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For everyday spending, keep only a small amount of bitcoin in a connected wallet. For savings, consider an offline wallet and protect its recovery phrase: anyone who obtains that phrase may be able to restore the wallet and access its bitcoin. Follow the wallet maker’s backup and restore instructions, keep the phrase offline and secret, and plan for both theft and the possibility that you cannot access it yourself.
Choose a storage approach that fits how you use bitcoin
The main distinction is custody: who controls the private keys that authorize spending. With self-custody, you control the keys and are responsible for backing them up. With a custodial account, a provider controls them on your behalf. These are different arrangements, with different responsibilities and risks.
| Approach | Best suited to | Tradeoffs and checks |
|---|---|---|
| Hot wallet on a phone or computer | Everyday payments and convenient access; it is connected to the internet. | Online threats affect connected devices. Bitcoin.org advises keeping only small amounts on computers or phones. Secure the device, keep its software current, and use wallet encryption where appropriate. Bitcoin.org wallet security and its FAQ explain these tradeoffs. |
| Cold storage, including a hardware wallet | Savings that you do not need to access as often; keys are kept offline. Bitcoin.org describes hardware wallets as a balance of strong security and ease of use. | Setup, compatibility, and recovery need care. Buy from the manufacturer or an authorized reseller, initialize the device yourself, and protect its backup separately. An offline device does not make an exposed recovery phrase safe. See wallet security guidance and scam guidance. |
| Multisignature wallet | People prepared to manage a more involved arrangement, potentially requiring multiple independent approvals. | Recovery and coordination are more complex. Bitcoin.org gives a 3-of-5 example for an organization and notes that individuals can also use multisignature. Read its security guidance before choosing this setup. |
| Custodial account | People who prefer not to manage private keys directly. | You depend on the provider’s security, solvency, and withdrawal policies; this is not the same as personally controlling the keys. See Bitcoin.org’s FAQ and self-custody guidance. |
Many people use a connected wallet for spending and offline storage for savings. There is no universally best wallet established by these sources. Compare custody model, whether keys remain offline, compatibility with the wallet and addresses you use, setup and restore process, backup method, seller authenticity, backup locations, and whether you or a trusted person can find and use the plan when needed.
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A recovery phrase, also called a seed phrase or mnemonic, is a sequence of words used to restore a wallet. Whoever obtains it may be able to access the bitcoin associated with that wallet. Bitcoin.org explains the term in its FAQ and vocabulary.
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Keep the phrase secret and offline. Bitcoin.org’s FAQ says: “Never store your recovery phrase as a photo or in a cloud service, and never share it with anyone.” That includes avoiding photos, email, cloud drives, and chat messages. A hardware wallet cannot protect a phrase that has already been exposed.
Back up the wallet using its own instructions
- Create the backup during setup. Follow the wallet’s own instructions. For a hardware wallet, generate the seed yourself on first use; do not accept a prewritten or pre-generated phrase from a seller or stranger. Bitcoin.org’s scam guidance warns about fake devices and unsafe setup.
- Record each word accurately and in order. Use the method specified by the wallet maker. Keep the resulting backup offline and physically secure. Durable media may be worth considering, but no particular material is an official standard in the cited guidance.
- Check what the backup covers. Bitcoin.org cautions that some wallet backups may not cover every key or address. Many modern deterministic wallets can restore addresses from one recovery phrase, but the behavior depends on the wallet. Check the maker’s instructions while the original wallet is available.
- Understand the restore process. If the maker provides a safe way to verify a backup, follow that wallet-specific procedure. There is no universal test process that applies to every wallet.
- Consider a second secure physical location. Bitcoin.org recommends multiple physical places and durable media. A second location can reduce dependence on a single point of failure, but it must remain private and recoverable rather than easy for others to find.
Protect against scams and unauthorized access
- Never disclose the phrase or private key. A support agent, wallet provider, exchange, or recovery service should not need either. A request for them is a major warning sign. Bitcoin.org says no legitimate firm offers guaranteed cryptocurrency recovery. Its scam guidance and FAQ cover these risks.
- Be cautious with hardware-wallet sellers and setup. Buy from the manufacturer or an authorized reseller, check packaging integrity, and generate the seed yourself when you initialize the device. A sealed-looking package alone does not replace safe setup.
- Do not follow unsolicited links or QR codes to enter a phrase. Phishing messages and fake support can imitate legitimate services. Use the wallet maker’s trusted channels and instructions instead.
Plan for loss, incapacity, and exposure
If you may not be able to manage the wallet
Make a plan for incapacity or death so that trusted people can learn where the wallet or relevant instructions are, without exposing the phrase to anyone who does not need access. Bitcoin.org warns that funds may be unrecoverable if nobody knows where wallets or passwords are. The right balance between privacy and access depends on your circumstances.
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If the recovery phrase may have been exposed
Treat the wallet as compromised. Seek trusted, wallet-specific guidance about moving funds to a newly generated wallet, and do not send the phrase to anyone offering help. The reason for acting cautiously is that anyone who obtains the phrase may access the associated bitcoin; there is no universal recovery procedure established for every wallet.
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