user132534: If I go to bitaddress.org and create a paper wallet with BIP38 and a pass phrase, what it doing with that pass phrase specifically? Since it can make multiple paper wallets from one pass phrase, the phrase must not uniquely identify the public and private keys.  But if it does not, what use is the phrase?

user109558: BIP038 is a encryption standard for Bitcoin Wallets, your passphrase is for deriving keys for that encryption. The private key generation works by other means, and is strongly not recommended to generate your keys in sites like bitaddress. Download some wallet like Green or Blue, and just write down your 12-word mnemonic.

132534: <p>If I go to bitaddress.org and create a paper wallet with BIP38 and a pass phrase, what it doing with that pass phrase specifically? Since it can make multiple paper wallets from one pass phrase, the phrase must not uniquely identify the public and private keys.  But if it does not, what use is the phrase?</p>
 109558: <p><a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0038.mediawiki" rel="nofollow noreferrer">BIP038</a> is a encryption standard for Bitcoin Wallets, your passphrase is for deriving keys for that encryption. The private key generation works by other means, and is strongly <strong>not recommended</strong> to generate your keys in sites like bitaddress. Download some wallet like Green or Blue, and just write down your 12-word mnemonic.</p>
