Tutorials:Private Keys and Public Address: Difference between revisions
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=Private Keys and Public Address= | =Private Keys and Public Address= | ||
In | In Ethereum-style networks, '''private keys''' and '''public addresses''' are two sides of the same cryptographic identity. | ||
A '''private key''' is a long, randomly generated number that only you should know. It is the secret that gives you control over your funds. When you send a transaction, your wallet uses the private key to create a digital signature that proves you authorized the action—without ever revealing the key itself. Anyone who gets access to your private key can fully control your assets. | |||
A '''public address''' is derived mathematically from the private key. It’s safe to share and acts like an account number. Others can send ETH or tokens to this address, and anyone can view its balances and transaction history on the blockchain, but no one can spend from it without the corresponding private key. | |||
''' | '''In short:''' | ||
'''Private key''' → proves ownership and signs transactions (keep it secret) | |||
'''Public address''' → receives funds and is visible on-chain (safe to share) | |||
Your wallet simply manages this key pair for you, making the cryptography invisible while you interact with the network. | |||
In the next sections we will find in Metamask the private key of your Account1, the public address (often thought as the account "number"), and the recovery phrase. The private key can be used to import an account to other wallet, however, the new wallet cannot generate an imported account from the recovery phrase. | |||
[[File:MMwalletView2.png|400px]] | |||
=Your Address in different networks= | |||
Click on the Account1 tab on the upper left hand side, and click on the 3 dots in the right column. You will see: Account details, rename, addresses, pin to top and hide account. | |||
[[File:MMAcount1.png|600px]] | |||
The Addresses tab gives your Account1 address in many Ethereum-like networks, notice the public address looks the same. You can get these addresses also in the "receive" tab. Even though the addresses look the same, they are on different networks, in fact, they are different accounts, but identified with the same name. | |||
To send coins from one network to another, special technology is required called a bridge. In Metamask the bridge technology is hidden in the "Swap" tab, if you just send tokens from one network to another they get lost. | |||
=Private Key= | |||
You can find the private key associated to Account1 and the Secret Recovery Phrase that recovers all of your Addresses under Account Details tab. | |||
[[File:MMAcount2.png|600px]] | |||
--------------------------- | |||
'''Exercise''' | '''Exercise''' | ||
With a Private Key you can import the associated account from any wallet on any device. | Find the private key of your account and notice it has 64 characters. | ||
With a Private Key you can import the associated account from any wallet on any device. | |||
whoever has the private key, controls the funds associated with that address. | whoever has the private key, controls the funds associated with that address. | ||
[[ | |||
In the next tutorial we will talk about [[Tutorials:Layer_II | Polygon and Layer 2 Networks]] | |||
Latest revision as of 02:18, 9 January 2026
Private Keys and Public Address
In Ethereum-style networks, private keys and public addresses are two sides of the same cryptographic identity.
A private key is a long, randomly generated number that only you should know. It is the secret that gives you control over your funds. When you send a transaction, your wallet uses the private key to create a digital signature that proves you authorized the action—without ever revealing the key itself. Anyone who gets access to your private key can fully control your assets.
A public address is derived mathematically from the private key. It’s safe to share and acts like an account number. Others can send ETH or tokens to this address, and anyone can view its balances and transaction history on the blockchain, but no one can spend from it without the corresponding private key.
In short:
Private key → proves ownership and signs transactions (keep it secret)
Public address → receives funds and is visible on-chain (safe to share)
Your wallet simply manages this key pair for you, making the cryptography invisible while you interact with the network.
In the next sections we will find in Metamask the private key of your Account1, the public address (often thought as the account "number"), and the recovery phrase. The private key can be used to import an account to other wallet, however, the new wallet cannot generate an imported account from the recovery phrase.
Your Address in different networks
Click on the Account1 tab on the upper left hand side, and click on the 3 dots in the right column. You will see: Account details, rename, addresses, pin to top and hide account.
The Addresses tab gives your Account1 address in many Ethereum-like networks, notice the public address looks the same. You can get these addresses also in the "receive" tab. Even though the addresses look the same, they are on different networks, in fact, they are different accounts, but identified with the same name.
To send coins from one network to another, special technology is required called a bridge. In Metamask the bridge technology is hidden in the "Swap" tab, if you just send tokens from one network to another they get lost.
Private Key
You can find the private key associated to Account1 and the Secret Recovery Phrase that recovers all of your Addresses under Account Details tab.
Exercise
Find the private key of your account and notice it has 64 characters.
With a Private Key you can import the associated account from any wallet on any device.
whoever has the private key, controls the funds associated with that address.
In the next tutorial we will talk about Polygon and Layer 2 Networks