Have you ever wondered how a few simple words can unlock your entire crypto wallet? It’s not magic — it’s a smart process that turns randomness into something you can remember and trust.
It sounds almost too simple: a short list of words written on paper… yet it can unlock access to thousands—or even millions—of dollars in crypto. No username, no password, no email. Just words.
But those words? They’re everything.
Welcome to the world of BIP-39 — the technology behind how wallets like Klever turn complex cryptographic keys into words you can actually understand, remember, and protect.
In this guide, we’ll explain the BIP-39 technology and how those random words are generated, why they’re important, what risks they carry, and how Klever Wallet puts BIP-39 to use in making your assets secure and fully under your control.
What is BIP-39?
BIP-39, short for Bitcoin Improvement Proposal 39, is a standard that defines how to create and use mnemonic phrases — better known as seed phrases — for wallet backup and recovery.
They make it easier for people to keep their money safe and recover it later, without needing to deal with long, complicated codes.
Think of it like this: your crypto wallet is a super-secure vault, and BIP-39 gives you a master key — but instead of a string of confusing letters and numbers, it’s written in regular words.
If you lose those words, you lose access. There’s no reset option.
So, when setting up a non-custodial wallet, you’re shown 12 or 24 words in a specific order — and told to write them down and keep them somewhere safe. That’s BIP-39 in action.
Where did BIP39 come from?
The BIP39 standard was introduced by developers Marek Palatinus, Pavol Rusnak, Aaron Voisine, and Sean Bowe in 2013 to standardize how BIP39 mnemonic words are generated and used for wallet recovery.
The idea behind BIP39 was to create a process that could be universally adopted, ensuring cross-compatibility between different wallets.
How Does BIP-39 Create Your Seed Phrase?
Source: Privacy Pros
Here’s how BIP-39 creates your seed phrase and turns it into a secure key that controls your wallet:
1. Entropy: Creating the Random Key
It all starts with the creation of a random sequence of numbers and letters — like flipping a coin hundreds of times or shuffling a giant deck of cards.
This randomness, known as entropy, ensures that the wallet is completely unique and nearly impossible for anyone else to replicate or guess.
2. Checksum: Verifying the Code’s Integrity
To make sure your random code hasn’t been altered or mistyped, BIP-39 adds a built-in error check called a checksum. Think of it like a digital signature that verifies the data’s integrity — so you don’t end up with the wrong words by mistake.
3. Words: Turning the Code into Something Memorable
Now comes the smart part. That combined random data + checksum is broken into small parts with 11 bits — each mapped to a word in a fixed list of 2,048 simple words. That’s how you get a readable, memorable phrase like:
guitar, welcome, sunset, coconut…
Instead of something like:
a9f3bc9284d7e…
It’s a human-friendly version of a secret cryptographic key.
4. Seed Generation
Your 12 or 24 words aren’t the wallet itself — they generate a seed, which then creates all your wallet addresses and private keys.
Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tron, Polkadot… All can come from that one seed phrase.
It’s like planting one seed and growing an entire forest of keys.
Why Is BIP-39 So Powerful.. and Risky?
BIP-39 is incredible and terrifying.
If someone else finds your 12 or 24 words, they own your crypto. There is no password reset. There is no “contact support.”. There’s no customer service in cryptography.
That’s why people store them in secure places — because those words are the wallet.
A Real Word Example of BIP-39
Let’s say those words were written on paper and put them in a drawer.
Later, your phone is stolen. No problem. You can:
- Download the app again on a new phone.
- You tap “Restore Wallet”.
- Enter your 24 words.
Your wallet is back.
Your money is safe.
You don’t need email, password, or support.
You had the words. That’s all it takes.
What is the difference between BIP 32, 39 and 44?
BIP 32: Allows wallets to generate many private keys from one main key, always in a predictable and reproducible way.
BIP 39: Changes that secret key into a list of 12 or 24 simple words. These words are easier to remember or write down, and you can use them to recover your wallet if needed.
BIP 44: Gives structure to how wallets organize different accounts, coins, and transactions — so one wallet can handle Bitcoin, Ethereum, and others without overlap or confusion.
How Klever Wallet Uses BIP-39
Klever Wallet uses a 24-word recovery phrase based on the BIP-39 standard.
Klever Wallet is built on the BIP-39 standard to give users a secure, simple, and fully private way to manage and recover their crypto wallets. Here’s how it works inside the app:
- Secure Wallet Creation with 12 or 24 Words: Compared to a 12-word phrase, the 24-word option adds significantly more complexity, making it much harder for anyone to guess or break into.
- Built-In Compatibility with Other Wallets: Since Klever follows the BIP-39 standard, your recovery phrase works on any other wallet that supports BIP-39.
That means if you ever need to switch apps or recover your funds elsewhere, you can.
- Secure by Design: Klever uses strong built-in security from your device (iOS or Android) to generate and store entropy — the randomness behind your key.
Your private keys are never stored on a server. You hold them, and only you.
- You Hold the Keys — Literally: Klever is non-custodial. That means it doesn’t store your seed phrase, keys, or coins. If you lose your 12 or 24 words, no one can recover them for you.
That’s why Klever reminds you: write your phrase down and store it offline, somewhere safe.
Security features include end-to-end encryption, biometric login, PIN protection, and frequent third-party audits to keep everything locked down.
Klever is built with one goal: give you full control over your assets, without compromises. You hold the keys. You make the moves.
Download Klever Wallet and take full control of your crypto securely.
