THE WALLET GLOSSARY
The words behind the wallet.
A clear starting point for 24 useful terms. Follow each definition into a deeper guide.
- Account
- An account is the context a network or wallet uses to represent activity and control. Exact account models differ across networks. Do not assume that a shared interface, address format, or label means two environments share balances or permissions. Begin by identifying the network and the signing arrangement.Explore the guide↗
- Address
- An address is a destination or account identifier used in a particular network context. Review the complete address using the verification process supported by the actual wallet. An address that looks familiar or appears in transaction history is not automatically the intended recipient. Network and receiving-service requirements still matter.Explore the guide↗
- Allowance
- A token allowance is permission associated with a specified spender and scope. On Ethereum, an allowance can remain even after an application interface is disconnected. Review the account, network, token, and spender separately; a disconnect action is not necessarily an on-chain permission change.Explore the guide↗
- Backup
- A backup is the information or arrangement needed to recover access according to the wallet’s supported design. It may not be interchangeable with a password or device PIN. Protect essential material from unauthorized access and accidental loss, and keep non-sensitive instructions separate from the recovery secret.Explore the guide↗
- Bitcoin
- Bitcoin is a network with BTC as its native asset. A native Bitcoin transfer is not interchangeable with a tokenized representation on another network. Wallet setup should identify the actual network, receiving route, recovery format, and the service policy used to recognize a completed payment.Explore the guide↗
- Bridge
- A bridge is a mechanism used to move value or information between blockchain environments. A bridge route introduces its own design, counterparties or contracts, costs, and failure modes. Do not confuse bridging with changing a network label in a wallet. Check the whole route before considering any transaction.Explore the guide↗
- Confirmation
- A confirmation provides evidence about a transaction’s inclusion or progress under a network’s rules. A receiving service may have its own policy for crediting an account. Sending-side status, network status, and receiving-side availability are related but not identical observations. Avoid assuming one universal completion rule.Explore the guide↗
- Custody
- Custody describes who controls the authority needed to access or move assets within an arrangement. A provider-managed account and a self-custody account can have different recovery and support models. Read the actual terms and technical design instead of inferring control from a product’s use of the word “wallet.”Explore the guide↗
- Ethereum
- Ethereum is a blockchain environment where ETH is the native asset. Wallet activity may involve transfers, token permissions, or application interactions. Keep the selected account and network visible, and distinguish an application connection from a request that authorizes an action or changes a permission.Explore the guide↗
- Gas
- Gas is a measure associated with computational work on Ethereum. It is different from the final price paid for that work. A fee estimate can change with transaction details and network conditions. On Ethereum, network fees are paid in ETH; separate them from any application or provider charge.Explore the guide↗
- Hardware wallet
- A hardware wallet uses a dedicated device as part of the signing setup. It commonly works with companion software and a recovery process. Evaluate device review, firmware, supported actions, and backup requirements together. A device label alone does not establish compatibility or the trustworthiness of a recipient.Explore the guide↗
- Hot wallet
- “Hot wallet” generally describes a wallet arrangement with signing authority available in an internet-connected environment. The term is a broad category rather than a full security assessment. Examine the exact key storage, application permissions, recovery method, and maintenance process instead of treating the label as the complete story.Explore the guide↗
- Network fee
- A network fee is a charge associated with having a network process an action. The fee model differs among networks and can differ by action. Separate it from provider charges, trade costs, or other steps in a route. A displayed estimate is not a promise of a final price.Explore the guide↗
- Passphrase
- In a wallet design that supports it, an optional recovery passphrase can affect which wallet is derived from the recovery material. It should not be confused with an application password or device PIN. Follow the exact provider’s documentation; an incorrect passphrase may lead to a different wallet rather than a helpful error.Explore the guide↗
- Permission
- A permission grants a particular actor or application a defined ability within a system. In wallet workflows, examine what authority is being requested, for which account, network, and asset. A familiar application connection does not establish that all later requests have the same scope or consequences.Explore the guide↗
- Private key
- A private key is secret signing material used in an account’s authorization process. It is not the same as a public address. Do not enter private keys into this website, an unsolicited support conversation, or an unverified checker. A wallet’s recovery procedure may protect or reconstruct signing material through another supported format.Explore the guide↗
- Recovery phrase
- A recovery phrase is a word-based backup used by some wallet designs. Exact formats and additional requirements vary. Its purpose is not ordinary login or website verification. Keep it private, follow the wallet’s documented recovery process, and do not assume that a familiar number of words proves compatibility.Explore the guide↗
- Revocation
- Revocation is the removal or reduction of a particular permission. On Ethereum, changing a token allowance is distinct from disconnecting an application interface and may require an on-chain transaction. A successful permission change does not reverse prior activity or prove that every other account permission is appropriate.Explore the guide↗
- Self-custody
- Self-custody places signing and recovery responsibilities within the user’s own arrangement rather than relying entirely on a provider-controlled account. It is a responsibility model, not a guarantee of safety. Understand the actual keys, devices, backups, shared dependencies, and maintenance required by the chosen setup.Explore the guide↗
- Signature
- A signature is an authorization-related output produced using signing authority. Its meaning depends on the message or transaction being signed. Do not equate every signature prompt with a simple payment, harmless login, or fixed permission. Compare the actual request with the task you intended to perform.Explore the guide↗
- Software wallet
- A software wallet runs as a mobile, desktop, browser, or other software interface. It may sign locally or work with a separate signing arrangement. The interface type alone does not settle custody. Inspect key handling, installation, recovery, compatibility, and the clarity of the actual approval process.Explore the guide↗
- Solana
- Solana is a blockchain network whose native asset is SOL. Wallet workflows should keep token identity, account context, intended action, and fee readiness visible. A fast interface does not remove the need to verify the receiving route or examine a requested authorization before approving it.Explore the guide↗
- Token
- A token represents an asset or function within a blockchain environment according to its specific design. A displayed name, symbol, or logo is not independent proof of identity, value, or legitimacy. Check the exact token identifier and network through a trustworthy reference appropriate to the intended use.Explore the guide↗
- Transaction identifier
- A transaction identifier is a reference used to locate or discuss a particular transaction in the relevant network context. It can help reconcile sending-side information with network and receiving-side records. An identifier is not a recovery secret, but sharing transaction information can still reveal activity and account relationships.Explore the guide↗