 word seed
What a mnemonic seed phrase looks like.

Seed phrases are the foundation of most Bitcoin wallets.

Most wallets generate an entire tree of private key pairs from a single seed, providing a convenient way to manage multiple addresses and private keys.


Seeds vs Private Keys

Seed phrases differ from private keys in their format and functionality.

Human Readable

While a private key is a long string of alphanumeric characters, a seed phrase comprises human-readable words, making it easier for users to remember and transcribe accurately.

Direct Access

Private keys directly control access to the cryptocurrency stored in a wallet, while seed phrases are used to generate those private keys deterministically.

Secure Storage is Required

Due to their pivotal role, seed phrases must be stored securely.

If a seed phrase falls into the wrong hands, the attacker gains control over all associated private keys and the cryptocurrency within the wallet.

Consequently, users are advised to keep their seed phrases offline, preferably on physical paper or a secure steel or metal wallet.

Storing seed phrases digitally or sharing them online exposes users to hacking risks and potential loss of funds.

Sources

  1. Seed phrase - Bitcoinwiki

  2. Seed Phrase - NerdWallet