nicspics · Crypto made simple
Cryptography, made simple.
Crypto is named after cryptography: the math that lets you prove you own coins without a bank. Here's how private keys, public keys, seed phrases, hashes and digital signatures work.
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Quick answers
What is a private key?
A private key is a secret number that controls your coins. Whoever has it can move them. Your seed phrase is a human-readable backup that can recreate your private keys.
What is a public key?
A public key is made from your private key and can be shared. Your wallet address comes from it, so people can send you coins without ever seeing your secret.
What is a hash?
A hash is a fingerprint of data: the same input always gives the same output, and it's practically impossible to work backwards from it.
What is a digital signature?
A signature proves a transaction came from the holder of the private key, without revealing the key. The network checks it before accepting the transaction.
Can quantum computers break Bitcoin?
Not today. Whether and when they could is an open research question. Bitcoin developers are discussing draft upgrades such as BIP-360, and none is active. Check the date and source on any headline.
Not financial advice.