Beginner
Wallets, keys and seed phrases
How crypto ownership works and how to keep your assets safe.
6 min read
You own keys, not coins
Coins live on the blockchain. A wallet holds the private key that proves you can move them. Whoever controls the key controls the funds.
The seed phrase
Most wallets generate a 12 or 24-word recovery phrase that can recreate your keys.
- Write it down offline and store it securely.
- Never type it into a website, chat or form.
- No support agent or airdrop will ever need it.
Custodial vs self-custody
On an exchange, the platform holds keys on your behalf (custodial). In a self-custody wallet, you do. Each has trade-offs between convenience and control.