Back to: Crypto Fundamentals from Zero
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Your keys, your coins
In crypto, whoever holds the private key controls the funds. There is no password reset, no fraud hotline, no “cancel transaction”. The single most valuable habit you can build is rigorous key hygiene.
The rules that keep people safe
- Seed phrases are cash. Anyone with your 12/24 words controls your wallet. Never share them, never type them into a website, never photograph them.
- Verify addresses twice. Malware can swap a pasted address at the last second. Always confirm the final address.
- Cold storage for savings. A hardware wallet (offline device) for anything you intend to hold long-term.
- Trust no DM. “Support”, “validator”, “giveaway” — an overwhelming share of crypto theft starts with a friendly message.
- Check on-chain, not on screenshots. Anyone can fake a website or a balance. Look up contract addresses on the explorer.
Only rule you must memorize: real protocols never ask for your seed phrase — ever. If something feels urgent, it is a scam. Slow down.