When you deposit crypto assets from a self-custody (non-custodial) wallet, CAEX needs you to prove that you actually own that wallet address. You do this by signing a message that CAEX provides, then pasting the result back. This guide shows how to sign on common wallet types.
SAFETY WARNING
Only sign the exact message CAEX provides, and only sign using the feature built into your own wallet.
CAEX will never ask for your recovery phrase or private key, and will never ask you to connect your wallet to an unfamiliar website to sign.
Signing a message to verify ownership does not move assets and costs no network fee.
What a signed message consists of
A signed message has three components:
• The message: The complete piece of text generated by CAEX, containing the wallet address and a unique serial code.
• The address: The wallet address you are verifying.
• The signature: The result string produced by the wallet, proving the message was signed by that wallet.
The signature proves you control the wallet without revealing your private key and without moving any assets.
The three steps on the CAEX screen
The Sign message screen on CAEX is divided into three parts, in the order you work through them.
Step 1: Copy the message
Under Message to sign, CAEX displays the message to be signed, for example in the form “It is hereby declared, on [date], that I/we own the address [address]. Serial Code: [code]”.
Tap Copy to copy it in full. Do not type it by hand and do not change any character, including spaces. The message is case-sensitive.
Step 2: Sign the message with your wallet
This part happens outside CAEX, in your own wallet. The method varies by wallet type, covered in the detailed guidance below. The result is a signature string.
Step 3: Paste the result and continue
Copy the signature string from your wallet, return to CAEX, and paste it into the Result field under section 3. Tap Continue for the system to verify it. If valid, wallet ownership is verified and the deposit proceeds.
A note on time limits
Each message has a unique serial code and usually a time limit. If too much time passes, go back and get a fresh message rather than reusing the old one.