Bip39 Ian Coleman. Is passphrase the same as PIN? No, a passphrase is not really the same as a PIN. A passphrase, during the context of Bitcoin wallets, is an additional layer of protection for your wallet that actually works alongside your seed phrase to encrypt and secure your wallet. https://webcastlist.com/story20101843/bip39-mnemonic-https-linktr-ee-bip39-helping-the-others-realize-the-advantages-of-bip39