A private key is a sophisticated form of cryptography that allows a user to access their cryptocurrency. A private key is an integral aspect of bitcoin and altcoins, and its security makeup helps protect a user from theft and unauthorized access to funds. Private keys cryptography can be generated through various methods depending on what type of wallet you’re using, but what’s essential for this article is that if your private keys become compromised, you may not have any way to recover your coins. The best way to avoid this? Store it in what’s called cold storage - which means storing it offline on something like hardware or paper wallets!