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Difference between private key and seed phrase

Terms such as private key and seed phrase are fundamental to the security and management of your digital assets.


Although they are closely related, they serve completely different functions.


In this article, we will discuss the difference between private key and seed phrase to help you better understand their importance and how to properly protect them.


Let's get started!


The private key


A private key is a unique alphanumeric code that allows you to access and manage the funds in your wallet.


It acts as a password that authorizes transactions and proves ownership of digital assets.


Without the private key, you cannot access your cryptocurrencies or perform transactions with them.


For example:


Imagine your wallet is a safe, the key would be the key that opens that safe; whoever owns the key has full control over its contents. Therefore, it is essential to keep it secret and make sure that only you have access to it.


Difference between private key and seed phrase


The seed phrase


The seed phrase is a sequence of 12 to 24 words generated when creating a cryptocurrency wallet.

encrypt seed phrase


This phrase acts as a backup that allows you to restore your private keys and thus access your funds again in case of loss or damage of the original device.


It is an essential tool for the recovery of your wallet.


For example:


Think of the seed phrase as a master key that can generate multiple copies of individual keys (private keys).


If you lose a specific key, you can use the master key to create a new copy and regain access to your safe.


Similarly, the seed phrase allows you to regenerate all the private keys associated with your wallet.


Difference between seed phrase and private key


In this table, we present in a clear and simple way the distinctions between crypto private key vs seed phrase:


Difference between private key and seed phrase


How do they work together?


The seed phrase and the private key are intrinsically connected.


When creating a wallet, the passphrase is used to deterministically generate the private keys.


This means that, with the same seed phrase, the same private keys will always be produced, allowing for consistency in accessing your funds.


When you set up a new wallet, a seed phrase is generated that serves as a starting point for creating your private keys using cryptographic algorithms.


This process ensures that, as long as you have your seed phrase, you can regenerate your private keys and access your cryptocurrencies from any compatible device.


Which is more important to protect?


Although the private key is essential for immediate access to your funds, the seed phrase has a higher importance in terms of long-term security.


With the seed phrase, you can recover all your private keys in case of loss or compromise. Therefore, protecting it properly is vital to ensure continued access to your digital assets.


Methods used for protection


Among the most recommended methods used for their protection, although not all of them are safe, we have:


Physical storage, not a secure method and therefore not recommended


Write down your seed phrase on paper and store it in a safe place, such as a fireproof and waterproof safe. Some people choose to engrave the phrase on metal plates for durability. However, keep in mind that these alternatives are at risk of theft and loss.

Cold storage devices. Safe Method



Cuvex is a cold encryption device that allows you to encrypt and store your seed phrase securely and offline on NFC cards, eliminating the risk of loss or theft of information.


This device uses AES 256 encryption and cold storage, isolating your data from all networks to protect your cryptocurrencies.


It also allows the management of wallets with single or multi-signature, improving security and facilitating the collective administration of the secret.


Cuvex device

What happens if I lose either of them?


If you lose your private key but still have the seed phrase, you can restore your wallet and generate a new private key. This will allow you to regain access to your funds without any major inconvenience.


As for the passphrase, it is much more serious, as you will not be able to recover your private keys in case of loss or damage of the device, resulting in the permanent loss of your cryptocurrencies.


A very popular case is that of Stefan Thomas, a programmer who lost his password, putting more than 240 million dollars at stake.


Now that you know the importance of the Seed Phrase, I ask you the following question: Do you fully trust your current seed, did you create it with real entropy or was your seed created by others, maybe you don't have one yet?


If this question keeps you awake at night let me tell you that another feature of Cuvex is the ability to create your own Wallet from 0 with your own entropy.


By throwing 4 dice and a coin you will get 100% randomly the 24 words of your new Wallet and you can optionally add a “Passphrase”.


Finally, you will record the resulting seed of your own entropy in one of the Cuvex NFC cards, this information is encrypted and you can make as many copies as you want.


Now you can sleep peacefully. 👍


If you want to know more information Cuvex.io.


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