Start with “The do’s and don’ts of key management” from our co-founder, CTO, and security expert Jameson Lopp.
Wherever you're at in your journey, we're here to help. Learn more about securing bitcoin, making the most of private keys, and the bright digital future ahead of us.
In today’s digital world, most of us are accustomed to using passwords to safeguard our accounts and valuable data.
Private keys are similar to passwords, but much more robust. Both bitcoin and ethereum private keys consist of a string of random characters known as a 256-bit number.
These numbers are so astronomically big that any attempt to forge or guess them would be a waste of time and resources, even with the world’s most powerful computers.
Private keys allow you to prove your ownership of digital assets.
To spend bitcoin and ethereum from an address, you need to have the associated private key, so it’s the root of your security protection.
With a private key, you can generate a public key, which in turn can be used to generate addresses where you send and receive assets.
Crypto security is easier than you might think — it’s all about keys. To spend assets like bitcoin and ethereum, you need access to your private keys.
At Casa, we help you take self-custody of BTC and/or ETH with multiple keys. If you lose a key due to an accident, theft, or disaster, we can use the others to help you recover your funds. This redundancy and distributed security is superior to leaving your crypto assets with a custodian or just one hardware wallet. This way, you take self-custody with total peace of mind that your investment is safe.
Security requires a balanced approach. You want to protect against evolving threats while preserving some access so you can safely recover your bitcoin.
Sound recovery methods are important because eventually you will want to hand your bitcoin to someone else, whether you spend it or transfer control to your loved ones. As a non-custodial wallet provider, Casa helps you create protection that is right for you, and we have a variety of other services to meet your needs, including the ability to our inheritance plan.
There are a variety of ways to store your private keys; cold storage (offline) is the best option. If you protect your bitcoin with just one key on an internet-connected device such as a phone or laptop, your bitcoin is susceptible to attacks.
At Casa, your digital assets are protected with multiple keys, each stored on a different device in a different location. Most of these keys are secured in cold storage beginning with your hardware device of choice. Casa works with popular hardware devices Trezor, Ledger, Coldcard, Passport, and Keystone.
Not your keys, not your problem, right? More like: not your keys, not your assets.
Securing crypto is different from securing other assets. When you allow someone else to secure your crypto, the same threats that face you as an individual still face the third party, but you no longer have control over the steps you take to stop them. Custodial services actually carry their own unique threats to your assets:
That’s just the tip of the iceberg, and if it still feels safer, it’s because ignorance is bliss.
Due to the sheer amount of threats to one’s bitcoin, many bitcoin holders will opt for a custodial wallet—one where *someone else* owns the associated private keys—in an effort to shoulder less risk. If a custodial solution (e.g., an exchange, family office, wealth fund, lender, etc.) holds your bitcoin, it’s their responsibility to secure it.
Unlike custodial bitcoin wallets, a non-custodial bitcoin wallet is one in which *you* own the associated private keys. By using a non-custodial bitcoin wallet, you gain the freedom to do as you wish with your bitcoin while simultaneously taking on the responsibility of securing it. This is why non-custodial wallets are often called self-custody.
Digital autonomy is a quality of life associated with ownership, freedom, and self-reliance, all made possible through self-custody of private keys.
Private keys grant people ownership in the digital realm that is free from interference from other people, corporations, and even governments. At Casa, we build tools to help people take control over their digital future, beginning with securing self-custody of their keys and their assets.
When you hold your private keys and distribute them effectively, you are leveraging the power of cryptography to protect your property rights.
Taking self-custody of your keys ensures you have control over how your funds are used without outsourcing that authority to risky third parties like exchanges and custodians.
