SeedQR
SeedQR is a format that stores a BIP39 recovery phrase as a QR code, so that an air-gapped signing device with a camera can load the seed by scanning it.
What Is SeedQR?
SeedQR is a format for storing a BIP39 recovery phrase as a QR code. It was defined by the SeedSigner project so that an air-gapped signing device with a camera can load a seed in a second, without 12 or 24 words being typed in.
The standard version converts each word to its four-digit position in the BIP39 word list and encodes the resulting digits. CompactSeedQR encodes the underlying entropy directly and yields a smaller code. Both are small enough to be copied by hand onto a printed grid or punched into a metal plate, square by square.
A SeedQR is the seed itself, not an encrypted copy. Anyone who photographs or scans it controls the wallet, so it needs the same protection as a written phrase and must never be scanned with a phone or with a webcam on an online computer. Only a signing device should read it.
It is most useful with stateless devices that keep no seed between sessions. It belongs next to a word backup and should not replace it, because a damaged code is harder to repair than a misspelled word. Among the wallets in our catalogue, the Blockstream Jade Plus and Blockstream Jade Classic can export and scan SeedQR codes.
BIP39 is a standard for generating mnemonic seed phrases that are used to create deterministic wallets and securely back up cryptocurrency private keys.
Read full definition: BIP39A mnemonic phrase is a set of words that stores a cryptocurrency wallet's private keys, allowing users to recover access if lost.
Read full definition: Mnemonic PhraseQR Code Signing is a method used in cryptocurrency transactions where a QR code is generated to confirm and sign a transaction, enhancing security and user convenience.
Read full definition: QR Code SigningOffline Signing refers to signing cryptocurrency transactions on a device that is not connected to the internet, ensuring private keys remain secure from online threats.
Read full definition: Offline SigningEntropy is the randomness used to generate secure cryptographic keys or seeds in blockchain and cryptocurrency systems.
Read full definition: EntropyA hardware wallet is a dedicated device that keeps private keys offline and signs transactions internally, so the keys never reach an internet-connected computer or phone.
A backup in cryptocurrency is a secure copy of a wallet's seed phrase or private keys. It enables recovery of funds if the original wallet is lost or damaged.
Read full definition: BackupReal-World Examples
Example 1: A Blockstream Jade Plus is used without a stored seed. At each session the owner scans a SeedQR, signs a transaction over QR codes and switches the device off, after which it holds no key material.
Example 2: A user copies a SeedQR onto a steel plate with a centre punch, then scans the plate with the signing device and checks that the wallet fingerprint matches the original.
QR Code Signing is a method used in cryptocurrency transactions where a QR code is generated to confirm and sign a transaction, enhancing security and user convenience.
Read full definition: QR Code SigningA hardware wallet is a dedicated device that keeps private keys offline and signs transactions internally, so the keys never reach an internet-connected computer or phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to scan my SeedQR with a phone?
No. A SeedQR is the seed itself, not an encrypted copy: anyone who photographs or scans it controls the wallet. It must never be scanned with a phone or with a webcam on an online computer. Only a signing device should read it, and the code needs the same protection as a written recovery phrase.
What is the difference between a standard SeedQR and a CompactSeedQR?
The standard version converts each BIP39 word to its four-digit position in the word list and encodes the resulting digits. CompactSeedQR encodes the underlying entropy directly and yields a smaller code. Both are small enough to be copied by hand onto a printed grid or punched into a metal plate, square by square.
Can a SeedQR replace my written word backup?
It should not. A SeedQR belongs next to a word backup, because a damaged code is harder to repair than a misspelled word. Its strength is speed with stateless devices that keep no seed between sessions: scanning loads the seed in a second instead of typing 12 or 24 words.
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