Seed Phrase

A seed phrase (also called a recovery or mnemonic phrase) is an ordered list of words — usually 12 or 24 — that acts as the master backup for a wallet. From this single phrase, the wallet can regenerate every private key and address it controls.

How it works

When you create a self-custody wallet, it produces a random seed and converts it into words drawn from a standardised list. Those words encode the same information as the underlying keys, but in a form that is easier to write down and re-enter. Restore the phrase into any compatible wallet, in the right order, and you recover full access to the funds.

Why it matters

The seed phrase is the ultimate key to the wallet, so anyone who reads it can take everything, and anyone who loses it may be locked out forever. Best practice is to store it offline, never type it into a website, and treat any request for it as a scam.

Example

Writing your 12-word phrase on paper and keeping it in a safe lets you restore your wallet even if your phone is destroyed.