Self Custody and Digital Asset Wallets - What you need to know and do

A 101 of self custody and digital asset wallets. basics of Self Custody, the difference between hot wallets, cold wallets, custodial and noncustodial

What is Self Custody of Digital Assets

Self-custody of digital assets is the process of taking control and responsibility for managing, storing, and securing one's own crypto assets. Most often done with a digital asset wallet where the user controls the key. Self-custody includes being aware of how to protect your private keys from malicious actors or accidents that could lead to a loss of funds. It is important for users to understand safe storage practices, and which wallets can provide this security. Self-custody of digital assets allows individuals to keep complete control over their finances while still having access to the benefits provided by blockchain technology.

Benefits of Self Custody

Self-custody of digital assets offers many benefits for users that want to maintain complete control over their finances. By taking self-custody of your own crypto assets, you can make sure that no one else has access to your private keys or funds. Furthermore, regarding storage practices and wallets, self-custody allows users to select the solutions that best fit their needs and budget. Depending on the security needed, users can choose from a hot or cold storage options. Both offer strong privacy protections and allow users to store their digital assets safely without having to rely on a third party or institution. Moreover, self-custody also helps increase financial autonomy by allowing individuals to manage their finances without intermediaries.

What digital assets can you take self-custody of?

Digital assets that can be taken under self-custody include cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), and other altcoins. You can also take control of stablecoins; non-fungible tokens (NFTs) security tokens; utility tokens; and more.

To be a part of this digital asset ownership revolution and learn more about self-custody, sign up for our free course on self-custody today!

Digital Assets wallets

A digital assets wallet stores your private keys and allows you to send, receive and store your cryptocurrency, NFTs and other digital assets. Different wallets offer different levels of security and it is important that users select a wallet both for its intended use and security.

The wallet works by connecting to a blockchain network, such as the Bitcoin or Ethereum, and interacting with it through a set of cryptographic functions.

A wallet contains public and private keys. A public key is a string of letters and numbers which users can share publicly to receive digital assets. A private key is a secret code which a user should never, ever share. It is used to authorize transactions and access the assets. The private key creates a digital signature when authorizing transactions on a blockchain.

It's worth noting that wallets don't store the assets themselves. They store the private keys that give you access to the assets on the blockchain. The assets themselves exist on the blockchain and can't be stored in a traditional sense. They are tracked and recorded on the blockchain ledger.

Types of digital asset wallets

Depending on security needs and budget, there are many wallets available for users to choose from. Wallets can be online solutions such as hot wallets, which offer quick and easy access to funds. Or wallets can be cold storage options like hardware or paper wallets that provide an extra layer of protection against potential threats. Hot wallet providers such as exchanges also typically have higher fees associated with them. Cold storage solutions are more cost-effective in the long run as they require minimal upkeep. Many users opt for a hybrid approach where they use both hot and cold storage solutions to maximize the benefits each offers. Regardless of the type chosen, self-custody is essential regarding managing one's digital assets securely without relying on third parties or institutions.

The difference between HOT and COLD wallets

The primary difference between a hot wallet and a cold wallet is the level of security each offers. Hot or online wallets, offer quick and easy access to digital assets but are more vulnerable to bad actors. They are also more vulnerable to accidents due to their connection to the internet. Cold wallets, on the other hand, provide an extra layer of protection as they do not require internet connectivity.

Hot wallets, managed by an exchange or other third party do not give users full control over their funds. In contrast, regarding self-custody, cold storage solutions allow users to store their crypto assets without relying on third parties. or institutions while still maintaining complete control over their finances.

Hot wallets often have limited functionality; however, this has really improved in recent times. They can also be susceptible to cyberattacks if appropriate security measures are not taken by the user. On the other hand, cold storage solutions come with enhanced features such as multi-signature authorization. This can help make sure that funds remain secure even if one's private keys are exposed or hacked into. Many crypto users opt for both hot & cold storage solutions. They do this to maximize the benefits each offers regarding convenience and security, respectively.

Remember: A hot wallet in an online wallet. A cold wallet is offline.

What is a custodial v's non-custodial wallet?

Wallets are either custodial or non-custodial. Custodial wallets are ones where a third party or institution holds the user's funds in their own secure storage system. While non-custodial wallets allow users to take self-custody of their digital assets without relying on any external service provider. Both options have their advantages and disadvantages. But overall self-custody is considered the most secure way to store one's cryptocurrency. This is because it gives individuals complete control over their finances while still having access to the benefits offered by blockchain technology. While custodial wallets may offer convenience and ease of use, they come with higher fees associated with them. And they do not provide users with full control over their funds as they rely on third parties or institutions. An exchange is a custodial wallet as they keep custody of the keys. On the other hand, cold storage solutions such as hardware or paper wallets provide an extra layer of protection against potential threats. Yet they still allow individuals to remain in charge of their crypto assets at all times.

A custodial wallet, someone else has control of the keys. A non-custodial wallet, only you control the keys.

What is a Multi sig wallet?

A multi sig wallet, short for "multi-signature wallet,". It is a type of cryptocurrency wallet that requires more than one private key to authorize a transaction. This extra security measure helps to protect against theft or loss of funds. Multi sig wallets can be set up to allow, for example, 2 out of 3 private keys held by different people or entities to authorize a transaction. This can be useful for companies or organizations that need to manage their cryptocurrency assets in a secure and decentralized manner.

