Public Key

A public key is a unique code that lets others send you bitcoin. While anyone can use your public key to transfer bitcoin to you, only you—the owner of the paired private key—can unlock and spend those funds by providing a valid cryptographic signature. Sharing your public key is safe, unlike your private key, which must remain secret.

It’s common to confuse public keys with addresses. In reality, a bitcoin address is typically a hashed version of a public key, designed for easier use and extra security. While bitcoin is normally sent to an address, the network ultimately uses the underlying public key to confirm that you have the right to spend those coins.

Bitcoin wallets handle key management automatically. They start by generating a private key (a long and random number), derive the public key from it, and then create a bitcoin address by hashing the public key and adding a prefix. This layered process helps keep your bitcoin secure while making transactions straightforward.