Alto
Glossary

What is a crypto wallet?

A cryptocurrency wallet is a tool that securely stores and safeguards an investor’s cryptocurrency holdings, allowing them to send, receive, and monitor their digital assets. There are physical and digital versions of wallets.

A crypto wallet is essential for executing transactions on a blockchain. When a user wants to send or receive crypto, the wallet generates and manages the necessary cryptographic keys:

  • A public address for receiving funds
  • A private key (known only to the wallet owner) for accessing assets and authorizing or executing transactions

Without a crypto wallet, a user doesn’t have a secure means to manage these keys, making transactions on a blockchain impossible.

In addition to basic functionalities like sending and receiving crypto funds, crypto wallets may also provide features like:

  • Portfolio tracking
  • Transaction history
  • Integration with decentralized applications (DApps)

There are two main types of crypto wallets:

  1. Hot wallets – These are connected to the internet for frequent transactions.
  2. Cold wallets – These are offline storage devices that provide tighter security.

Regardless of the type of wallet, security measures like two-factor authentication, encryption, and biometric verification protect the assets within a wallet.

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