A method for generating/regenerating an encryption key for a cryptographic method including the encryption key as well as a public key being generated using a predefined deterministic method from a large random number (seed), where the seed is only generated on the user side, and for which quantities available only to the user are consulted. Regeneration information (R), which is suitable for regenerating the seed and from which the seed is able to be derived deterministically by the trust center by linking only to information known to it, may be generated on the user side and stored so as to be secured against lost. In the event of loss of the encryption key, the seed may be reconstructed by the trust center by linking the regeneration information to the secret information.