Multisig

A wallet that requires multiple signatures to spend. 2-of-3 means any two of three keys can authorise a transaction.

Multisig — short for multi-signature — is a Bitcoin wallet setup where spending requires multiple private keys to sign a transaction. The most common setup is 2-of-3: three keys exist, any two are needed to authorise a spend.

Multisig is a powerful security pattern. Spread the keys across separate locations — one at home, one in a safety deposit box, one with a trusted family member — and no single point of failure can cost you your sats. Lose one key? Recover with the other two. Compromise one key? The thief still needs another to spend.

Multisig is also the foundation of inheritance planning. The 2-of-3 setup with one key held by a beneficiary lets them recover the funds in cooperation with one of your other key holders without ever giving them sole access while you're alive.

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Course topic

Wallets & self-custody

How to store Bitcoin so that nobody — not even us — can take it.

Related terms

Glossary

Private key

The cryptographic secret that authorises spending Bitcoin. If someone gets your private key, they can spend your sats.

Glossary

Self-custody

Holding your own Bitcoin private keys. Nobody can freeze, seize, or lose your sats — except you.

Glossary

Hardware wallet

A dedicated physical device that stores private keys offline and signs transactions internally.

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