MPC (multi-party computation)
MPC custodyTSS
A cryptographic scheme letting multiple parties compute a signature without any one of them holding the full private key.
MPC custody (Fireblocks, Cobo, BitGo, Coinbase Prime) is the dominant institutional custody mode. Compared with simple multisig, MPC has lower on-chain footprint (one signature, not N) and no revealed signer set. The trade-off is opacity: users must trust the MPC vendor's implementation.
Related terms
- MultisigA wallet requiring m-of-n signers to authorise a transaction — the dominant operational-control pattern in DeFi.
- Custody riskThe risk a custodian (bank, exchange, qualified custodian) loses, mismanages, or is denied access to reserves it holds.
- Cold storageCryptographic key storage with no live network connection — the gold standard for long-term reserve safekeeping.