Public Key
Definition
A cryptographic key derived from your private key that serves as your blockchain address for receiving funds. Safe to share publicly — it cannot be used to access or move your assets.
A public key is one half of the public-private key pair that underlies all cryptocurrency ownership. Your private key is the secret that proves ownership; your public key (or the address derived from it) is what you share with others so they can send you funds. The mathematical relationship is one-way: a public key can be derived from a private key, but a private key cannot be reverse-engineered from a public key.
In practice, what most people call a "crypto address" (like 0x742d... on Ethereum or bc1q... on Bitcoin) is actually derived from the public key through hashing. This address is what you give to others or share on payment requests. You can share it freely without any security risk.
The public-private key system enables trustless ownership. When you sign a transaction with your private key, anyone with your public key can verify that the signature is valid — confirming you authorized the transaction without revealing your private key. This is how blockchain networks verify transaction authenticity without a central authority.
Each blockchain address you create has a unique public-private key pair. Hardware wallets and software wallets manage these keys, with the seed phrase serving as the master key from which all individual key pairs are derived using deterministic algorithms (HD wallets).
For security, treat your public key/address like your email address (safe to share) and your private key like your email password (never share). The address alone gives no one access to your funds — they would need the private key or seed phrase to move anything.
Where this appears in Clarity
Clarity automatically tracks and calculates these concepts across your connected accounts.
Related Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to share my public key?
Yes. Your public key (or wallet address) is designed to be shared. It's how people send you crypto. It cannot be used to access or move your funds. Think of it like a mailbox address — anyone can send mail to it, but only you can open the mailbox with your key.
What's the difference between a public key and a wallet address?
A wallet address is derived from the public key through cryptographic hashing. They serve the same purpose (receiving funds) but are technically different. The address is shorter and includes error-checking features. You'll almost always interact with addresses rather than raw public keys.