public key

Phonetic: /ˈpʌblɪk kiː/

Part of Speech: noun

Category: To be determined

Public blockchain networks are just that: public. Their data is accessible and readable by anyone. In order to have any degree of usability when it comes to allowing users to do some things, like send transactions, but not others, like steal other peoples’ tokens, cryptographic technology is used. In particular, a design paradigm known as ‘public/private key pairs’ is employed to ensure users can interact with others on the network as they wish, while keeping their own account secure. These key pairs consist of two long strings of alphanumeric characters. A public key can be derived mathematically from its corresponding private key, but the inverse is not true: it is mathematically impossible to derive a private key from its corresponding public key. This allows, for example, users to have a public wallet address that anyone can use to send them tokens, with the peace of mind that as long as they properly keep the corresponding private key safe, those tokens cannot be stolen. See also ‘private key’.

Definition source: Education DAO - mapachurro

Sample sentence

N/A

Additional definitions

A public key is one-half of a key pair used to encrypt messages or verify digital signatures. In the crypto space, it essentially works as your wallet address.

Source

The public key of a keypair.

Source

Extended definition

No extended definition. ...yet

This word came from... the ether

Date first recorded: 2025-01-31

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