PLAIN-LANGUAGE GLOSSARY
The words behind the wallet.
A practical glossary for Bitcoin, Solana, and Ethereum wallet research. Learn enough terminology to ask a clear question and recognize what an interface is asking you to do.
Wallet
An interface or arrangement for viewing accounts and authorizing network actions. What the software stores and how recovery works depend on its design.
Public address
Receiving or account-identifying information associated with a network. It is not the same thing as a private key, and publishing it can affect privacy.
Private key
Secret cryptographic material used to authorize actions in conventional key-controlled arrangements. Protect it from disclosure and unverified software.
Recovery phrase
A sequence of words used by some wallet designs to recreate secret material. Not every wallet uses the same recovery format or requirements.
Self-custody
An arrangement in which responsibility for controlling signing authority and recovery is held by the user rather than simply delegated to a service.
Custodial service
A provider that controls keys or holds assets on a user’s behalf. Account access, withdrawals, and recovery depend on the provider’s actual policies.
Watch-only
A view that can inspect account information without holding the secret authority needed to sign. Exact functions depend on the wallet and network.
Network
The blockchain context for an account, asset, or transaction. Changing a network selector does not itself move assets between networks.
Native asset
A network’s native currency, such as BTC for Bitcoin, SOL for Solana, or ETH for Ethereum. Distinguish it from tokens displayed alongside it.
Token identifier
Information identifying a token in a network context, such as a Solana mint address or an Ethereum token contract. A ticker alone is insufficient.
Transaction
An authorized network operation. It may do more than transfer a single asset, so read the complete request and its expected effects.
Gas
A measure of computational resources used by Ethereum transactions. Read the actual fee preview rather than treating an old estimate as a current quote.
Token allowance
Permission for a spender to use tokens under a particular contract model. For common Ethereum allowances, disconnecting a site does not revoke this authority.
Transaction reference
A public identifier, such as a hash or signature, used to inspect transaction status. It is useful for nonsecret troubleshooting but can reveal activity.
Hardware signer
A separate device designed to authorize actions while keeping signing material within a defined boundary. Compatibility and recovery must be checked with its publisher.
Checksum & signature
A checksum helps check file integrity against an expected value; a signature helps authenticate a signing key. The expected value and key identity need trustworthy provenance.
Read the primary explanations
These definitions are introductory, not a substitute for product-specific instructions. Explore Bitcoin’s basic model, Solana’s account documentation, and Ethereum’s wallet overview for context.
For specialized terms, see Ethereum gas, token-allowance revocation, and Ubuntu’s verification tutorial. The Ubuntu example concerns operating-system downloads; a wallet package needs its own publisher’s instructions.
Know the wallet. Own the decision.
Start with the network. Find your platform. Make the next step an informed one.