Non-Custodial Wallet
A wallet where you alone hold the private keys, with no company able to freeze or recover your funds.
Here the keys live on your device, not a company's server. MetaMask and most hardware wallets work this way. No one can block a transaction or seize the balance, and you don't pass KYC to use one.
Full control means full responsibility. There's no reset link and no customer line. Lose the seed phrase or sign a malicious approval, and no one can undo it for you.
Related terms
An account where a third party holds your private keys for you, like a bank holding deposits.
Self-CustodyHolding your own private keys directly, so no exchange or company stands between you and your crypto.
Seed PhraseA list of 12 or 24 ordinary words that backs up a wallet and can restore all its keys.
Private KeyThe secret number that proves ownership of crypto and authorizes spending it; whoever holds it controls the funds.