A seed phrase, also called a recovery phrase, is a backup for a cryptocurrency wallet. A common BIP-39 phrase contains 12 or 24 words selected from a standard wordlist. Those words encode the information used to derive the wallet’s seed and master private key, from which its accounts and addresses can be recreated.
The phrase is not just a reminder or a password reset token. Anyone who obtains it can restore a compatible wallet and control the associated funds, often without needing access to your phone or computer. Transactions on a blockchain are generally irreversible, so a stolen phrase can be costly even if the original device remains in your possession.
Write the words in the correct order and keep the backup offline, for example on paper stored securely or on a durable metal backup. Consider hazards such as fire, water and theft when deciding where to keep it. A carefully protected second offline copy can help if the first is destroyed, but every copy needs the same level of protection.
Never photograph the phrase, save it in cloud storage, type it into a website or share it with anyone. Genuine wallet or exchange support will not ask for your recovery words. If someone says they need the phrase to verify an account, fix a wallet or release funds, treat that request as a warning sign.
Some wallets also support an optional BIP-39 passphrase, sometimes called a 25th word. It is separate from the recovery phrase and can be more than one word. The exact passphrase is needed along with the phrase to recover the corresponding wallet; losing it can mean losing access. Learn how your wallet handles recovery before relying on this option.
For more background, see the seed phrase guide
