Bitcoin Self-Custody Basics
A practical intro to holding your own keys — hardware wallets, seed phrases, and avoiding common custody mistakes.
Dua · Founder, DuaCrypto — Albania's first Bitcoin community
Runs meetups, practical education, and no-hype guides for Bitcoin and self-custody — for Albania and the diaspora.
Not your keys, not your coins. Self-custody means you control the private keys that prove ownership of your Bitcoin — no exchange in the middle.
Hardware wallets
A hardware wallet keeps keys offline. Popular options we discuss in the community include Ledger, Trezor, and Tangem. Buy from official sources only — never from marketplace resellers with unknown history. For Albanian readers, see our portofol harduerik guide (Tangem) on DuaCrypto News.
Seed phrases
Your 12 or 24-word recovery phrase backs up your wallet. Write it on paper, store it securely, and never photograph it or store it in cloud notes. Anyone with the seed can take your Bitcoin.
Common mistakes
Leaving coins on exchanges long-term, sharing seed phrases with “support,” and skipping test sends before moving large amounts. Start small, verify addresses, and ask in our Telegram if unsure.
About Dua
Founder, DuaCrypto — Albania's first Bitcoin community
Runs meetups, practical education, and no-hype guides for Bitcoin and self-custody — for Albania and the diaspora.