Lesson 2 of 2 · 4 min
Addresses, keys and what a wallet holds
Your address is like an email you share; your keys are like a password you never do.
Lesson
A wallet doesn't store coins. It stores keys, and shows you what those keys control on the blockchain.
Public address — safe to share
Your address is what others use to send you crypto. It looks like a long string of letters and numbers. Ethereum-style addresses start with "0x"; Solana addresses look different. Sharing your address is fine.
Private key & recovery phrase — never share
The private key signs transactions to prove they came from you. The recovery phrase can regenerate your private keys. Neither should ever leave your control.
One wallet, many networks
Some wallets support several networks. Phantom supports Solana and other networks; MetaMask focuses on Ethereum and compatible networks. Your address may differ by network, so always check which one you're using.
Key points
- Address = share freely to receive.
- Private key / recovery phrase = never share.
- Wallets store keys, not coins.
- Addresses can differ between networks.
Quick quiz
Further reading
Official learning pages we used as sources. L2E is independent and not affiliated with these companies.