# Overview [**Passport Protocol**](https://passport.0xpass.io) is a programmable and distributed, MPC-based, key management network. Using secure multi-party computation (MPC) algorithms Passport splits private keys into shares that are solely distributed among nodes in the network. ## Benefits ### Non-Custodial and Secure Passport Protocol maintains a non-custodial system via network-custodial security. The network nodes operate under immutable rules using secure enclaves. Keys are encrypted and stored in a distributed database across nodes. Each node only ever contains a share of a user's private key. The shares are protected by secure enclaves that isolate the keys from the node operators. Robust encryption ensures the database contents can only be accessed when enough nodes collaborate to reconstruct the key. This preserves user control without requiring self-hosted key management. By blending distributed systems, cryptography, and programmability, Passport Protocol finally provides the flexible and easy-to-use key management that Web3 requires. This documentation will explore the protocol architecture, security guarantees, usage patterns, and ecosystem integration options that make Passport Protocol a game-changer for decentralized applications. ### Distributed Key Management MPC algorithm and split private keys mean Passport can eliminate single points of failure and ensures no single entity ever has access to a user's full private key. ### Truly Seedless Unlike traditional MPC solutions that need the user to keep track of device or recovery shares, Passport can enable truly seedless onboarding where the user need not keep track of any shares - simplifying cross-device access while ensuring the most frictionless onboarding experience. ### Programmability Passport goes beyond traditional MPC by **making the the private keys fully programmable**. #### Programmable Authentication Developers can define flexible authentication methods, including chaining together authentication methods, social logins, and customize key recovery options. Passport's unique "scopes" allow grouping keys and applying permissions and rules at the scope level. #### Programmable Transactions This programmability makes Passport extremely versatile. Developers can enable automated scheduled transactions, bot interactions, and novel user experiences. #### Programmable Portability Passport also facilitates seamless wallet portability across apps through interoperable scopes. --- # 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://docs.0xpass.io/how-passport-works/overview.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.