Multi-Party Computation (MPC) Wallets Explained

Adaas Capital
3 min readOct 24, 2023

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Multi-Party Computation (MPC) wallets are a new type of cryptocurrency wallet that leverages the power of MPC to provide users with enhanced security and privacy. MPC is a cryptographic technique that allows multiple parties to jointly perform computations without revealing their individual inputs.

In the context of MPC wallets, the private key is divided into multiple shares, with each share distributed to a different party. To sign a transaction, all parties must collaboratively perform a cryptographic computation without revealing their individual key shares. This distributed approach eliminates single points of failure and makes MPC wallets significantly more resistant to hacking and theft.

MPC wallets are still in their early stages of development, but they have the potential to revolutionize the way we store and manage our digital assets. In this blog post, we will provide a comprehensive overview of MPC wallets, including their benefits, how they work, and how to choose the right one for you.

Benefits of MPC Wallets

MPC wallets offer a number of benefits over traditional cryptocurrency wallets, including:

  • Enhanced security: MPC wallets are significantly more secure than traditional wallets, as they eliminate single points of failure. Even if one party is compromised, the attacker will not be able to steal the private key or sign transactions without the cooperation of the other parties.
  • Privacy protection: MPC wallets protect users’ privacy by never revealing the full private key to any single party. This makes it impossible for anyone to track users’ transactions or steal their identities.
  • Transparency: MPC wallets are transparent and auditable, as all transactions must be signed by all parties involved. This makes it easy for users to track their own spending and to verify the authenticity of transactions.
  • Convenience: MPC wallets are just as convenient to use as traditional wallets. Users can send and receive transactions without having to worry about the security of their private keys.

How MPC Wallets Work

MPC wallets work by distributing the private key across multiple parties. When a user wants to send a transaction, they generate a transaction request and send it to all of the parties involved. The parties then jointly perform a cryptographic computation to sign the transaction. Once the transaction is signed, it is broadcast to the blockchain network.

There are a number of different MPC protocols that can be used to implement MPC wallets. The most common MPC protocol used for MPC wallets is called Threshold Signature Scheme (TSS). TSS allows a group of parties to generate a shared secret key that can be used to sign transactions without revealing the individual secret keys of any of the parties.

How to Choose an MPC Wallet

When choosing an MPC wallet, there are a few factors to consider:

  • Security features: The wallet should have strong security features, such as distributed key storage, end-to-end encryption, and support for two-factor authentication.
  • Ease of use: The wallet should be easy to use and navigate.
  • Supported assets: The wallet should support the cryptocurrencies and other digital assets that you want to use.
  • Fees: Some MPC wallets charge fees for transactions and other services.
  • Reputation: Choose a wallet from a reputable company with a good track record.

Here is a list of some of the leading MPC wallets on the market:

  • Threshold
  • Qredo
  • Fireblocks
  • MPC Wallet
  • Atato

Tips for Secure Usage

Here are some tips for using MPC wallets securely:

  • Choose a strong password and enable two-factor authentication.
  • Only use trusted devices to access your wallet.
  • Keep your wallet software up to date.
  • Be careful about what links you click on and what attachments you open.
  • Be wary of phishing scams.

Conclusion

MPC wallets offer a number of advantages over traditional cryptocurrency wallets, including enhanced security, privacy protection, transparency, and convenience. As MPC technology continues to develop, MPC wallets are poised to become the new standard for storing and managing digital assets.

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