A private key is a sophisticated form of cryptography that allows a user to securely access virtuals assets, such as cryptocurrency. A private key is an integral aspect of bitcoin and altcoins, and its security design helps to protect a user from theft and unauthorized access to their funds. When dealing with public blockchains, a user is usually given both a public address and a private key to send and receive coins or tokens. The public address is where funds are deposited and received, but a user won’t be able to withdraw them without their unique private key.
Note: the public key is created from the private key using a complex mathematical algorithm. It is nearly impossible to reverse the process by generating a private key from a public key.
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