Private key
Plain definition. A private key is the secret number used to create a digital signature on the XRP Ledger, and anyone who knows it effectively has full control over that address.
Technical definition. On the XRP Ledger, the private key is the secret half of a cryptographic key pair, a 32-byte number that should be chosen using a strong source of randomness and is used to create a digital signature, while the public key is derived from it. Most XRP Ledger software derives the private key from the seed value when necessary instead of showing it. For Ed25519 keys the SHA-512Half of the seed gives the 32-byte secret key, whereas secp256k1 derivation adds an intermediate secret key to a root secret key modulo the secp256k1 group order.
On this site
On this site, Private key comes up in Is XRP’s cryptography at risk from quantum computers?, How do I keep my XRP wallet, keys and recovery phrase safe? and How do I find or recover old XRP (a paper wallet or a forgotten service)?.
Source
Cryptographic Keys (xrpl.org), read October 1, 2026.