Wallets: your keys, your coins — Lesson overview
Page 1 of 6 — Section 1 of 6
- Keys vs coins:Assets live on-chain; the wallet just controls keys.
- Seed → private key:→ public key → address what each part does.
- Hot vs cold and:Self-custody vs custodial when to use which.
- Sign and verify a:Message as proof of control without moving funds.
- Build a personal seed:Safety card and a quick restore drill.
Plain-English storyYour wallet is a keyring, not a storage box. Coins and NFTs live on the blockchain; your wallet only holds the secrets (private keys) that can unlock and move them. Think of your address as your public mailbox and the private key as the only key that opens it.
What you’ll learnPrivate vs public keys, how an address is a safe-to-share label, why the seed phrase is the master backup, and how a signature proves control without revealing the key. We’ll also cover what to do if you ever suspect a leak.
Your goalExplain to a friend why sharing a seed or private key is handing over the vault, and show proof of control by signing and verifying a message—no money moved. You’ll leave with a written “if lost or leaked, do this next” mini-plan.