🔐 Public and Private Key in Simple Terms

After getting acquainted with the basic principles of setting up a crypto wallet, it's important to understand how it works internally. In this material, we explain key concepts — public and private keys — in simple terms.

🔑 What are public and private keys?

When you create a cryptocurrency wallet, the system automatically generates a unique pair of keys:

public key (the basis for the address)

private key (secret access code)

These keys are stored in your wallet — you don't need to search for or enter them manually. They are created automatically when you generate or restore a wallet via a seed phrase.

💳 A public key is like a bank card number. It is used to generate a set of characters for creating your address.

🛠️ A public key is not an address, but it is the basis from which it is created. In practice, users usually see an address, not a public key (Private key → Public key → Receiving address). The public key is rarely shown directly in wallets — mostly you only work with addresses. In most cryptocurrencies (e.g., Bitcoin or Ethereum), the receiving address is created by hashing the public key (via SHA-256, RIPEMD-160, etc.).

In simple terms, a public key is your address on the blockchain. You can show it to others to receive cryptocurrency.

📌 Examples:

0xAb12...89Ef (Ethereum)

bc1q...3dfx (Bitcoin)

A public key is tied to a specific cryptocurrency. You will have a separate address for BTC, ETH, etc.

🔐 Private Key — like a safe password

A private key is a secret code that allows you to manage your funds. It is tied to the public key and allows you to sign transactions.

📌 Example (Bitcoin):

5KJvsngH884... a Bitcoin private key usually has 52 characters

⛔ This key should never be shown to anyone. If an attacker obtains it — they will get full access to the funds stored at the corresponding address. That is, only the private key is sufficient for access.

🧠 How it works (very simply):

🌱 You create a wallet from a Seed Phrase — it generates a pair of keys. These keys are mathematically linked, but it is computationally impossible to reconstruct one from the other.

When you send a transaction, it is signed with your private key.

The transaction is signed with the private key, and the network verifies it through the public key. This process ensures transaction security and prevents unauthorized access, as only the owner of the private key can create a valid signature.

💡 It's important to understand that the Trust Wallet application performs all actions automatically without your involvement: you only scan or copy the address, enter the amount, and confirm the transaction.

🌱 Seed Phrase = master key

Private keys are not created manually — they are generated from a seed phrase (12 or 24 words). The seed phrase is the foundation. From it, private keys for each cryptocurrency are created according to standards (e.g., BIP-44).

📌 One seed phrase → many private keys → many public addresses.

✅ What a beginner needs to know:

🔸 You don't necessarily need to know or see the private key. The wallet works with it automatically.

🔸 The main thing is to securely store your seed phrase. If you have it — private keys can be restored.

🔸 In Trust Wallet, for example, all keys are recreated from the seed phrase upon restoration.

🔸 A private key is only needed for manually transferring or restoring a wallet.

🔸 Do not store your private key in notes, photos, or online.

🔸 For your level and using only Trust Wallet — you don't need to store private keys separately at all.

⚠️ Warning: Never tell anyone your private key. It gives full access to your wallet. Do not enter it into any websites or services until you understand exactly what you are doing.