برچسب: Explained

  • Trezor Wallet Backups Explained: BIP-39 (12 or 24 words) vs. SLIP-39 (20 words) | by Lucien Bourdon | Apr, 2025


    Which Trezor devices support SLIP-39 backups?

    SLIP-39 backups are supported by Trezor Model T, Trezor Safe 3, and Trezor Safe 5.

    Can I upgrade my existing BIP-39 wallet to SLIP-39 directly?

    No. SLIP-39 is a different backup standard. To switch, you’ll need to create a new SLIP-39 wallet and transfer your funds to it.

    Can I upgrade a SLIP-39 backup later?

    Yes. If you start with a 20-word Single-Share backup, you can upgrade to a Multi-Share setup anytime using Trezor Suite. Your original backup will still work unless you choose to retire it.

    Can I use a passphrase with BIP-39 and SLIP-39?

    Yes, but it introduces a new single point of failure. If you lose or forget the passphrase, your wallet can’t be recovered, even with the correct backup. Make sure you write it down and don’t lose it.

    What if Trezor stops making hardware wallets?

    BIP-39 and SLIP-39 are open standards supported by multiple wallets. Even if Trezor were unavailable, you could recover your wallet using other compatible devices or software.

    Is SLIP-39 compatible with multisig?

    Yes. SLIP-39 can be used to securely back up one of the keys in a multisig wallet. If the original device is lost or unavailable, the key can be restored using the SLIP-39 shares and imported to a new device.

    How many shares can I create with SLIP-39?

    Up to 16 shares. More shares can offer more flexibility, but they’re also harder to keep track of.

    What happens if I lose a SLIP-39 share?

    As long as you still have the required number of shares (the threshold), you can recover your wallet. With fewer than the threshold, recovery is not possible — and no usable information about the wallet or keys can be extracted. If you believe one or more shares may have been compromised, it’s safest to create a new wallet and move your funds.

    Why use Multi-Share instead of just splitting a regular backup myself?

    SLIP-39 uses cryptography to split your backup securely. Any number of shares fewer than the threshold reveal nothing on their own. Manually splitting a BIP-39 phrase (e.g. writing half in one place, half in another) doesn’t offer the same protection and increases the risk of accidental loss or compromise.

    What is the difference between a 12-word and a 24-word BIP-39 backup? Is 24 words safer?

    A 24-word backup has more entropy, but a 12-word backup is already unguessable in practice. Even with billions of supercomputers, it would take longer than the age of the universe to brute-force.

    What matters most isn’t the number of words — it’s keeping your backup safe, private, and offline.

    Why does SLIP-39 use 20 words?

    SLIP-39 uses 20 words because each share includes extra information — like group and threshold data — and a stronger checksum to detect errors. The longer format helps ensure each share is unique, verifiable, and secure.

    Should I upgrade to SLIP-39?

    If your BIP-39 backup is secure and works well for you, there’s no urgent need to switch. However, if you’re looking for enhanced security, flexibility, or worry about a single point of failure, SLIP-39 might be a better option.



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  • Wallet Backups Explained: Why Trezor Replaced the Term ‘Recovery Seed’ With ‘Wallet Backup’


    If you self-custody your crypto (or are planning on soon), you’ve probably heard these terms before:

    • BIP-39 seed phrase
    • Mnemonic phrase
    • Recovery phrase
    • Recovery seed
    • Seed phrase
    • Backup
    • Seed

    The good news? They all mean the same thing! But for new users, this terminology can be confusing when securing their assets.

    At Trezor, we previously used the term “recovery seed.” However, after seeing firsthand how it caused confusion, we decided to simplify it.

    Because honestly, how many new people can understand what a “seed phrase” is? It’s not intuitive, especially when the device we use to secure your crypto is called a hardware wallet. It’s easy to get lost in jargon, which only delays taking control of your crypto!

    It’s exactly what it sounds like. If you lose your device and need to recover your wallet, use your wallet backup.

    Our wallet backup can look like this:

    Or this:

    Even this:

    (We’ll explain this below!)

    Think of your wallet backup as the key or master password to your crypto wallet.

    If your Trezor hardware wallet is damaged, you’ll need this wallet backup to recover your funds. Without it, you cannot access, transfer, or manage your funds.

    It should be kept in a safe place because without it, you could be permanently locked out of your crypto.

