When to Use a Deterministic Seed Phrase
Compare when SeedAddress’s deterministic method may fit, when random wallet generation is preferable, and what recovery requires.
SeedAddress uses a deterministic method to derive a reproducible mnemonic. This guide explains when that approach may fit and when a wallet's secure random generation is the better choice.
When the deterministic method may fit
- You need to reproduce a phrase from a known set of inputs: the selected coordinates, password, word count, and language.
- You understand that the address is public information and can preserve the exact inputs in a separate backup.
- You have verified the result and kept an offline copy before using it with a wallet.
When to choose another method
- Choose a wallet's secure random generation when you need a newly generated wallet seed with fresh random entropy.
- SeedAddress cannot recover phrases created by other wallets; use that wallet's recovery documentation instead.
- Do not rely on the deterministic method if you cannot preserve the password, coordinates, word count, language, and an offline backup.
What SeedAddress actually does
The browser derives the mnemonic locally with WebCrypto from the coordinates resolved for the selected place and the password. The password, its hash, and the mnemonic stay in transient browser memory and are not sent to the server or stored in cookies. No random entropy is added, so a 24-word result does not guarantee 256 bits of entropy. A five-character password is accepted for legacy compatibility, not recommended for new use.
Recovery conditions
Recovery requires the same coordinates, password, word count, and language. A map provider changing the coordinates for a place can change the result, and losing the password can make recovery impossible. The app clears transient derivation data when you reload or reset the flow, so keep a secure offline backup.
SeedAddress: Reproducing the phrase requires the same coordinates, password, word count and language, or an independent backup of the phrase.
Random wallet generation: Restoring the wallet requires the generated phrase and any optional BIP39 passphrase.
Neither method removes the need to verify the result and keep a protected backup. SeedAddress does not guarantee recovery and does not replace a wallet's secure random generation.
For the standard lengths and general role of a seed phrase, read what a seed phrase is and how SeedAddress differs.