Why Self-Custody Is Great

In crypto, one of the most important mantras is: “Not your keys, not your coins.” Self-custody is the practice of holding your own private keys—the secret cryptographic codes that grant access to your funds. When you choose self-custody, you’re claiming complete control over your money.

The alternative—leaving your assets on an exchange or custodial wallet—comes with risks. History is filled with examples of exchanges collapsing, being hacked, or freezing withdrawals. From Mt. Gox in 2014 to FTX in 2022, millions of users have lost money because they trusted third parties with their crypto. With self-custody, those risks disappear, because no one but you can move your coins.

Self-custody also represents a philosophical shift. It’s about financial sovereignty. Just as you wouldn’t hand your house keys to a stranger and hope for the best, why would you let someone else guard your wealth? With a hardware wallet or non-custodial app, you hold the keys and decide when and how your assets move.

Of course, self-custody requires responsibility. You need to safeguard your seed phrase, avoid phishing attempts, and store backups securely. But the benefits far outweigh the risks. Think of it as learning to drive: yes, it’s harder than sitting in the passenger seat, but it gives you the freedom to go anywhere, anytime.

In an age of increasing surveillance and restrictions, self-custody also protects your privacy. You don’t need permission to transact, and you don’t expose your funds to custodians who may track or limit your activities. It’s a return to the pure vision of crypto: trustless, borderless, and user-controlled.

Self-custody is great because it puts you in charge. It’s the difference between renting access to your money and truly owning it.