One of the most confused concepts in crypto development is the difference between API keys and private keys. Mixing them up can cost you real money.
API Keys: What They Are
An API key is like a username/password for a service. It grants access to data, not control of funds. Your CryptoBoss API key lets you fetch prices, check gas fees, and scan tokens — but it cannot spend your crypto.
Private Keys: What They Are
A private key is the master key to your crypto wallet. Anyone with your private key can spend your funds. Never share it, never store it in code, never paste it into an AI chat.
Best Practices
- API keys — Store in env variables, rotate regularly, use IP whitelisting
- Private keys — Hardware wallet, never digital, never in env variables
- AI agents — Use session keys with spend limits (CryptoBoss supports this)