Self Custody Crypto 101: How to Keep Your Crypto Safe in 2025

The promise of crypto was simple: to let you control your own wealth, no banks, no middlemen, no gatekeepers. Yet even in 2025, many still give their assets to exchanges, placing their financial freedom in the hands of third parties. Consider crises of debts, bank collapses, and exchange failures: if you don’t control your keys, you don’t control your assets. We will see why taking control of your assets via self custody crypto wallet is more important than ever, how to pick the right wallet, and simple steps to keep your assets safe in 2025. Lucien Bourdon, Bitcoin Analyst at Trezor, prepared this guide.

Why Self Custody Crypto Matters in 2025: Control Over Your Wealth

Custodians and Trusted Third Parties

History has shown that centralized exchanges can fail without warning. When they do, user funds are often frozen, locked away in bankruptcy proceedings, or lost to mismanagement and fraud.

The pattern is clear: when you don’t hold your keys, you don’t control your assets. And when a custodian goes under, so do your funds.

Relying on third parties contradicts the core promise of crypto: self-sovereignty.

Financial Chaos Is the New Normal

Central banks are scrambling, debt is spiraling, and markets are on edge. Across the world, financial systems are under pressure, and when things break, it’s often everyday people who get burned.

Even “safe” platforms can freeze withdrawals or go offline when liquidity dries up. If your assets are tied to a third party when the music stops, you could be locked out with no recourse.

Takeaway: In chaotic times, the only way to stay protected is to take control of your keys.

What Is Self-Custody? The Power of Ownership

In traditional finance, you rely on banks or institutions to hold your money. In crypto, you can hold the asset yourself by controlling a private key.

Self-custody means you, and only you, hold the cryptographic key that controls ownership of your crypto. No bank. No exchange. No need for permission.

Custodial platforms like exchanges or lending apps hold the keys for you. That means they also control the assets. If they go down, get hacked, or freeze accounts, your funds go with them.

The Wallet: The Key to Control

A wallet is a tool that stores your private keys securely and lets you interact with the blockchain.

Crypto wallets can be apps on your phone or computer that generate and store your private keys. But their security is only as strong as the device they’re on. Phones and computers are exposed to risks like malware or viruses.

A hardware wallet is different. It’s like an offline safe built to protect your private keys. Because it stays disconnected from the internet when it signs a transaction, your keys are never exposed.

That makes hardware wallets the most secure way to hold your private keys and protect your crypto from online threats.

Some options, like Trezor, take this even further by combining offline security with an open-source approach. Trezor wallets are fully auditable by the community, designed to be user-friendly, and come with Trezor Suite—a dedicated desktop and browser app that simplifies coin management while keeping your data private.

Simple Steps to Take Control of Your Crypto in 2025

Self-custody puts you in control, which means you’re the only one responsible for your assets. Thankfully, with the right wallet and a few best practices, keeping your crypto safe is simpler than you might think.

 Step 1: Choose a Wallet and Take Control of Your Keys

There are two main types of self-custody wallets:

Software wallets are apps on your phone or computer that generate and store your private keys. They’re easy to use, but also more exposed to hacks or malware.

Hardware wallets store your keys offline, in a device built for security. Because they stay disconnected from the internet, they’re far less vulnerable to online threats and ideal for long-term holders.

Step 2: Set Up a Secure Backup For Your Wallet

The backup of your wallet allows you to restore access in any situation, even if your device is lost or damaged.

If someone else gets your backup, they can access your funds. If you lose your backup, no one can recover your wallet. That’s why it’s crucial to follow good practice:

• Write it down offline. Never store your backup on a computer or in the cloud.
•  Store it safely. Use physical, fireproof, or secure locations, and never share it with anyone.
•  Make a second copy. Keep it in a separate, secure place in case the first is damaged or lost.

Step 3: Verify Every Transaction

Before sending or receiving crypto, always double-check the address. Unlike traditional banking, crypto transactions are final and can’t be reversed.

Hardware wallets require physical confirmation of each transaction, adding an extra layer of protection against phishing attacks and malware.

Step 4: Stay Updated and Informed

Security isn’t just about tools; it’s also about awareness.

Follow your wallet provider on social media to stay on top of new features, firmware updates, security news, and educational content. A steady stream of bite-sized updates can help you stay one step ahead.

Step 5: Get Help From the Right People

It’s good to ask for help. But in crypto, it’s critical to know where to ask.

Never trust support agents who contact you first, and only use official channels listed on the wallet’s website.

A real support agent will never ask for your backup words or any private information. If they do, it’s likely a scam.

Need 1:1 Help? Meet Trezor Expert

If you’re new to self-custody, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Trezor Expert is a one-on-one session where a trusted Trezor professional guides you through setup, answers your questions, and helps you build confidence with your wallet.

Conclusion: Your Keys, Your Freedom

Self-custody represents concepts far beyond mere security: freedom, ownership, and peace of mind.

Here in a world full of financial noise and instability, controlling your crypto offers you one of a few certainties: You are not waiting on support tickets to be addressed. You are not hoping the platform stays solvent. You hold power along with it.

And when wielded correctly, tools can make self-custody easy to implement.