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A defining feature of asymmetric key cryptography is indeed its use of two distinct keys: a public key and a private key. This dual-key system is fundamental to its operation. The public key can be shared openly and is used for encrypting messages, while the private key is kept secret and is used for decrypting those messages. This separation of keys allows for secure communication and authentication, as the public key can be distributed widely without compromising the integrity of the private key, which ensures that only the intended recipient can read the encrypted messages.

The uniqueness of this approach lies in its ability to facilitate secure data exchange without the need for both parties to share a common secret key, as is the case with symmetric encryption. This not only supports confidentiality but also enables functionalities like digital signatures, which provide assurance of authenticity and integrity.

In contrast, the other choices do not accurately reflect the principles of asymmetric key cryptography. The notion of "only one key is required" refers more to symmetric cryptography. Saying it is "faster than symmetric encryption" is misleading because asymmetric algorithms are generally slower due to the complexity of the mathematical operations involved. Finally, the assertion that it is "always more secure" is also not universally true; the security of any encryption method