<blockquote>
  <p>I suppose an application means a cryptocurrency (btc, eth, etc.).</p>
</blockquote>

<p>This is usually, but not always, the case - for instance, the Ethereum application on the ledger device handles Ethereum, Ethereum Classic, and many other chains that are ethereum forks.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Is there a private key for each application or is it a single private key for all applications ?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Ledgers use BIP <a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0032.mediawiki" rel="nofollow noreferrer">32</a>/<a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0039.mediawiki" rel="nofollow noreferrer">39</a>/<a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0039.mediawiki" rel="nofollow noreferrer">44</a> to derive keys from a single root key, expose that root key as seed words for ease of backup, and follow a common convention for deciding which coin will derive which subkeys from the root.</p>

<p>Each ledger application accepts a <code>derivation path</code> as part of its usage. This path specified how to derive the subkey(s) required from the root key. The device will then derive them and sign the transaction, without exposing the keys to the controlling computer.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-04T12:47:46.283Z
So if i have multiple private keys they can be recovered with the root-key ?
Bob5421
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-04T14:24:26.233Z
That's correct.
Raghav Sood
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-04T02:12:28.633Z
2020-05-04T02:12:28.633Z
Raghav Sood
<p>I have read Ledger devices can handle multiple "applications". I suppose an application means a cryptocurrency (btc, eth, etc.).</p>

<p>Is there a private key for each application or is it a single private key for all applications ?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<ledger-hardware-wallet>
Multiple private keys on ledger devices
Bob5421
# Multiple private keys on ledger devices

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-05-03)

I have read Ledger devices can handle multiple "applications". I suppose an application means a cryptocurrency (btc, eth, etc.).

Is there a private key for each application or is it a single private key for all applications ?

Thanks

**Tags:** ledger-hardware-wallet


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-05-04. Score: 0 | Accepted answer

> I suppose an application means a cryptocurrency (btc, eth, etc.).

This is usually, but not always, the case - for instance, the Ethereum application on the ledger device handles Ethereum, Ethereum Classic, and many other chains that are ethereum forks.

> Is there a private key for each application or is it a single private key for all applications ?

Ledgers use BIP [32](https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0032.mediawiki)/[39](https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0039.mediawiki)/[44](https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0039.mediawiki) to derive keys from a single root key, expose that root key as seed words for ease of backup, and follow a common convention for deciding which coin will derive which subkeys from the root.

Each ledger application accepts a `derivation path` as part of its usage. This path specified how to derive the subkey(s) required from the root key. The device will then derive them and sign the transaction, without exposing the keys to the controlling computer.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: So if i have multiple private keys they can be recovered with the root-key ?  
> **username_1**: That's correct.  

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