Glossary

Wallets, Security & Custody

What is key sharding in crypto custody?

Key sharding is a custody technique that splits a single private key into multiple encrypted fragments, called shards, stored in separate locations so no one place holds the complete key. To authorize a transaction, a defined number of shards must be combined, which removes the single point of failure a whole key represents. For example, a key might be split into five shards held across three regions, with any three required to sign. This limits the damage if one storage location is breached, lost, or compromised.

Crypto investments are subject to market risk and volatility. Past performance is not indicative of future returns. This is general information, not investment advice — consider your own circumstances or consult a qualified adviser before investing.

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