The U.S. SEC Teaches You How to Custody Crypto Assets Step by Step
The U.S. SEC published an investor bulletin on December 12 to educate retail investors on crypto asset custody. The bulletin explains that crypto custody refers to how and where crypto assets are stored, typically through a crypto wallet that holds private and public keys rather than the assets themselves.
Wallets are categorized as either "hot" (internet-connected, convenient but more vulnerable) or "cold" (offline, more secure but less convenient). Investors must also choose between self-custody (full control and responsibility over private keys) and third-party custody (using a service like an exchange, which manages keys but introduces counterparty risk).
The SEC provides key questions for both options. For self-custody, these include assessing technical ability, desired control level, wallet type, and costs. For third-party custody, investors are urged to research the provider's background, regulatory status, insurance policies, security measures, asset storage methods, use of client assets (e.g., rehypothecation), privacy practices, and fee structure.
General protection tips include never sharing private keys or seed phrases, safeguarding privacy, being wary of phishing scams, and using strong passwords with multi-factor authentication.
marsbit12/16 01:05