    (Watch this video to learn how to keep your wallet backup safe)

    When setting up a new wallet, you’ll be asked to write down a list of 12, 20, or 24-word words.

    This list of words, generated by your hardware wallet, is your wallet backup. It represents a private key that grants access to your wallet, which holds your assets securely on the blockchain.

    “But what about that crazy list of numbers above? Is that also my wallet backup?”

    Here’s a fun fact… your wallet backup doesn’t actually start as a list of words!

    It originates as a long, random string of mathematically derived characters, which is then converted into words to make it human-readable… crazy, huh?

    Another fun fact: Trezor’s founders pioneered this approach!

    Once we found a way to translate private key data into simple words, it became the industry standard.

    (Just another reason to choose Trezorhumble brag 😉)



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  • How to Fix a Stuck Bitcoin Transaction: Solutions and Tips (RBF & CPFP Explained) | by Lucien Bourdon | Feb, 2025


    What is a satoshi?

    A satoshi (sat) is the smallest unit of Bitcoin.

    • 1 satoshi = 0.00 000 001 BTC
    • Bitcoin transaction fees are measured in satoshis per virtual byte (sat/vB) — higher sat/vB means faster confirmation.

    What does sat/vB mean?

    • sat/vB = satoshis per virtual byte (the fee rate for your transaction).
    • Fees depend on transaction size, not the amount of Bitcoin sent.
    • The higher the fee rate (sat/vB), the more likely miners will prioritize your transaction.

    How long do Bitcoin transactions take to confirm?

    Bitcoin transactions are typically confirmed within 10–60 minutes, but it depends on the fee rate, network congestion, and transaction size. High-fee transactions confirm faster, while low-fee ones may take several hours or even days if the network is busy. You can speed up confirmation using RBF or CPFP if needed.

    How long should I wait before taking action?

    If your transaction is unconfirmed for a few hours and fees remain high, consider using RBF or CPFP.

    If the network is less busy, waiting 12–24 hours may be enough.

    Can I cancel a Bitcoin transaction?

    No, Bitcoin transactions cannot be canceled once they are broadcast to the network.
    However, if your transaction is marked as “replaceable” (RBF-enabled), you can replace it with a higher-fee transaction or send it to a different address. This effectively overrides the original transaction.

    What is Replace-by-Fee (RBF)?

    RBF lets you replace an unconfirmed transaction with a higher-fee version to speed up confirmation.

    • Only works if RBF was enabled when the transaction was sent.
    • Trezor Suite enables RBF by default.

    What is Child Pays for Parent (CPFP)?

    CPFP lets you spend an unconfirmed transaction with a higher fee, so miners will confirm both at the same time.

    • Use CPFP if you received Bitcoin with a low fee and want to speed it up.
    • If you sent Bitcoin but can’t use RBF, CPFP may work if you have an unconfirmed change output available.

    What is a mempool, and what is mempool.space?

    A mempool (short for “memory pool”) is a temporary holding area where unconfirmed Bitcoin transactions wait before being added to a block. Each Bitcoin node has its own mempool, and miners select transactions from it based on fee priority — higher-fee transactions get confirmed first.

    mempool.space is a block explorer that lets you view the Bitcoin network’s mempool in real time, including current fee estimates and transaction status. It’s a useful tool for checking whether your transaction will likely be confirmed soon.

    Other Bitcoin block explorers include:

    Tip: If you want to track a specific transaction, find the TXID in Trezor Suite and paste it into a block explorer like mempool.space or Trezor’s explorer.

    What is Mempool Accelerator™?

    Mempool Accelerator™ is a third-party service that lets you pay miners directly to confirm your transaction faster.

    • Works even if you’re not the sender or receiver of the transaction.
    • Useful when RBF or CPFP isn’t an option.
    • Always check the service’s terms and fees before using it.

    For more details, visit the Mempool Accelerator page.

    Do RBF and CPFP only work for Bitcoin?

    No, these techniques also work for other UTXO-based cryptocurrencies, including:

    • Bitcoin (BTC)
    • Litecoin (LTC)
    • Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
    • Bitcoin SV (BSV)
    • Dogecoin (DOGE)

    For Ethereum and similar blockchains, fee bumping works differently, usually by increasing the gas price of a pending transaction.



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