CZ published a "Crypto Asset Custody Guide." Its core message boils down to one sentence: There is no absolutely secure way to custody your assets—only the approach that works for you. Find a balance between "self-custody" and "leaving them with a platform" based on the size of your assets and your technical expertise.

A breakdown of the guide's key points (the essentials)

1. Self-custody (managing your own funds) — best for tech-savvy users

• ✅ Use a hardware wallet (an offline device) to store your private keys

• ✅ Keep multiple backups in different locations (don't put all your eggs in one basket)

• ✅ Carefully verify transaction addresses (to avoid phishing)

• ❌ Never take screenshots or photos of your private keys (they could sync to the cloud and be stolen by hackers)

Put simply: Managing your own money is like keeping cash in a home safe. It may be secure, but if you lose the key or someone breaks in, the money is gone. You need technical skills, patience, and a sense of responsibility.

2. Platform custody (leaving your assets with an exchange) — suitable for beginners

• ✅ Choose a reputable, well-established platform (check its reputation and security record)

• ✅ Use a dedicated email address, a strong password, and two-factor authentication

• ✅ Enable a withdrawal address whitelist (allow transfers only to addresses you’ve approved)

• ❌ Watch out for phishing links and fake customer support

Put simply: Keeping your assets on a platform is like putting money in a bank—it’s convenient, but you need to know whether the bank is trustworthy. If the platform disappears or gets hacked, your money could be gone.

3. Inheriting assets — the easiest thing to overlook

Many people haven’t considered this: If you were to pass away one day, how would your family access your crypto?

CZ’s advice:

• Plan ahead for what happens after you’re gone

• But don’t give your private keys directly to family members or store them unencrypted on a computer (neither is secure, and they could easily be stolen)

Put simply: It’s like making a will—you need to make sure your family can access your assets without giving outsiders an opportunity to take advantage.

| Your situation | Recommended approach |

|---------|---------|

| Few assets + little technical experience | Keep most assets on a reputable platform and a small amount in a wallet to practice |

| Significant assets + strong technical skills | Self-custody for most assets; keep only what you need for trading on platforms |

| Worried the platform might disappear | Keep at least one separate wallet so you can still access your assets when the platform is under maintenance |

CZ strongly emphasizes: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. The safest approach is to use a combination of exchange and personal wallets.

4. Lessons from this article

1. Security is relative — manage your own assets and risk losing them; leave them on a platform and risk the platform disappearing. There’s no perfect solution.

2. Your technical skills determine how you should store your assets — if you don’t understand private key management, don’t force yourself to self-custody

3. Plan ahead — inheritance planning isn’t being alarmist; it’s the responsible thing to do

4. Diversifying risk is key — whichever method you choose, don’t go all in on a single channel#加密资产