GlossaryIntermediate
Public Key
A piece of data derived from a private key that can be shared publicly and is used to verify signatures or derive wallet addresses.
A public key is derived mathematically from a private key but can be shared openly without compromising security. It is used to verify that a transaction was authorized by the corresponding private key.
In most cryptocurrencies, a wallet address that a person shares to receive funds is itself derived from a public key, adding another layer between the public-facing address and the private key it depends on. See Kaavon's "Private Key" and "Digital Signature" glossary definitions for the two concepts a public key directly connects.
Examples
- A user shares a wallet address, derived from a public key, so someone else can send them funds.
- A public key can be used to verify a transaction signature without ever revealing the private key.