Your Keys, Their Keys: A Rigorous Guide to Choosing Between Self-Custody and Custodial Crypto Storage in the United States
The decision between holding cryptocurrency in a self-custody wallet and relying on a custodial platform carries consequences that extend well beyond security—touching IRS compliance obligations, estate planning, and regulatory exposure. This guide examines the concrete trade-offs across both approaches, using realistic scenarios to help American investors align their storage strategy with their actual risk profile and portfolio complexity.