GlossaryIntermediate
Digital Signature
Cryptographic proof that a message or transaction was authorized by a specific private key holder.
A digital signature is cryptographic proof, generated using a private key, that a specific message or transaction was authorized by whoever holds that key — verifiable by anyone using the corresponding public key, without ever exposing the private key itself.
Digital signatures are what let a blockchain network confirm a transaction's authenticity without any party needing to trust a central intermediary. See Kaavon's "Private Key" and "Public Key" glossary definitions for the key pair involved, and "Elliptic Curve Cryptography" for the mathematical basis most wallets use to generate that pair.
Examples
- Every crypto transaction includes a digital signature proving it was authorized by the sender's private key.
- A digital signature can be verified using a public key without ever revealing the corresponding private key.