What Is Self-Custody?

The simple idea

In crypto, the person who controls the private keys controls the funds. Self-custody means those keys are controlled by you through a wallet setup, not by an exchange account.

Why it matters

Self-custody can reduce dependence on a platform account, but it also removes customer support as a safety net. If you lose your recovery information or share it with a scammer, nobody can reset it for you.

Good first habits

• Use official wallet links only.
• Write recovery words offline and keep them private.
• Do not type a seed phrase into random websites.
• Keep long-term storage separate from active wallets.

Helpful next links