Skip to main content

What is an Account?

The wallets that are widely used today provide interfaces and storage methods to secure access to your crypto.

Depending on your preference for increased security or ease of use, there are multiple options available for you to choose from.

Your newly installed Frame Wallet primarily supports two basic types of signers. These include hardware and software signers; both have various benefits and offer different options for users to choose from.

Terminology​

Below are the common terms used for interacting with Frame:

Wallet​

  • An interface or software application that allows you to interact with your accounts and the blockchain network.
  • The wallets you download provide a user-friendly method to manage your assets, send and receive transactions, and view your transaction history.
  • Your Frame Wallet supports multiple accounts and signers, allowing you to manage all of your assets in one place.

Account​

  • A container that holds your assets or allows you to perform actions on a blockchain network.
  • These can be an Externally Owned Account (EOA) or a smart contract account.
  • Each account you add to Frame is created using a unique signer.

Signer​

  • A tool or device that can sign transactions and messages on behalf of an account.
  • These can include hardware devices like a Ledger or Trezor and software tools that generate cryptographic keys.
  • Signers that you can add directly to Frame include Seed Phrases, Private Keys, and Keystore Files.

Hardware Signers​

Hardware signers are external devices that safely store your private keys and remain offline. Otherwise known as "cold storage", your device is isolated from an internet connection and often provides increased security benefits.

These include devices like:

  • Ledger: a pocket-size, hardware wallet established in 2014.
  • Trezor: an advanced storage solution created by SatoshiLabs.
  • GridPlus Lattice: a token management wallet optimized for user experience and security.

Software Signers​

Software signers are downloadable applications for controlling your addresses and assets through your computer or mobile device.

Commonly referred to as hot wallets, these are connected to the internet and allow users to interact with Dapps, send tokens, and buy NFTs.

Choosing Accounts

Keep in mind that these wallets simply display and provide secure access to each overall Account.

These Accounts represent your public key, which is displayed as a '0x' address and viewable on each respective blockchain.

To gain access to this public key, your private key is used to sign and confirm access to the funds you hold on the blockchain.

Adding a new Account to Frame will require your private key before you can sign transactions.

Frame labels each Account that is added from a software signer as "Hot Signers".

Hot Signers

In this example, we will be demonstrating how to easily add a Hot Signer using either your Seed Phrase, Private Key, or a Keystore File.