In this lesson
- put everything from the course together into one plan
- find out what to do now, what within a month and what once a year
- learn where to go next
Congratulations – you have finished the Keeping crypto safe course. You now know more than most people who hold crypto: who has the keys, how a hardware wallet works, how to back up and how to think of your family. All that is left is to do it. Here is a plan for one afternoon and a few years of peace.
Now#
- Decide what to leave on an exchange and what to take with you.
- Turn on 2FA on your exchange via an app or a security key, not via SMS.
- Set a PIN with your mobile operator for changes to your number.
- Check that you do not have your seed phrase anywhere as a photo, file or note. If you do, create a new wallet and move the money.
Within a month#
- Buy a hardware wallet directly from the manufacturer or its authorised reseller.
- Set it up: a new seed phrase on the device, words copied by hand, a PIN, current firmware.
- Test a recovery with a small amount, and only then move your savings.
- Make a second backup (ideally metal) and store it in a different place.
- Write a letter for your loved ones: what you own, where the backups are, whom to contact – without the seed phrase.
Once a year#
- Check that the backups are legible, complete and in their place.
- Update the letter for your loved ones.
- Update the firmware and the app from official sources.
- Review and revoke permissions to spend tokens you no longer need.
Rules that always apply#
- No honest party ever asks for your seed phrase – ever.
- Check the address and amount on the device's screen, not on the monitor.
- Do not sign anything you do not understand.
- Send a test amount to a new recipient first.
- Do not brag.
What next#
- The Crypto basics course goes over how blockchains, exchanges and scams work.
- In the Solana in depth course you will find a lesson on drainers and reading transactions before signing.
- You can go over the course's terms any time in the glossary.
The most important thing, last
Keeping crypto safe protects against losing keys and theft, not against falling prices. Crypto can lose much of its value even in a perfectly secured wallet. Invest only money you can afford to lose.
Summary
- Now: split between exchange and own wallet, 2FA via an app, a PIN with your operator, no digital seed phrase.
- Within a month: a hardware wallet, a tested recovery, a second backup and a letter for your loved ones.
- Once a year: check the backups, the letter, the firmware and the permissions.
- Five rules that always apply – above all the first.