self-custody
Holding your own
Self-custody is keeping control of your own assets rather than entrusting them to a third party.
The term appears most often in cryptocurrency contexts, where it means holding digital assets in a personal wallet rather than on an exchange: I moved my Bitcoin to self-custody after the exchange collapsed.
The concept extends to any situation where someone maintains direct possession rather than relying on institutions.
Small case for currency
- BitcoinPeer-to-peer electronic cash
- EthereumProgrammable blockchain network
- blockchainCryptographic linked transaction record
- decentralizationDistributing power from center
passphrase · Ledger · air-gapped · sovereign · trustless · DeFi · backup · encryption
Supreme independent authority
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- independenceFreedom from external control
- freedomAbsence of constraint
- agencyPower to act
ownership · control · empowerment · liberty · consent · voluntarism
Legal care of another
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- visitationOfficial or formal visit
- petitionFormal written appeal
- jurisdictionLegal authority's scope
minor · dependent · divorce · separation · responsibility · care · protection · decision-making
wallet
Small case for currency
- BitcoinPeer-to-peer electronic cash
- EthereumProgrammable blockchain network
- blockchainCryptographic linked transaction record
decentralization · passphrase · Ledger · air-gapped · sovereign · trustless · DeFi · backup · encryption
sovereignty
Supreme independent authority
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- independenceFreedom from external control
- freedomAbsence of constraint
agency · ownership · control · empowerment · liberty · consent · voluntarism
guardianship
Legal care of another
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- visitationOfficial or formal visit
- petitionFormal written appeal
jurisdiction · minor · dependent · divorce · separation · responsibility · care · protection · decision-making · residence
self-custodycentralized
Concentrated in one location
centralized control · intermediated · delegated authority · permissioned
self, custody, selves, selfish, selfhood, selfless, selfishly, selflessness, custodial