Seed phrase

In plain words

A seed phrase is your wallet's master backup: 12 or 24 plain words. Those words hold the secret every one of your keys grows from. Type them into any compatible wallet and your coins reappear — the coins live on the blockchain; the words prove they are yours. Whoever reads the words can take everything. Paper or steel. Never a photo. Never the cloud.

Why it matters

• One backup covers every address your wallet will ever create.
• The standard (BIP 39) works across wallet brands.
• The words ARE the money. Guard them like it.

Not to be confused with

• Password — a password protects an app. The seed IS the wallet.

Go deeper

• Seed backups
• Keys & addresses
• Passphrases