This content is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice. bunq doesn't give trading advice. Always do your own research or consult a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Cryptocurrency investments come with risks, including the potential loss of the principal invested. Prices can fluctuate significantly. bunq Crypto is powered by our partner Kraken.

Your public key is the address you share when someone wants to send you cryptocurrency. Think of it as your crypto account number: safe to share publicly, visible on the blockchain, and paired with a private key that only you control.

How public keys work

Cryptocurrency uses public-key cryptography. Your public key is derived from your private key through mathematical formulas, one-way encryption that makes it practically impossible to work backward and discover your private key from your public key alone.

When you receive crypto, the sender directs it to your public address. The network records the transfer on the blockchain. To spend those funds later, you use your private key to sign a transaction proving you own that address.

Public key vs wallet address

People often use "public key" and "wallet address" interchangeably. Technically, a wallet address is usually a shortened or encoded version of the public key, formatted for easier sharing. On Bitcoin and Ethereum, addresses look like long strings of letters and numbers, that's what you paste when receiving a payment.

Always double-check the address before sending. Crypto transactions are typically irreversible once confirmed.

Public keys and bunq

When you use bunq Crypto, you don't need to generate or manage public keys yourself. Buy, sell, and track crypto in the app; custody and security are handled through our partner Kraken. For everyday banking, your Bank Account uses familiar IBAN details instead.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to share my public key?

Yes. Sharing your public address is required to receive funds. Never share your private key or recovery phrase, only the public address.

Can someone steal my crypto with my public key?

No. Funds can only be moved with the matching private key. Your public key lets others send money to you, not take it away.

Why do addresses look different on different networks?

Each blockchain uses its own address format. Sending Bitcoin to an Ethereum address (or vice versa) can result in lost funds. Always match the asset to the correct network.