What is Seed Phrase?

A seed phrase, also called a recovery phrase, is the master backup of a self-custody wallet. Those 12 to 24 words can regenerate every private key in your wallet, which means whoever holds the phrase controls the money. It is the single most important secret in crypto.

This matters more than almost anything else in this glossary. If you lose your seed phrase and your device, your funds are gone forever. If someone else gets your phrase, they can drain you instantly and irreversibly.

Example: when you set up a new hardware wallet, it shows you a fresh seed phrase; you write it on paper, store it offline in a safe place, and never type it into any website or app again.

Safety note: never enter your seed phrase into a website, chat, email, or “wallet validation” tool. No legitimate support agent, airdrop, or exchange will ever ask for it. Storing it as a photo or in cloud notes is risky. Anyone requesting your seed phrase is trying to rob you. Related terms include private key, passphrase, hardware wallet, and recovery scam.