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Sponsored post - The type of wallet you use to keep your cryptocurrency safe is crucial. We all know the cautionary tales of people who lost thousands (yes, you read that correctly) of Bitcoin simply by being careless. How you store your cryptocurrency is extremely important because it's difficult to recover if it’s stolen or you lose access.
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Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are digital, so they use digital wallets. These fall into two categories: custodial and non-custodial. The main difference is how you securely store the private key for it.
Each wallet is linked to a public and private key; two long strings of random numbers and letters.
You could compare a custodial wallet to keeping money in the bank, and a non-custodial wallet to storing it in a safe in your house. The distinction is what happens with the associated private key.
Non-custodial wallet
The beauty of cryptocurrency is that it lets you take ownership of your money in whatever way suits you best. Some people prefer to have more control, so they opt for a non-custodial wallet, which gives the owner access to their private key.
Really, these are more for the crypto-grownups who know what they’re doing. At Luno, we think this is a great option for those with the confidence and expertise to take control into their own hands and manage security.
The benefit is that you have more control, and, situations like a custodial wallet freezing an account for suspicious activity won’t happen. There are different types of non-custodial wallets:
Hardware wallets are generally the safest non-custodial option as they’re resistant to many types of attacks that can compromise software wallets. Some companies are even beginning to offer private key recovery solutions.
There’s still the risk of bugs emerging in the software, and the risk of the wallet getting lost or stolen. The only way to know if a given brand is secure is to look at their track record, but there’s still no telling what might happen in the future. Hardware wallets can also be expensive.
Desktop wallets are also relatively secure, but the downside is that they’re only accessible on one particular computer. So if it gets stolen, attacked or lost, you lose access - although you do have the ability to store your private key elsewhere.
Many desktop and hardware wallets allow you to generate a seed phrase so you can recover your cryptocurrency if you lose a device, but this can also be lost.
Online wallets are more convenient because you can use them from any device, even if your main one goes missing. However, they’re arguably the least secure form of non-custodial wallet, and, are vulnerable to hacking.
Custodial wallet
Similar to trusting a bank with your money.
With a custodial wallet, you don't have access to your private key. Instead, a third party looks after it for you. Like a bank, it's ideal for most people because you don’t have to worry about security. Looking after your private key is more complex than it might sound, especially for first-time cryptocurrency users.
You can consider a custodial wallet your crypto-key training wheels. So, while we’re in favour of non-custodial wallets for more experienced users, we do recommend a custodial wallet for beginners or anyone who prefers the convenience of not having to deal with the complexities of security.
As long as you choose a reputable company and take basic measures like using two-factor authentication, you don't need to think much about protecting your cryptocurrency with a custodial wallet. The company does it for you, so you can't lose your private key.
With a custodial wallet, you can easily make transactions on a day-to-day basis. You simply use your password to access your account, which you can reset if you forget it. This user experience is simpler and more convenient than managing a non-custodial wallet.
Luno offers a custodial wallet which is perfect for those who want simplicity, security, and easy access to their money. Seeing as the industry is largely unregulated and there are few protections for customers, it's crucial to research any company you trust with your cryptocurrency.
At Luno, we protect your money by self-regulating, keeping the majority of customer funds in ‘deep freeze’ storage, meaning it requires multiple private keys and no one person ever has access to more than one.
We keep a portion of our customers’ cryptocurrency in a multisignature ‘hot wallet’, with control of the keys split between two companies. Our security team is always working behind the scenes to find new ways to protect your money.
The best wallet to store cryptocurrency
What’s good for the crypto-goose isn’t necessarily good for the crypto-gander. It depends on your level of expertise and what your needs are. Much in the same way that there are different types of bank accounts and financial tools to manage your local currency, there are several options for storing your cryptocurrency.
Some people prefer to split their funds between multiple bank accounts. After all, as a good crypto-goose, it’s best not to keep all your eggs in one basket. It’s good to have the majority of your money where you trust the most.
It’s important to note that either way, online security is still the responsibility of the cryptocurrency owner. We believe it’s important to choose the wallet that meets your needs in the safest way possible. Whether you trust a custodian or take measures into your own hands, we all have to be on the lookout for online imposters, scammers, and phishers.
These bad players make it their full-time job to come up with new creative ways to get into people’s accounts, so we must always stay alert and secure our accounts.
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Disclaimer: this post is part of a content partnership of Bitcoin Magazine NL and Luno.
