This is not a guide on the most advanced security for your bitcoin holdings. It is an easy way to improve on what most people do. It is not about any one type of hardware wallet, but hardware wallets in general.
Aiming for extreme security right from the beginning is an unreasonable expectation; it must be done in stages, otherwise, you will have gaps in understanding, and such gaps are a security risk. It’s also a security risk to blindly follow advice if you are going to self custody; you need to understand some of what you are doing, too. This series is about what I call “Level Three” of my ZeroTrust System[1] — getting coins off of the exchange and into your own custody with a hardware wallet. This is something Bitcoiners regularly advise newcomers to do, and it’s excellent advice. (For those interested, here is a detailed explanation[2] of why keeping bitcoin on an exchange is a bad idea.)
As you can see from the ZeroTrust system, there are lots of things you can do, but getting all of your bitcoin off of the exchange is an important early step. Don’t forget to go back to level two as well if you skipped that.
Storing bitcoin on a hardware wallet is a huge improvement in security, but so much more can be done to improve security. This guide will explain what simple things you can do next, and help you understand what you’re doing and why in order to be safe and to give you peace of mind. I hope it may also spark interest to take your security further.
What Are Bitcoin Hardware Wallets?
People confuse what hardware wallets are, and what they do. They think that these devices hold your
