Self-custody basics: keys, seed phrases, and cold storage

A recovery phrase card with 12 hidden words, a gold key, and an offline hardware wallet, with the line: Not your keys, not your coins.

“Not your keys, not your coins.” Self-custody means you hold the private keys to your assets instead of trusting a third party.

Your seed phrase is everything

Anyone with your recovery phrase controls your funds. Store it offline, ideally on paper or metal, in more than one location.

When to use cold storage

For amounts you don’t trade often, a hardware wallet keeps keys offline and away from malware.

More from the blog