# Private key

## Definition

A private key is a secret cryptographic value that can authorize signatures for a blockchain account or address. Whoever controls it may be able to authorize transfers from that account.

## What it means in practice

A private key is not the same thing as a wallet password or PIN. Passwords typically protect local application access, while the private key is part of the cryptographic authority over on-chain assets.

## How this concept appears in Terenval Wallet

Terenval is non-custodial: the product is designed around user-controlled wallet key material rather than a custodial account that holds keys on the user's behalf.

**Important:** Never paste a private key into support chats, forms, analytics tools or unknown wallet-import pages.

**[Install Terenval Wallet](https://wallet.terenval.com/?lang=en)**

## Related terms

- [Public key](https://wallet.terenval.com/glossary/public-key/)
- [Seed phrase](https://wallet.terenval.com/glossary/seed-phrase/)
- [Wallet password](https://wallet.terenval.com/glossary/wallet-password/)
- [Transaction signing](https://wallet.terenval.com/glossary/signing/)
- [Self-custody](https://wallet.terenval.com/glossary/self-custody/)

## Related Terenval Answers

- [Seed Phrase vs Private Key vs Wallet Password](https://wallet.terenval.com/answers/seed-phrase-vs-private-key-vs-wallet-password/)
- [What Is a Seed Phrase and How Does It Restore a Crypto Wallet?](https://wallet.terenval.com/answers/what-is-a-seed-phrase-and-how-does-it-restore-a-wallet/)
- [Can You Import the Same Seed Phrase into a Different Crypto Wallet?](https://wallet.terenval.com/answers/can-you-import-same-seed-into-different-wallet/)

## Sources and review

- [Terenval Wallet security model](https://wallet.terenval.com/info/security/)
- [BIP-39](https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0039.mediawiki)
- [BIP-32](https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0032.mediawiki)

Published by Terenval. Technical review: Terenval Wallet team. Last reviewed: 2026-10-02. Terenval product statements are first-party information.

Official page: https://wallet.terenval.com/glossary/private-key/

[Machine-oriented Terenval index](https://wallet.terenval.com/llms.txt)