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Crypto World
Looking for a secure crypto wallet? While no wallet is foolproof, choosing the right one can boost your digital asset security. Find out how!
No one can doubt the fact that there are several risks associated with investing in cryptocurrencies. Just take a look at the hard facts – the market is extremely volatile at times, there is no regulation in place, and there have been cases of some high-profile hacker attacks.
Some estimates say that around $1.9 billion worth of crypto has been stolen so far, and let’s not even get started on the collapse of FTX! That spectacular collapse trapped over 50,000 Australians who had coins listed on the exchange.
So, any experienced investor will tell you that if you are serious about entering the crypto world, you must know how you can hold your digital assets safely. So, what does it take to successfully and safely manage your own crypto assets? Let’s walk you through everything you need to know!
Let’s start with the basics here. A crypto wallet is software that you can use to store your public and private keys. You can also use that wallet to send and receive cryptocurrencies, see your balance as well as interact with blockchains.
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As you use cryptocurrencies to trade digital tokens through the decentralized network, you must have a mechanism to keep them in one place.
Crypto tokens exist on the blockchain, and the wallet will help make your assets accessible and allow you to send or receive cryptocurrencies.
Making transfers between wallets is a very simple process – you need to share your unique account number for the cryptocurrency you own. That is known as a public key and each account has one.
Of course, you share a great burden of responsibility for your account’s safety – you cannot disclose information about your private key to anyone.
If you ever lose access to your private key, you can always retrieve it thanks to the so-called ‘seed phrase’. It is a 12-24 word phrase that you can use to recover your wallet.
Lastly, effective security has an unconditional importance as all blockchain transactions are irreversible. So, as cryptocurrencies are decentralized, there is no institution that will protect your tokens or guarantee your investment if something goes south.
First off, we have a crypto exchange. You can think of them as digital marketplaces that let you use real currencies to buy cryptocurrencies, trade them, or convert crypto back to real money. There is a diverse range of crypto exchanges around, but the most prominent ones include:
All these platforms are very user-friendly, which is part of the reason why they are so highly sought after.
We can describe your account at such platforms as a wallet but note that the exchange will have control of the assets, as you won’t be able to access the private keys. This is called a ‘hosted wallet’, and it means that you have to trust the company running the exchange to take care of your digital assets.
Even though the vast majority of crypto exchange platforms are reliable, it only takes one fraudulent one to leave a permanent mark in the industry. That was the case with FTX – a platform that caused havoc across the crypto world, leaving thousands of investors scammed.
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Now that you know how a crypto exchange works, here are the four steps you need to follow to open a wallet on such a platform
step 1
Do a bit of research and find an exchange that supports a wide range of cryptocurrencies and is supported in your country.
Do a bit of research and find an exchange that supports a wide range of cryptocurrencies and is supported in your country.
step 2
You should be able to open an account in a couple of minutes, but note that you will likely have to go through a KYC process as well.
You should be able to open an account in a couple of minutes, but note that you will likely have to go through a KYC process as well.
step 3
Submit the necessary personal information and provide the ID proofs that the exchange asks of you.
Submit the necessary personal information and provide the ID proofs that the exchange asks of you.
step 4
You are now all set to store your crypto and to do so, you must have a wallet address.
You are now all set to store your crypto and to do so, you must have a wallet address.
Apart from crypto exchange platforms, hot wallets are the second way in which you can store cryptocurrencies. Hot wallets are also known as software wallets, and you can think of crypto exchange platforms as such a wallet.
To be more specific, self-custody hot wallets allow you to control your private key and seed phrase yourself. You can access such a wallet via any browser or you can download an app.
If you are interested in storing your crypto in a hot wallet, here are the few simple steps you have to complete first:
step 1
Setting up your account won’t take more than 10 minutes.
Setting up your account won’t take more than 10 minutes.
step 2
All reliable hot wallets make KYC a mandatory step for users.
All reliable hot wallets make KYC a mandatory step for users.
step 3
Some wallets may ask you to add the cryptocurrency manually, but the vast majority won’t require any additional action.
Some wallets may ask you to add the cryptocurrency manually, but the vast majority won’t require any additional action.
step 4
Once you deposit your cryptocurrency, you can give your wallet address to anyone you want to trade cryptocurrencies with.
Once you deposit your cryptocurrency, you can give your wallet address to anyone you want to trade cryptocurrencies with.
