Seed Phrase Security
Your seed phrase (recovery phrase) is the master key to all your crypto. If someone gets it, they steal everything. If you lose it, your funds are gone forever. Here's how to protect it properly.
NEVER enter your seed phrase anywhere online. No legitimate service, support team, or website will ever ask for it. Anyone asking is a scammer.
What is a Seed Phrase?
- 12 or 24 random words generated by your wallet
- Mathematically derives all your private keys
- Can restore your entire wallet on any compatible device
- Also called: recovery phrase, mnemonic, backup phrase
What NOT to Do
| Bad Practice | Why It's Dangerous |
|---|---|
| Screenshot or photo | Cloud sync, malware can access |
| Store in notes app | Phone theft, cloud backup exposure |
| Email to yourself | Email gets hacked constantly |
| Save in password manager | Single point of failure if hacked |
| Store on computer | Malware, ransomware, theft |
| Tell anyone | Trust no one with master key |
Best Storage Methods
1. Paper Backup (Basic)
- Write on paper with permanent pen
- Store in fireproof safe
- Consider multiple copies in different locations
- Risk: Fire, water, fading ink
2. Metal Backup (Recommended)
- Steel plates that survive fire and flood
- Popular options: Cryptosteel, Billfodl, Cryptotag
- Stamp or engrave your words
- Survives house fires (1000°C+)
Buy steel washers from hardware store. Stamp one letter per washer, string on bolt in order. Cheap and nearly indestructible.
3. Split Storage (Advanced)
- Shamir's Secret Sharing splits phrase into parts
- Need X of Y parts to recover (e.g., 3 of 5)
- Store parts in different locations
- Trezor Model T supports this natively
Storage Locations
- Home safe - Fireproof, bolted down
- Bank safe deposit box - Very secure, but not 24/7 access
- Trusted family member - For inheritance planning
- Multiple locations - Redundancy against disaster
Don't keep all backups in one building. A house fire or natural disaster could destroy everything. Keep at least one backup in another location.
Passphrase: Extra Security
Add a passphrase (25th word) for additional protection:
- Even if seed is found, funds remain safe
- Creates completely separate wallet
- Can have multiple passphrases = multiple hidden wallets
- Plausible deniability: Show "decoy" wallet if threatened
If you forget your passphrase, funds are lost forever. There's no "forgot password" option. Write it down separately from your seed phrase.
Inheritance Planning
What happens to your crypto if something happens to you?
- Include instructions in your will
- Teach a trusted family member the basics
- Consider a lawyer-held backup
- Services like Casa offer inheritance solutions
Testing Your Backup
- Before adding significant funds, test recovery
- Reset device, restore from seed phrase
- Verify same addresses are generated
- Better to find problems with small amounts