Tips for using a digital asset wallet

Setting up a Wallet

Once you have selected your wallet for your intended use, it is important that you purchase it from a reputable supplier and manufacturer. The next step is to set it up. Setting up a wallet can be a scary process, but once a user follows the instructions, its not really that hard. When setting up a wallet, select a strong and unique password and write down private keys or secret phrases to store safely.

Securing your Private Keys

Securing your private keys is so important. Never share a private key. As the name suggests, you should keep it private. Make sure you store your private keys and passwords and secret phrases in different locations. Storing them together makes them vulnerable if they are found. It is also a good idea to store multiple copies of them incase you lose access to one location.

Use a hardware wallet with a hot wallet

A hot wallet can be used alongside a hardware wallet to store and manage digital assets. Most of the hardware wallets are compatible with different hot wallets. This means that you can use the hardware wallet to sign the transactions generated by the software wallet. Doing things this way means the private keys are kept offline, and the assets can be easily managed and transferred using the wallet.

It's more secure to store most of your cryptocurrency assets in a hardware wallet. Only transfer small amounts to a hot wallet for day-to-day spending. This way, even if the hot wallet is compromised, the bulk of your assets will still be safe on the hardware wallet.

Set up two-factor authentication

As an added security measure, many wallets offer two-factor authentication (2FA). 2FA adds an extra layer of security by requiring both a password and a code. An app such as Google Authenticator often generates this code.

Once set up, the users will be prompted to enter their password and a code generated by the authenticator app to log in. The app changes the code every few seconds, making it hard to hack or guess.

This way, even if a hacker manages to get the user's password, they would still need access to the user's device to log into the wallet. This makes it a lot harder for hackers to gain access to the user's assets.

Back up your data regularly

Backing up your data is a crucial part of safeguarding your digital assets. Because of cyber threats, it's essential to make sure all important information related to your cryptocurrency wallet is securely backed up. This should be done at regular intervals. Additionally, having multiple copies of critical data stored in different locations makes sure that even if one copy becomes compromised, you still have another backup to fall back on. This will help provide peace of mind knowing that even if the worst happens you'll be able to recover from it without too much hassle.

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Popular hardware wallets

There are many hardware wallets out there and they are growing fast in popularity and functionality. Some hardware wallets now will allow you to use DeFi products to earn a yield on your cryptocurrency. And, some will even allow you to stake and help you secure a network. It is super important to remember, never buy a hardware wallet second hand, or that has been opened. Always buy it directly from the manufacturer or a reputable supplier.

Some of the most popular and widely used options include:

SecuX: SecuX Technology offers hardware wallets for both crypto and NFTs. They also offer Metal seed phrase cases. SecurX works with Wallet Connect to allow users to interact with DApps in a safe and secure way and are cross-platform. Products include SecuX Nifty and XSEED.
Trezor: Trezor is one of the oldest and most reputable hardware wallets on the market. It is simple to use, supports a wide variety of cryptocurrencies, and has a strong reputation for security.
Ledger: Ledger offers a range of hardware wallets, including the Ledger Stax, Ledger Nano S, and Ledger Nano X. As with other hardware wallets, Ledger wallets can be used to interact with DApps.
KeepKey: KeepKey is another popular hardware wallet that is known for its security features and user-friendly interface. It also allows for interaction with DApps and the new KeepKey Client; the ShapeShift Platform, has been launched!

These are some of the most popular hardware wallet manufacturers around. They offer a high level of security for storing private keys offline. They also support a wide range of cryptocurrencies, chains, and DApps. They are easy to use and have a great reputation around security and customer support. However, if you lose your password, support can not help you.

Self Custody and Digital asset wallets - The future

The entire ethos of Blockchain and Cryptocurrency is that it removes the intermediary from transactions. As more and more people engage with applications like decentralized finance, self-custody will become the norm. However right now, its not so simple. Private keys are often lost, and human error such as signing transactions without reading them leads to massive losses and in turn confidence in the system.

In the future

Wallets will become more user-friendly. Many wallets are clunky and hard to use with a terrible UX. Being more user friendly will attract new users who may be intimidated by the complexity of existing wallets.
Wallets will have biometric authentication, such as fingerprints or face recognition. This will make it more convenient for users to access their wallets and transact on the blockchain
Wallets will include Social Recovery. This is where a user can recover their private key via trusted contacts. If a user loses their private key, they can ask their trusted contacts for help in recovering it.
Decentralized identification (DID) may replace private keys or they maybe used to recover lost keys. This would make it easier for users to access, manage and control their digital assets.
Smart contracts could be used to create a self-sovereign identity system where the private key is stored on-chain. The user can then prove their identity without having to reveal their private key.

Conclusion

Self-custody is the future of digital asset ownership, and hardware wallets are an important part of that. Hardware wallets offer users a secure way to store their private keys offline, protecting them from hackers and malicious actors. They also support a wide range of cryptocurrencies, chains, and DApps. Additionally, many now offer features such as wallet connect which allow users to interact with decentralized finance (DeFi) products securely. As more people engage with blockchain applications, self-custody will become the norm. However, there is still much progress needed regarding user experience to make this happen. Soon we can expect wallets to become more user friendly via biometric authentication techniques such as fingerprint or face recognition. They will have social recovery mechanisms so friends/family can help if you lose your password. They may use decentralized identification systems instead of private keys; and employ smart contracts for identity verification purposes. All these developments point towards an exciting future in digital asset ownership where self-custody becomes commonplace!

To be a part of this digital asset ownership revolution and learn more about self-custody, sign up for our free course on self-custody today!