Cold Wallets are the opposite of hot wallets as they are offline versions. It generally means that you will need a physical device, which can be anything –from a USB drive all the way to specially designed hardware or paper-based documentation.
Placing your crypto in a cold wallet is a walk in the park. All you have to do is follow the next five steps and you will be done in no time:
step 1
Look out and read reviews online about the best cold storage devices. At the moment the two leading platforms for cold storage are Trezor and Ledger.
Look out and read reviews online about the best cold storage devices. At the moment the two leading platforms for cold storage are Trezor and Ledger.
step 2
After you’ve identified your option and bought the device, go to their website and simply download the software.
After you’ve identified your option and bought the device, go to their website and simply download the software.
step 3
Follow instructions from the manual and start the process of creating a new cold storage wallet.
Follow instructions from the manual and start the process of creating a new cold storage wallet.
step 4
Make sure you remember this phrase at all times. If you get it wrong several times, the wallet can reboot itself and make you lose all the crypto you may have had.
Make sure you remember this phrase at all times. If you get it wrong several times, the wallet can reboot itself and make you lose all the crypto you may have had.
step 5
Test and make sure to send the right crypto on the right network, as if you, by mistake send Bitcoin to an Ethereum address, you will probably lose the asset completely.
Test and make sure to send the right crypto on the right network, as if you, by mistake send Bitcoin to an Ethereum address, you will probably lose the asset completely.
So, let’s say you have chosen one of the above-mentioned options for storing your crypto, but how do you keep it safe exactly? There are several security steps and tips you can complete to ensure that your cryptocurrencies are always safe:
Tip 1
Don’t store cryptocurrencies at exchange platforms for too long
Don’t store cryptocurrencies at exchange platforms for too long
Tip 2
Always make sure to have 2-factor-authentication enabled
Always make sure to have 2-factor-authentication enabled
Tip 3
Choose a strong PIN code for a hardware wallet
Choose a strong PIN code for a hardware wallet
Tip 4
Don’t brag about your crypto holdings in public around people you don’t trust
Don’t brag about your crypto holdings in public around people you don’t trust
Tip 5
Be aware of phishing – there are tons of bogus websites that imitate exchange platforms, so always double-check whether you log in at the right place
Be aware of phishing – there are tons of bogus websites that imitate exchange platforms, so always double-check whether you log in at the right place
Tip 6
Look for an HTTPS certificate on the website – most legit sites have one
Look for an HTTPS certificate on the website – most legit sites have one
Tip 7
Use a secure connection – never use public WiFi to log in to your exchange account or online wallet
Use a secure connection – never use public WiFi to log in to your exchange account or online wallet
Tip 8
Don’t use one storage – always separate your funds and never have all your digital assets in one place
Don’t use one storage – always separate your funds and never have all your digital assets in one place
Tip 9
Always double-check transactions – there are fraudulent programs that will send you the wrong transaction address, so always double-check it to avoid any unpleasant surprises
Always double-check transactions – there are fraudulent programs that will send you the wrong transaction address, so always double-check it to avoid any unpleasant surprises
Losing access to your crypto wallet is more common than you might think. Even though the above-mentioned practices seem like a no-brainer, you will be surprised to hear that plenty of people simply neglect at least a couple of those guidelines.
Mastering the art of keeping your cryptocurrencies safe is not complicated at all, but you need to be methodical and patient at all times. The sooner you master this skill, the better!
If you are serious about entering the crypto world, we hope that this guide was helpful! There is so much to learn about wallets and cryptocurrencies, but this is a good stepping stone for everyone who is new in the industry!
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Of course, not everything you see on the internet is legit, so you have to be careful. Always be on the lookout for secure platforms where you can store your cryptocurrencies, so pay attention to their reputation, transparency, users, etc.
Hot wallets are software wallets that you can use to store your cryptocurrencies. Crypto exchange platforms are examples of hot wallets.
Thankfully, there is not just one answer to this question! You will find dozens of world-class crypto exchange platforms out there, but it seems that Binance and Coinbase stand out from the pack.
Well, there are several practices you can follow to ensure you store your assets safely. Always be aware of bogus and phishing websites that can steal your assets. A good way to determine the reliability of a website is to check whether it has a HTTPS certificate.
They are important for the same reason any other wallet in the world would be – you will have a single place to store your cryptocurrencies. Crypto storage will help you make your assets a lot more accessible and you will be able to send or receive cryptocurrencies from other individuals.