Glossary

A periodic confirmation that you're still active and in control of your vault. Default is every 90 days, taking about 2 minutes. Missing check-ins can trigger the guardian process.

The system that ensures your crypto assets reach your intended recipients if you become unable to manage them. Ante Vaults' core purpose is providing continuity protection.

The fee paid to process transactions on the blockchain. Costs vary based on network congestion. Ante has no subscription fees - you only pay gas for transactions.

Sending a small amount of ETH to your guardians so they can pay for transaction fees when needed. Guardians need gas to vote and execute transfers.

A safety window (up to 6 months, configurable) after guardians approve a transfer. During this time, you can cancel the transfer by checking in. Think of it as your last chance to stop an unwanted transfer.

A trusted person you designate to help transfer your assets if you become inactive. Guardians cannot access your funds directly - they can only initiate transfers to your pre-set recipients when multiple guardians agree.

A physical device (like Ledger or Trezor) that stores your private keys offline, protecting them from hackers. Strongly recommended for securing significant holdings.

Short for "multi-signature." A wallet that requires multiple keys to authorize transactions. We recommend using a Safe multisig as your vault owner for extra security.

The blockchain where your assets live. Ante Vaults supports Ethereum mainnet and Base. Your vault operates on a specific network.

The person or address designated to receive your assets if a transfer is approved by your guardians. Typically family members or beneficiaries.

The most battle-tested multisig wallet on Ethereum (formerly Gnosis Safe). Ante Vaults integrates with Safe for enhanced security.

A series of 12-24 words that can recover your entire wallet. Never share this with anyone, never store it digitally, and keep backups in multiple secure locations.

Holding your own crypto keys without relying on a third party (like an exchange). You have full control, but also full responsibility - there's no bank to call if you lose access.

The minimum number of guardians who must agree before any action can be taken. For example, a 2-of-3 threshold means at least 2 out of 3 guardians must approve.

An additional delay (typically 3-7 days) before any withdrawal can be executed. This gives you time to notice and cancel unauthorized transactions.

A digital asset on a blockchain. ETH is the native token of Ethereum. Other tokens like USDC (stablecoin) or WBTC (wrapped Bitcoin) are also common.

A signed instruction recorded on the blockchain, such as sending tokens, voting, or executing a transfer. Every transaction requires gas to be processed by the network.

The movement of assets from your vault to your designated recipient. Transfers require guardian approval and pass through grace period and timelock before execution.

A protected container for your crypto assets. Think of it as a smart safe that only transfers your assets under specific conditions you define.

The process where guardians decide whether to approve a transfer after the owner becomes inactive. Multiple guardians must vote to approve before a transfer can proceed.

Taking assets out of your vault to an external address. Withdrawals typically require timelock delays for security.