Series
Understanding seed phrases
8 posts in this series. Read them in order or jump to any one.
- What Is a Seed Phrase? BIP39 Recovery Phrases Explained
A plain-English explanation of seed phrases (BIP39 recovery phrases): what they are, how 12 or 24 words can control your crypto, and why the checksum matters.
- BIP39 Passphrase: the 25th Word Explained
A BIP39 passphrase — the optional '25th word' — creates a hidden wallet. Learn how it works, why it can't be brute-forced, and what it means for recovery.
- 12 vs 24 Word Seed Phrase: Does It Really Matter?
Is a 24-word seed phrase safer than 12 words? What the difference actually is, why both are secure, and what it means for backups and recovery.
- The BIP39 Word List: Why There Are Exactly 2048 Words
The BIP39 wordlist is 2048 carefully chosen words. Learn why that number, how the words are picked, and why you only need the first four letters.
- Bitcoin Derivation Paths Explained (BIP44, BIP49, BIP84)
Why one seed phrase shows different Bitcoin addresses (1…, 3…, bc1…). Derivation paths explained — and why they matter when you recover a wallet.
- Electrum Seed Recovery: Why It's Not BIP39
Electrum uses its own seed format, not BIP39 — which is why other wallets call it 'invalid'. How Electrum seeds work, and how to identify and restore yours.
- Monero Seed Recovery: The 25-Word Mnemonic Explained
Monero uses a 25-word seed, not BIP39 — its own wordlist, checksum, and keys. How the Monero mnemonic works, and how to identify and recover yours safely.
- SLIP39 Shamir Backup Recovery: Combining Your Shares
SLIP39 (Trezor Shamir backup) splits your wallet into shares — 20 or 33 words each. How it works, how many shares you need, and how to combine them safely.