# Cryptography Cardano uses strong cryptographic primitives to securely create and send transactions, and to protect the security and integrity of the protocol. Cardano utilizes asymmetric key pairs for: * Signing and validating payments and staking certificates; * Smart contract execution * Multi-signature transactions * Identifying and defining addresses on the Cardano blockchain Key pairs include a public and a private key. By using their private key, users provide cryptographic proof that they indeed own the coins or assets they're using. Cryptography also provides security for the consensus protocol. The two main mechanisms are: * Node keys, which are used to register and operate stake pools, and are sub-divided into Operator/operational key, Key Evolving Signature (KES) key pairs, and Verifiable Random Function (VRF) keys; and * Payment and stake credentials, which are used to authorize fund transfers or to delegate stake to stake pools. These may be either key hashes or script hashes. Learn more about [Cardano's cryptography](https://docs.cardano.org/core-concepts/cardano-keys#gatsby-focus-wrapper). --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://cardano-wiki.gitbook.io/cardano/how-does-cardano-work/table-of-contents/cryptography.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.