Self-custody
In short
Self-custody means you control your own private keys — not an exchange or service. You carry full responsibility: no provider can lock you out, but no one can reset your password either. "Not your keys, not your coins."
Self-custody is freedom with a price tag: maximum control, maximum responsibility. Losing the seed phrase means losing the funds, with no hotline. For meaningful amounts it is the standard, but it demands clean backups.
Is self-custody safer than an exchange?
Differently risky: you drop the exchange's bankruptcy and lockout risk but take on the risk of your own mistakes. Both require care.
Related terms
Information, not investment advice. More of this? The newsletter.