What is a seed phrase?
In one line: A seed phrase is a list of 12 or 24 words that can restore a crypto wallet. Anyone who has it controls every coin in that wallet.
The idea in plain words
When you set up a self-custody wallet, it shows you a list of 12 or 24 ordinary words in a set order. That's your seed phrase, also called a recovery phrase.
The words are a human-friendly backup of your Private keys. If your phone breaks or your hardware wallet is lost, you type the words into a new wallet, and your coins come back.
That's also the danger. Anyone with the words can do the same from anywhere in the world, and take everything.
A simple example
You buy a hardware wallet. It shows 24 words. You write them on paper, in order, and store the paper somewhere safe at home. Two years later the device is lost. You buy a new one, enter the 24 words, and your balances are back.
Now flip it. A website pops up saying "Wallet sync error, enter your recovery phrase to fix." You type the words. Within minutes, the wallet is empty, and there is no one to reverse it.
How to keep it safe
- Write it on paper or stamp it in metal. Keep it offline.
- Never type it into a website, app, form or chat.
- Never photograph it or save it in email, notes or cloud storage.
- Consider a hardware wallet. See Cold storage.
A common mistake
Trusting "support." Fake support accounts reply to people's posts and offer help. Their goal is to get the seed phrase. Real support from any wallet or exchange will never ask for it.
One rule covers almost every scam: nobody, ever, for any reason, needs your seed phrase. If someone asks, it's a theft attempt.
More in our crypto wallets guide and crypto scams to avoid.
Questions
What happens if I lose my seed phrase?
If you still have the wallet working, move the coins to a new wallet with a new phrase. If you lose both the phrase and the device, the coins are usually gone for good.
Do exchange accounts have seed phrases?
Usually not. On an exchange, the company holds the keys. Seed phrases belong to self-custody wallets.
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