Video: How does multisig make bitcoin more secure?

Coin Center has partnered with the Federalist Society to produce this simple explanation of multisignature cryptocurrency wallets.

Multsig allows users to split up the permission needed to move cryptocurrency held by a particular address. Rather than one person having the ability to unilaterally move funds, a multisig wallet may require two of three (or any m of n) key-holding users to authorize a transaction before any funds are moved.

Read more: “What is Multi-Sig, and What Can It Do?”

With this technology it becomes possible for a third party to provide some security for your bitcoins (by protecting one of the keys) without ever having the ability to run away with or lose them. We’ve argued before that companies that use secure arrangements like this do not pose consumer protection risks and therefore should be exempted from money transmission licensing through a safe harbor for non-custodial companies.