Traditional Signatures

When working with Traditional signatures, handwritten marks made with ink on paper that legally bind a person to a contract or statement. Also known as wet signatures, they have been the backbone of agreements for centuries and remain the go‑to method for many offline transactions. While a pen and a piece of paper feel simple, the legal weight behind a traditional signature comes from established laws, notarization practices, and the ability to present the original document in court. In the crypto world, that physical proof often clashes with the need for instant, borderless verification, pushing developers to look for digital alternatives. Yet, many businesses still require a signed PDF or a scanned contract before they let you trade on an exchange or claim an airdrop, so understanding how the old and new intersect is key for anyone navigating both worlds.

Enter digital signatures, cryptographic proofs that a private key holder authorized a specific piece of data. Also called e‑signatures, they replace ink with mathematics, letting you sign a transaction in seconds from a phone. Digital signatures require public‑key cryptography, an encryption system that uses a pair of mathematically linked keys to secure data and verify signatures. Also known as asymmetric encryption, it enables blockchain platforms to verify every move, because each block contains a hash of the previous block signed by the validator’s private key. This cryptographic system enables blockchain, a distributed ledger where each transaction is secured by cryptographic signatures. Also known as decentralized ledger, it leverages both to create an immutable record. The relationship is simple: a wet signature provides physical proof, a digital signature provides mathematical proof, and blockchain stitches them together into a tamper‑proof trail.

What you’ll find next

Below, you’ll see a hand‑picked selection of articles that dive deep into how traditional signatures still show up in crypto‑related processes – from exchange KYC forms and airdrop claim forms to security audits of smart contracts. We also cover the flip side: why digital signatures are becoming mandatory for DeFi platforms, how public‑key cryptography safeguards your private keys, and what blockchain’s immutable ledger means for compliance. Whether you’re signing a PDF to access a new token drop or verifying a transaction on a decentralized exchange, these posts give you the practical context you need to bridge the gap between pen‑and‑paper and code‑based authentication. Ready to see how the old and new collide? Scroll down and explore the full collection.