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What PressKey Is

PressKey is your identity on PressChain. Think of it as a passport that never expires, can’t be forged, and proves you are who you say you are every time you take any action on the protocol. It’s a browser extension that:
  • Holds your private key (encrypted, never leaves your device)
  • Signs every action you take - voting, publishing, responding to court
  • Shows your active roles and PRESS balance
  • Connects to every PressChain app automatically
You never share your PressKey with anyone. Not your editor, not your outlet’s IT team, not PressLabs.

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Install PressKey (5 minutes)

1

Visit key.presschain.io

Go to key.presschain.io and install the browser extension. Available for Chrome, Brave, and Firefox.
2

Create your wallet

Click Create New Wallet.PressKey generates a private key using cryptographically secure randomness - this is your permanent journalist identity on PressChain. It happens instantly and entirely on your device.
3

Choose a strong passphrase

This passphrase encrypts your key in local storage. It never leaves your device. Choose something strong and memorable:
  • At least 12 characters
  • Mix of words, numbers, and symbols
  • Never reuse from another service
If you forget your passphrase and lose your seed phrase, your wallet is unrecoverable. There is no “forgot password” option. This is by design - it means no one else can recover it either.
4

Write down your seed phrase

PressKey shows you 12 words. Write them on paper. Right now.Do not:
  • Screenshot it
  • Type it into Notes or a cloud doc
  • Email it to yourself
  • Store it in your password manager
This is the only way to recover your wallet on a new device. Keep it somewhere physically safe.
5

Confirm your seed phrase

PressKey asks you to confirm by selecting the words in order. This ensures you wrote them down correctly.
6

Set your network

In PressKey settings:
  • Testnet → for learning and testing (Chain ID 77117002)
  • Mainnet → for real journalism (Chain ID 77117001)
Start on Testnet and switch when you’re ready.

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Get Testnet PRESS

Testnet PRESS (tPRESS) is free. You need some to practice with before going live. Visit faucet.presschain.io, connect PressKey, and click Request PRESS. You’ll receive test tokens within seconds.

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What PressKey Shows You

When you click the PressKey extension icon: 
┌──────────────────────────────────┐
│ 🔑 PressKey                      │
├──────────────────────────────────┤
│ Maya Chen                        │
│ 0x7f...3a9b                      │
│                                  │
│ Balance:  847.3 PRESS            │
│                                  │
│ Active Roles:                    │
│   ● Reporter  [Bond: 50k PRESS]  │
│   Reputation: 1.6×               │
│   Vote weight: 4.8               │
│                                  │
│ Network: PressChain Testnet      │
│ RPC: rpc.presschain.io           │
└──────────────────────────────────┘

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When PressKey Opens Automatically

PressKey pops up any time you take a protocol action that requires your signature. You’ll see exactly what’s being signed:
ActionWhat You Approve
Voting on a CapsuleVote direction + your current weight
Submitting a CapsuleArticle details + 30 PRESS fee
Purchasing a roleRole type + bond amount
Filing a disputeDispute details + 10 PRESS bond
Sending PRESSRecipient + amount
You can always Reject any approval. Nothing happens until you approve.

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Recovering Your Wallet

On a new device or browser:
  1. Install PressKey from key.presschain.io
  2. Click Import Existing Wallet
  3. Enter your 12-word seed phrase
  4. Set a new passphrase
  5. Your wallet, roles, reputation, and balance are all restored
Your identity lives on the blockchain - not on any server. Restoring PressKey just gives you back the key to that identity.

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PressKey and Your Outlet’s WordPress

If your outlet uses the WordPress SYNC plugin, PressKey connects to it without you doing anything special. When you publish in WordPress, SYNC creates the Capsule and then asks PressKey to sign it. The approval popup appears in your browser - you approve, and the Capsule is submitted. WordPress never sees your private key. It only receives the signed approval. This is the core security design of PressHash.