FAQ
A free, reputable multi-asset mobile wallet — such as Trust Wallet, Exodus, Blockchain.com, or Crypto.com — is the standard starting point: easy to set up, supports the major coins, and works seamlessly with crypto ATMs. As your holdings grow, add a hardware (cold) wallet for long-term storage.
Software wallets — mobile, desktop, and web — are free to download and use (you’ll still pay network fees when sending crypto). Hardware wallets are physical products that typically cost from around $80 to a few hundred dollars, an investment usually reserved for larger holdings.
Nothing, provided you backed up your seed phrase. Your coins live on the blockchain, not on the phone — install your wallet app on a new device, enter the seed phrase, and your full balance reappears. Without the seed phrase, a non-custodial wallet cannot be recovered, which is why the paper backup is non-negotiable.
Only if someone obtains your private keys or seed phrase — which is why virtually all wallet theft starts with phishing: fake "support staff", fake wallet websites, or scam messages asking you to "verify" your seed phrase. The blockchain itself has never been the weak point; the human handing over their keys is. Never type your seed phrase into a website or share it with anyone.
"Warm wallet" is an informal term occasionally used for setups that sit between hot and cold — software or devices that connect to the internet only when transacting. The term never became standard; in practice, the industry categorises wallets as hot (online) or cold (offline), and most people’s real-world setup — a hot wallet for spending, cold for savings — achieves the same balance.
Yes. Crypto ATMs are non-custodial — the machine sends coins directly to your wallet, so you need one set up before you buy. Any of the free mobile wallets above works: open the app, pick your coin, and show the machine your QR code. Setup takes about five minutes.
Non-custodial, from a counterparty standpoint — no exchange hack or platform collapse can reach keys the platform never held. The caveat is that security becomes your job: protect the seed phrase and you’re protected. Custodial wallets trade that responsibility for dependence on the platform’s security and solvency.