Seed Phrase Security
Your seed phrase is everything.
Whoever has your seed phrase has complete control of your wallet. There's no "forgot password" option, no customer support to call, no way to recover funds if someone else gets it.
The rules are simple:
- •Write it down on paper or stamp it in metal
- •Keep more than one copy in separate physical locations, so a fire, flood, or theft in one place doesn't wipe out your only backup
- •Store each copy somewhere physically secure (safe, safety deposit box)
- •Never store it digitally - no photos, no cloud, no notes apps, no password managers
- •Never share it with anyone, for any reason
- •Never enter it into any website
- •Check on your backups every so often (twice a year is a good habit) to confirm they're still readable and untouched
No legitimate wallet, exchange, or support team will ever ask for your seed phrase. Anyone who does is trying to steal from you.
If you ever suspect your seed phrase has been seen, photographed, typed into a device, or copied — treat it as compromised. Generate a brand-new wallet and move everything to it.
Going further (advanced)
Experienced users sometimes add a BIP39 passphrase (a secret "25th word") or split the phrase across multiple backups using Shamir's Secret Sharing. These raise the bar for an attacker, but they also add ways to permanently lock yourself out — only use them if you fully understand the recovery process.