Wallets & Self-Custody

Keys, not coins

A wallet generates a private key, derives public addresses from it, and signs transactions. The blockchain only checks the signature. Lose the key and the coins are frozen forever; leak the key and they're gone in minutes. Custody is the whole game.

Hot vs cold

Hot wallets run on an internet-connected device — fast, free, exposed to malware and phishing. Cold (hardware) wallets keep the key in a sealed chip and sign offline; the computer only sees the signature. Our Top 7 Wallets list ranks both. The standard setup: a hardware wallet for savings plus a hot wallet with a small balance for daily use.

The seven security rules

1) Write the seed on paper or steel, never digitally. 2) Never share or type it anywhere except the wallet itself during recovery. 3) Buy hardware wallets only from the manufacturer. 4) Verify the receiving address on the device screen. 5) Send a small test amount first. 6) Revoke old token approvals (revoke.cash). 7) Assume every DM offering help is a scam.

Setting up a hardware wallet

Unbox, initialise on the device (never from a pre-filled card), write the seed, confirm it, set a PIN, install the companion app, and receive a $5 test transfer before moving real funds. Thirty minutes, once, protects you from the single most common way people lose crypto.

Inheritance and backups

Store one seed backup at home and one off-site (a safe-deposit box or a trusted relative). Leave sealed instructions with your will. Multi-signature setups or services like Casa add redundancy for large holdings.