Cold Storage
Keeping wallet keys completely offline so they cannot be reached by online attackers.
Cold storage means holding your private keys or recovery phrase entirely offline, away from any internet-connected device. Because most thefts happen through malware, phishing, or hacked online services, keeping your keys offline removes the main route attackers use. Common cold storage methods include writing a recovery phrase on paper or stamping it into a metal plate, or using a dedicated hardware wallet that signs transactions without exposing the keys to your computer. Cold storage is the opposite of a hot wallet, which stays connected and convenient but more exposed. For coins you intend to hold for a long time, cold storage offers strong protection. The trade-off is that accessing the coins takes a few extra, deliberate steps.