How to Secure Your Coins Like a Pro
Buying crypto is easy, but storing it securely is your most important task. If you leave your coins on an exchange like Binance, the exchange holds the keys—not you. Always remember the community's motto: "Not your keys, not your coins."
Specifically, this means: you create your own wallet that only you own, and then you send your purchased coins from the exchange (like Binance) to it. In this guide, you will learn everything you need to know.
The 2 Golden Rules of Security
Rule 1: Guard Your Seed Phrase
NEVER share your seed phrase (the 12/24 words)! It's your master key. Anyone who has it, has your coins. No support staff or website will ever ask you for it.
Rule 2: Be Extremely Suspicious
Don't click on suspicious links in emails or social media. Scammers use phishing to lure you to fake websites to steal your data or your coins.
Hot Wallet vs. Cold Wallet
The key to security lies in choosing the right type of wallet. There are two main categories:
Hot Wallet
Software on your phone or PC (e.g., MetaMask) that is always connected to the internet.
Advantage: Convenient for quick transactions and using apps & NFTs.
Disadvantage: More vulnerable to hacks and online attacks.
Cold Wallet
A physical device (similar to a USB stick) that stores your keys completely offline.
Advantage: Maximum security against online attacks.
Disadvantage: A bit more cumbersome for daily use.
The Best Strategy: Use BOTH!
A small portion for active use in a hot wallet, and the majority of your assets safe in a cold wallet. This way, you combine convenience with maximum security.
The Most Popular Hot Wallets per Blockchain
Every blockchain has its own ecosystem. Here are the most common and trustworthy hot wallets for the largest networks. Always download them only from the official website!
Bitcoin
BlueWallet is a popular, Bitcoin-only mobile wallet that also supports the Lightning Network.
Go to BlueWallet →Ethereum & EVM Chains (BNB, etc.)
MetaMask is the undisputed standard for Ethereum and all EVM-compatible chains (e.g., BNB Chain, Polygon, Avalanche).
Go to MetaMask →Solana
Phantom is the most popular and user-friendly wallet for the Solana ecosystem. Ideal for NFTs and DeFi on Solana.
Go to Phantom →Sui
The Slush Wallet is a new and upcoming wallet in the Sui ecosystem, popular with many users for its design and features.
Go to Slush Wallet →Your Master Key: The Seed Phrase
Instead of a password, you get a list of 12 or 24 words when setting up your wallet. This is your "seed phrase"—the only key to your crypto assets.
This sequence of words is more secure than any password. Whoever owns it has full control over your wallet and all the coins in it. Treat it like the key to a vault full of gold.
What you must do:
Take a pen and write the words down on a piece of paper. Hide this note in an extremely secure location.
What you must never do:
Do not take a screenshot or save the words digitally on your PC, phone, or in the cloud.
A handwritten note is the most secure way.
You Are Your Own Bank
This is the cool but also dangerous part of crypto: there is no customer service you can call if you lose your seed phrase. You are 100% responsible for your own assets. Lose the key, you lose your coins—forever.
Recommendation: A Cold Wallet (Hardware Wallet)
For anyone planning to invest more than just a few hundred dollars in crypto, a hardware wallet is an absolute necessity. The two market leaders are Ledger and Trezor.
Ledger
Very user-friendly, looks like a USB stick, and is often praised for its great software (Ledger Live).
Go to Ledger Shop →Trezor
Considered a pioneer and is known for its open-source philosophy, which many security experts appreciate.
Go to Trezor Shop →Important Note: Always buy a hardware wallet directly from the manufacturer! Never used on eBay or from third-party sellers, as these devices could be tampered with.