Short answer. Cold storage means keeping your crypto's private keys offline, usually on a hardware wallet, so they cannot be reached over the internet. To do it well, buy a new device directly from the maker, set it up yourself, write the recovery phrase on paper or metal, store it securely, and test a small transfer first.
Last updated 30 October 2026
Jumped into buying without knowing how to secure your cryptocurrency properly? You’re not alone. Dive into our guide to decode the importance of wallets, sidestep common pitfalls, and the 5 key principles of mastering cold storage.
Contents
What Is Cold Storage?
To truly master cold storage, it’s important to understand the key differences between hot wallets and cold wallets, as they serve distinct purposes when it comes to securing your cryptocurrency. Knowing when to use each type of wallet can help safeguard your assets from potential threats and ensure you’re using the most appropriate security measures for your digital holdings.
What Are Hot Wallets?
Hot wallets are cryptocurrency wallets that are always connected to the internet. These wallets generate their recovery phrase (seed phrase) online, and you can access them from web browsers, desktop applications, or mobile apps.
Most people buy on an exchange before moving coins to cold storage. Our guide on how to choose a crypto exchange in Australia covers the security checks to make first.
They are generally recommended for smaller amounts of cryptocurrency that you intend to use often.
| Pros | Cons |
| Intuitive user interface & instant access | More vulnerable to theft |
| Access to wide variety of applications | Less secure |
Examples: MetaMask, Phantom and Coinbase Wallet
What Are Cold Wallets?
Cold wallets, on the other hand, are stored offline, away from internet access. These wallets are often referred to as hardware wallets and are considered one of the safest methods of cryptocurrency storage because they are disconnected from the online world. Cold wallets generate their recovery phrase inside the physical device, ensuring it never touches an internet-connected platform.
It is the preferred choice for long-term storage of large amounts of cryptocurrency. Cold wallets are typically accessed only on rare occasions, such as when you want to move or sell a significant portion of your holdings.
| Pros | Cons |
| Safer | Slower to access |
| Offline | Difficult to use |
Examples: Ledger or Trezor hardware wallets
It is best practice to store large amounts of cryptocurrency in cold storage, not connected to the internet.
Common Mistakes
We have a strong member base who share their experiences. Over the years, we have identified a few common mistakes people make regarding cold storage.
- ❌ Using cold wallets in the wrong ways. Often, it’s misused and connected to many different decentralised applications.
- 🦺 Not stored correctly. Often, people forget the secret recovery phrase, write it down incorrectly or do not store it securely.
- 🤫 Sharing their cold storage plan or seedphrase. Remember, your seed phrase or cold storage plan is only for you and your trusted family.
- 🔃 Funds in cold storage are not segregated and accessed too often. Ensure your cold storage funds are only reserved for long-term holding.
- 🔙 No backup. You’d be surprised at how many users never back up their wallets!
6 Steps To Master Cold Storage
Now we know a little more about cold storage and some common mistakes, let’s go over Collective Shift’s top 5 basics to master cold storage. 👇
1. Get a Hardware Wallet
The number one tip we can give you is a hardware wallet.
They don’t cost much, especially considering how much value they help protect.
We’ve got a specific resource that explains:
- how to choose the right hardware wallet for you; and
- the importance of checking the device is authentic.
Read: Store Cryptocurrency In Crypto Hardware Wallets
2. Think About How You Store Your Cold Wallet
Keep your cold wallet offline, never share it with anyone, and ensure the storage location is physically safe.
Storing your cold wallet safely is just as important as setting it up correctly.
When storing your cold wallet securely, think about the following:
- Keeping it out of view, out of sight, out of mind.
- Make sure it’s fire & waterproof; popular options include home safes or safety deposit boxes.
3. Limit Connecting Your Cold Storage To Dapps
As a general rule, limit connecting any long-term illiquid cryptocurrency on hardware wallets to decentralised applications (dapps).
For most, it’s best to avoid connecting to external sites and only do so for the most trusted (e.g. MetaMask).
To add an extra level of security, many maintain a separate hardware wallet for voting on governance proposals or staking ETH.
4. Back Up & Do A Trial Run!
A backup and a trial run are essential in adding an extra layer of security. The peace of mind it gives is incredible.
Nothing is more heart-wrenching than losing and restoring your wallet’s access, only to find out your PIN is wrong or your recovery phrase isn’t working.
That moment of panic is crazy, trust us. We’ve seen it.
We suggest a trial run with an extra hardware wallet when setting up your device to ensure your recovery phrase is correct and any issues are found before it’s too late.
We’d hate for you to end up like the poor souls who have lost or been locked out of their cryptocurrency!
5. Segregate & Keep Most In Cold Storage
Lastly, ensure you keep most of your cryptocurrency, which should be your long-term holdings, in cold storage.
This is 90% for some, but there is no fixed number. It is any significant majority you would be devasted to lose.
Users often keep too much cryptocurrency connected to hot wallets or on exchanges and not enough in cold storage.
The 1/10/90 rule
Think of your cryptocurrency like your regular money or bank accounts.
Everyday Wallet: <1% should ever be carried in your physical wallet, whether this is cash or cards without a limit.
- Crypto example: Your hot wallet you carry around on your mobile.
Moveable: <10% should be ever accessible or readily moveable.
- Crypto example: Your more complicated web wallet (such as MetaMask) for more frequent and larger onchain activity.
Long-term: >90% should be locked for the long term.
