Non-Custodial Wallet

A non-custodial wallet is a wallet where you, not a company, hold the private keys that control your cryptocurrency. The wallet software generates the keys on your device, usually backed up as a seed phrase, and every transaction must be signed locally by you. No provider can move your funds, freeze them, or recover them for you.

Browser and mobile wallets such as MetaMask are common examples: when you install one, it creates a seed phrase and stores the keys on your device. The developer of the app never sees the keys, so even if the company behind the wallet disappears, you can restore your funds in any compatible wallet using the seed phrase.

A common misconception is that the wallet app itself contains your coins; the coins exist on the blockchain, and the wallet only holds the keys that authorize spending them. This is why deleting the app does not delete your funds, and why anyone who obtains your seed phrase can take everything from anywhere in the world. Non-custodial wallets offer full control and privacy from intermediaries, in exchange for full responsibility for backups and security.