Bitcoin WikiWallets & custody

Descriptor

Updated 9 October 2026StubRandom article

In plain words

A text that fully describes how a wallet derives its addresses; essential backup for multisig.

Glossary on the Learn page

See also

Public key / xpub
Derived from the private key; an xpub lets software see all your addresses but not spend.
Multisig
Multisig means a payment needs several keys out of a set, for example any 2 of 3. Losing one key, or having one stolen, does not lose the coins.
Seed phrase
A seed phrase is a list of 12 or 24 ordinary words that can recreate all the keys of a wallet. Whoever has the words has the bitcoin, so write them on paper or metal and never type them into a website.