- Crypto example: Your hardware wallet you keep offline and a majority of your non-urgent or non-moveable crypto stack.
6. Don’t Forget To Prepare A Will
One critical but often overlooked step in securing your cryptocurrency is ensuring it’s accessible to your loved ones in the event something happens to you.
While most people focus on securing their assets during their lifetime, it’s equally important to plan for the future and prepare a legally binding will that outlines how your cryptocurrency can be accessed after you’re gone.
Without proper planning, your cryptocurrency could be locked away forever, inaccessible to anyone, no matter how much value it holds. Cold storage, hardware wallets, and recovery phrases are incredibly secure, but that security becomes a double-edged sword if no one else knows how to access your funds.
Why Preparing a Will Is Essential:
- Secure Transfer of Assets: A will ensures that your loved ones can legally and securely inherit your cryptocurrency without unnecessary delays or complications.
- Detailed Instructions: Include specific details about the location of your cold storage, your hardware wallet’s PINs, passwords, and most importantly, the recovery phrases that will allow them to access your wallets.
- Minimise Confusion: Without clear instructions, your loved ones might face significant challenges navigating the complexities of cryptocurrency storage. A well-prepared will minimizes confusion and ensures the smooth transfer of assets.
What to Include in Your Will:
- Location of Cold Storage: Specify where you store your hardware wallet, whether in a safe, safety deposit box, or other secure locations.
- Access Details: Clearly outline the PIN codes, passwords, and recovery phrases required to unlock and recover the funds from your wallet.
- Appoint a Trustee or Executor: Choose someone you trust to execute your will and handle the process of accessing and distributing your cryptocurrency.
Consult a Legal Professional:
To ensure everything is done correctly and complies with local laws, it’s a good idea to consult with a legal professional experienced in digital assets. This way, you can make sure your cryptocurrency storage plan is legally binding and properly structured.
Planning for the future with a well-thought-out will doesn’t just protect your assets, it protects your family’s financial security as well. Don’t let all your efforts to secure your cryptocurrency go to waste by neglecting this final, vital step
For more, see this explainer!
Conclusion
In this guide, we’ve highlighted a range of essential tips and tricks to help you master cold storage and keep your cryptocurrency safe from online threats. From understanding the differences between hot and cold wallets to properly managing your recovery phrase, these strategies are designed to protect your digital assets from theft, loss, or accidental errors.
While cold storage is one of the most effective methods for securing your cryptocurrency, it’s important to remember that security is a continuous process. The level of protection you achieve is ultimately up to you and the steps you’re willing to take to safeguard your funds. No matter how much cryptocurrency you hold, it’s crucial to stay proactive and vigilant in maintaining your security.
Finally, remember the three keys for to master cold storage
- Invest in a hardware wallet
- Practice security habits
- Follow the 5 cold storage tips
Further Resources
As you can tell, we take security and storage very seriously.
For more resources, check out the below links!
Cold storage checklist for 2026
The basics of cold storage have not changed, but recent events have reinforced two of them: where you buy your device, and how you treat your recovery phrase.
- Buy a new hardware wallet directly from the manufacturer's official website, not second-hand or from a marketplace.
- Set the device up yourself and generate a fresh recovery phrase.
- Keep the recovery phrase offline, on paper or metal, never in a photo, email or cloud note.
- Send a small test amount and confirm you can receive and send before moving larger sums.
- Plan how a trusted person could access your assets if something happens to you.
How Collective Shift teaches cold storage
In the live Week 3 security sessions (September and October 2026), the team recommended sticking with the two largest hardware wallet makers, Ledger and Trezor, and buying new and direct. They described the recovery phrase as a list of 12, 20 or 24 words that should stay analog, and used only to recover access if you lose the device, lock yourself out or the device fails.
That advice was tested in October 2026, when tampered Ledger devices sold through an unofficial Southeast Asian reseller were reported. Collective Shift's 16 October member update explained that devices bought directly from Ledger were not affected.
- Buy new, buy direct.
- Keep the recovery phrase analog.
- Use it only for recovery.
“So your seed phrase needs to stay analog.”
Collective Shift team, live cohort Week 3 session (September 2026)
Where this guide comes from
This guide is written and reviewed by the Collective Shift research team. Collective Shift is a crypto research and education company founded in 2020 in Melbourne, and a research and education partner to Coinbase, Swyftx and CoinSpot. Sources used in this update:
- Collective Shift Knowledge Hub: (Cohort Week 3) Lock It Down: Your Wallet and Security Checklist (15 Sep 2026) (ref 96b95319)
- Collective Shift Knowledge Hub: (Oct Cohort Week 3) Lock It Down (20 Oct 2026) (ref 13229958)
- Collective Shift Knowledge Hub: Collective Shift member update: Ledger tampering incident (16 Oct 2026) (ref 0ab2752c)
Last updated 30 October 2026. General information only, not financial advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek professional advice before making investment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I actually need my recovery phrase?
Only to restore access, for example if you lose your device, lock yourself out or the device fails. You do not need it to send crypto or to travel with your hardware wallet.
Which hardware wallet brands does Collective Shift discuss?
The team’s security sessions focus on Ledger and Trezor, the two largest hardware wallet makers, and recommend buying new devices directly from the manufacturer.
Where can I learn to set up cold storage step by step?
The Collective Shift Accelerator membership is a 12-month guided program that starts with 4 live weeks and covers wallets, security and estate planning. More free guides are on Collective Shift Insights.